MONROE — The City of Monroe received a more than $978,000 grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program.
The funds will be used for the city’s $3.47 million St. Mary’s Park renovation project, which is expected to begin soon.
Monroe received one of 27 RAP grants awarded this week. All together, the 27 grants totaled more than $120 million and will fund more than 54 projects in 48 communities.
“Our services team received 81 applications, with a total funding request of $83,125,309,” according to a news release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.
The Monroe City Council applied for the RAP grant after its Jan. 27 regular meeting, said Mark Cochran, the city’s assistant city manager/economic and community development director.
“The City Council’s support and our community’s shared vision have been instrumental in securing this funding,” said Monroe Mayor Robert Clark in a news release. “This grant isn’t just an investment in St. Mary’s Park, it’s an investment in Monroe’s future. By enhancing our public spaces, we’re making Monroe an even better place to live, work and visit.”
This is the city’s first RAP grant.
“The RAP Program provides gap financing for place-based infrastructure, real estate rehabilitation and public space improvements,” the city said in the news release. “The St. Mary’s Park project falls under the latter. Through this program, the MEDC partners with local communities to invest in projects that promote population growth, business attraction and quality of life. The city was awarded the funds following a competitive process that saw only 23 grants awarded statewide.”
In November, the city announced the St. Mary’s Park project, which will include work on the large public parking lot and the park’s bandshell, playscape, tennis court and restrooms. Upgrades also will include a new park entrance, new riverside seating and ADA-accessible pathways. The park has only had minor repairs and upgrades in the last 30 years.
“The project is currently out for bid, with construction of phase one anticipated to begin in late summer, 2025,” Cochran said. “The total project has been split into phases, with the parking lot improvements included in phase one, and the westerly park space in phase two. In the application, our total estimated project cost is $3.47 million.”
Other funds will come from the city’s Capital Improvements Program.
“The project was identified and approved in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Phase one of the project has funding allocated in this year’s CIP budget, and phase two is identified for the upcoming years,” Cochran said.
The city is in the process of improving all its parks through its Parks Master Plan.
Cairns Park and Labor Park have already undergone renovation.
Mill Race, Manor Park and Munson Park are on the list after St. Mary’s Park. Eventually, all city parks will be updates, Cochran told The Monroe News in November.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe gets more than $978K state grant for St. Mary’s Park renovations
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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