Grant to help White Lake develop park

White Lake Township officials were expected yesterday, Tuesday, March 15 to consider whether to formally accept a state grant that would help pay for development of a park.

In 2010, White Lake received a $350,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) to develop Bloomer Park off of McKeachie Road.

However, as with most grants, the money received through the trust fund is contingent upon the township matching 33 percent of the total project cost, which in this case is an approximate match of $175,000.

The township has until April 15 to enter into an agreement with the state or the grant funds will revert back to the NRTF.

However, Jason Iacoangeli of the township’s planning department said he doesn’t believe that would be the case.

“I’m confident the board will make the right decision and enter into a grant agreement with the state of Michigan for the development of Bloomer Park,” he said. “From all the conversations with folks over the past week, everyone understands the benefit of the grant. It’s highly competitive, and we were fortunate to be awarded the grant when we were.”

Iacoangeli added that money collected from a parks and recreation millage between 2007 and 2011 would be used to help compile matching funds.

“We want to maximize our millage money, and we leverage it quite well by doing things like these,” he said.

While White Lake Supervisor Greg Baroni said he couldn’t comment for the rest of the township board members, he said he too believes accepting the grant would be a good thing for the township.

“I’m for it. I’d like to see (the grant) used properly, and the park cleaned up and used by the residents,” he said.

The White Lake Board of Trustees was expected to hear the Parks and Recreation Committee’s recommendation to match the grant funding at a board meeting held last night, Tuesday, March 15.