The plan to extend the Polly Ann Trail in Orion Township got a big boost recently, in the form of a $75,000 Greenways Initiative Land Grant.
The money will be used for the first phase of the Polly Ann Trail Extension project.
‘That’s the first step in financing the project,? said Orion Township Parks and Recreation Director Rock Blanchard. ‘It’s the only grant we’ve applied for so far.
The township board voted to accept the grant at their April 17 meeting. Blanchard said the cost of phase one is just over $558,617, making the township’s required match $483,617.
By a six-to-one vote, the board authorized Blanchard to have Carlisle/Wortman Associates write an application for a federal grant through MDOT’s Transportation Enhancement Act Grant Program.
Blanchard said this grant could be in the neighborhood of $340,000.
The cost for writing the grant is not to exceed $3,000.
The board also directed Blanchard to pursue meetings with MDOT to obtain accurate figures on the cost of the proposed project, and the cost of maintenance of the trail.
The board noted that their approval did not include the approval of the TEA Grant Application Resolution at this time.
Before applying, they want to make sure that the dollar amounts are accurate.
‘What they really instructed me to do is have a meeting with MDOT to see if there are extra costs that would be attached to the project,? Blanchard said.
Blanchard said he hopes to have the TEA grant application in by the beginning of June.
The second phase of the project could cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000.
It will likely include adding multiple boardwalks to the trail.
‘It’s great that we’ve received the grant,’said Blanchard, addding he’s excited to bring a trail to the western part of Orion Township.
‘It’s a great start,? he said.