The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has approved a $79,500 grant request for St. Joseph County’s Cade Lake County Park in Fawn River Township. The project would add 40 acres of woodlands and wetlands to the existing 52-acre park.

In early December, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reported to the Trust Fund that 159 applications for parkland acquisition and development grants had been submitted by public agencies statewide, requesting a total of $76.8 million.  After being scored and submitted by the DNR, the Trust Fund Board of Trustees recommended that a total of 81 projects be funded at a proposed cost of $48.5 million.  Approximately 73 percent of the funds will go toward land acquisition, while the remaining amount would support development and improvement projects in existing parks.

Seventy percent of the $113,500 Cade Lake County Park Expansion Project would be paid for with the state funds.  The remaining 30 percent is being paid by St. Joseph County.

“This will be a very nice addition to a very popular park,” according to John Pence, St. Joseph County Parks director.  “There was a tremendous amount of public support for this, and we’re looking forward to creating more opportunities for people to have fun outdoors.”  The park addition will eventually provide hiking trails, boardwalks, wildlife viewing, permit-based hunting, and educational opportunities.  “This parcel of land is completely natural, and includes some very high quality wetlands, and oak woodlands,” said Pence.  “All we need now is for the state legislature to approve the funding.”  That is expected to occur this spring.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is supported by mineral and natural gas lease payments made to the state.  All Trust Fund dollars are dedicated for parks and recreation and cannot be used for other programs.  St. Joseph County will soon enter into a Project Agreement with the state, and will have one year to complete the real estate purchase.

The 40-acre parcel is located directly south of the park, and has been owned by the Pant family on Fawn River Rd. for many years.

The Cade Lake County Park Expansion Project grant application was prepared and submitted by Pence, and was ranked 10th by the Trust Fund Board of Trustees out of 37 land acquisition grants recommended for funding.  In the Trust Fund’s “Small Acquisition Grants Initiative,” the application was ranked 1st.