The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has approved a $260,000 grant for the city of St. Joseph to improve Dickinson Park.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced $6.4 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for eight communities, and St. Joseph is on the list. St. Joe Public Works Director Greg Grothous tells us the grant will be used to add restrooms and improved parking to Dickinson Park.
“The restroom will be off of the Lakeview Avenue side of the park, kind of close to the high school,” Grothous said. “There’s kind of a gravel lot over there, so there will be some improved parking, 15 to 18 parking spaces, over in that corner.”
Grothous says this project is a few years in the making.
“It was something that was identified as part of the master plan around 2018 for Dickinson Park. so it’s been something that’s been on our radar and we had an opportunity to apply for this grant. The city commission was on board with doing it.”
Grothous says the city’s eventual goal is to add a playground to the park, so having restrooms there will make even more sense.
The state grant is 50% match, so the city will also contribute $260,000 to the project. Grothous says the work could start in 2025.
