The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recommended that Sparta receive $150,000 for improvements to the new Sparta Sports Complex.

The City of Ionia could receive $74,300 for improvements to Robinson Park.

The Sparta Recreational Authority applied for the grant which would be used for "development to provide amenities to support the recently developed Sparta Sports Complex. Scope items include player and spectator seating, scoreboards, litter receptacles, picnic tables, signs and landscaping."

The City of Ionia's Robinson Park has been recommended for $74,300 towards improvements including "basketball court upgrades, a picnic pavilion with restrooms, playground improvements, barrier free pedestrian pathways, park benches and picnic tables, landscape improvements and a park sign."

The DNR announced recommendations for a total of 17 community and DNR parks, trails and sports facilities across the state to share $2,289,600 in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants.

The federal program, administered in Michigan by the DNR, supports villages, cities, townships, counties and the DNR to provide better public outdoor recreation opportunities.

  • Village of Ashley (Gratiot County)
  • Brandon Township (Oakland County)
  • City of Cadillac (Wexford County)
  • Delta Charter Township (Eaton County)
  • Village of Farwell (Clare County)
  • Hayes Township (Charlevoix County)
  • City of Ionia (Ionia County)
  • Livingston County
  • Meridian Charter Township (Ingham County)
  • Monitor Charter Township (Bay County)
  • Michigan DNR (Crawford County)
  • Michigan DNR (Luce County)
  • Midland Charter Township (Midland County)
  • City of Rochester Hills (Oakland County)
  • Sparta Recreational Authority (Kent County)
  • City of St. Clair Shores (Macomb County)
  • St. Joseph County

The selected projects were chosen from a field of 30 grant applications seeking part of up to $3,855,700 in funding.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a federal program administered in Michigan by the Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the National Park Service. The fund is supported by revenues from federal gas and oil development from the outer continental shelf.

The project recommendations will be sent to the National Park Service for federal approval.

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