The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has recommended lawmakers approve 68 recreation development projects and 17 land acquisitions totaling $41.7 million to be funded in 2025, including a $215,000 project in Iron County that is among a number of Upper Peninsula endeavors.

Crystal Falls Township sought funding for the Iron County development, which is a Heritage Trail extension to Bewabic State Park.

The land purchases recommended for funding include $4.2 million for a parcel that will connect additional Michigamme Highlands habitats to Craig Lake State Park in Marquette County. The applicant was the DNR’s Forest Resources Division.

The board also recommended approval of a Forest Resources Division request to provide $1.175 million for a Little Huron River acquisition in Marquette County.

In Houghton County, the board recommended $440,000 for a Sturgeon River Sloughs Wildlife Management Area acquisition, as requested by the DNR’s Wildlife Division. Also recommended is $619,000 for a Munising Bay Overlook purchase sought by the city of Munising in Alger County.

In addition to the Heritage Trail grant, development projects recommended for funding in the U.P. are:

— Munising Township in Alger County, $300,000 for a McQuisten Recreation Area renovation.

— DNR Parks and Recreation Division, $400,000 for a Whitefish Point State Harbor redevelopment in Chippewa County.

— City of Wakefield in Gogebic County, $274,200 for an Eddy Park Campground camper shelters project.

— Calumet Charter Township in Houghton County, $400,000 for a Swedetown Recreation Area chalet renovation and trail addition.

— Eagle Harbor Township in Keweenaw County, $83,700 for an Eagle Harbor Beach accessibility project.

The Trust Fund board’s recommendations will go to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriations process. Upon approval, the Legislature will forward a bill to the governor for signing.

The board this year considered a total of 122 applications seeking more than $53.4 million in funding. In a competitive process, all eligible applications were evaluated based on scoring criteria approved by the Trust Fund board.

The panel recommends funding to state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions aimed at furthering access to public outdoor recreation. This year, the board recommended $22.5 million for development project grants and $19.3 million for acquisition grants.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a restricted fund that was established in 1976 to provide funding for public acquisition of lands for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as for public outdoor recreation development projects. It is funded through interest and earnings on funds derived from the revenues of state-owned oil, gas and minerals.

Brad Garmon, senior strategic advisor and executive director of the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office at the Michigan Economic Development Corp., praised the latest round of acquisitions and projects.

“Outdoor recreation is not only vital to our state’s health and well-being — providing more access to restorative places and local parks — but it also supports the state’s efforts to attract and retain talent; support small businesses; and fuel innovation and economic prosperity,” Garmon said.

In other announcements, an ice-making plant at the Pat O’Connell Civic Center in Ironwood has been recommended for $375,000 in funding. This money is part of $8 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants awarded by the DNR statewide.

Projects were scored and selected from a field of 16 grant applications from local units of government and two applications from the DNR totaling $9.1 million. Funds under this program are available to states through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program for land acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities.

The DNR uses Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to help develop public outdoor recreation facilities to give people better, broader access to public outdoor recreation opportunities. The program supports Native American tribes, villages, cities, townships and counties and divisions within the DNR. After federal appropriation, LWCF funds are apportioned to the states each fiscal year, and then, the state’s project recommendations are sent to the National Park Service for approval.

Two other U.P. projects will received funding through the Recreation Passport program. A grant of $112,500 will go to Schoolcraft Township in Houghton County for a Big Traverse Bay boat launch improvement project. The city of Wakefield will receive $102,700 for the Pupper Peninsula Dog Park at Eddy Park.

Statewide, $1.9 million in Recreation Passport grants were awarded for 14 projects. Selected projects were scored and selected from a field of 52 grant applications seeking a total of $6.7 million in funding.

The DNR’s Recreation Passport grant program began in 2010 with the goal of boosting visitation and funding for Michigan state parks. The Recreation Passport is a $14 annual pass required for access to 103 state parks and recreation areas, more than 140 state forest campgrounds, Michigan historic sites, hundreds of boating access sites and thousands of miles of trails.

Ten percent of the proceeds from Recreation Passport sales are granted to communities across the state for development and improvement of local public recreation facilities.