BIG RAPIDS – The city of Big Rapids has received a grant of $450,000 from the Revitalization and Placemaking Program to support development of the Depot Trail Head Park.
The funds were approved last week in Lansing at a special Michigan Strategic Fund meeting, a news release from the organization said.
“We are so excited for having our project selected. It is outstanding timing given the paving of the (White Pine) trail and improvements to the Depot,” city manager Mark Gifford said.
The city purchased a two-acre piece of property south of the Depot building on Maple Street, at the head of the White Pine Trail in February 2021 with the intention of developing a trail head park.
The property was officially designated as Depot Trail Head Park in December 2021.
“We agreed to have it used for public purposes in perpetuity,” Gifford said of the property purchase at the time. “That lines up with it being designated as a new park.”
A master plan for the development of the property includes new restroom facilities, a picnic area, a playground area and a fire pit, as well as additional parking.
In august 2021, Duncan and Marissa Klussman purchased the Depot building when it went up for auction, outbidding the city. They have since begun restoration of the building to bring it back to its 1911 look, with a new red roof, and new yellow siding with brown trim.
Additional restoration efforts are ongoing, and Klussman said when they are complete, they will consider leasing the building to a potential small business project.
RAP is an incentive program that deployed $100 million in American Rescue Plan funding to address the COVID-19 impacts in Michigan communities. This recent distribution is the second round of funding available to the region. In 2022, the region received $3.6 million to support nine projects.
“I was happy to assist the city of Big Rapids and Green Charter Township through the application process,” Kelly Wawsczyk, director of Mecosta Economic Development Corporation said. “This is a great win for Mecosta County.”
She added, there may be a round three of RAP Grant funding coming next year, and she is available to assist any organizations interested in applying.
“Stay tuned if you have a project to consider,” she said. “I would be glad to help you get it across the finish line.”
“Placemaking and community development is economic development,” Tim Mroz, Senior Vice President of Community Development at The Right Place Inc., said. “That’s why The Right Place is so committed to this work. The communities included in this RAP grant get it. They understand that tomorrow’s growing, vibrant communities are investing in placemaking today. Those actions will pay dividends for decades to come.”
The RAP program provides access to real estate and place-based infrastructure development gap financing through grants of up to $5 million per project for real estate rehabilitation and development, grants of up to $1 million per project for public space improvements, and grants of up to $20 million to local or regional partners who develop a coordinated subgrant program.
Eligible applicants were individuals or entities working to rehabilitate vacant, underutilized, blighted, and historic structures and the development of permanent place-based infrastructure associated with traditional downtown areas, social zones, outdoor dining, and placed-based public spaces. The RAP program awarded funding to eligible applicants based on one or more competitive application rounds.
