Title
Resolution to Accept and Appropriate a $500,000.00 Grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for the South Barton Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution accepts a $500,000.00 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) toward replacement of the South Barton Pedestrian Bridge. It also and approves a grant agreement and appropriates the grant funds to the project.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan provides grants ranging from $100,000.00 to $500,000.00 to support the repair, renovation, and maintenance of regional trail infrastructure and capital assets.
The South Barton Pedestrian Bridge is a 304-foot-long bridge spanning the Huron River within Barton Nature Area that is in need of replacement. The bridge serves as a key connection along the Border to Border and Iron Belle Trails and is located near the recently completed Barton–Bandemer Pedestrian Tunnel. The CFSEM grant was awarded specifically to support replacement of the South Barton Pedestrian Bridge as a critical trail connection.
Given the significant cost associated with replacing this essential piece of trail infrastructure, staff pursued outside grant funding to reduce the amount of City funding required for the project. Total project costs, including design and engineering, are currently estimated at approximately $5,000,000.00. Given the scale of this capital investment within the City’s park system, outside funding partnerships are important to advancing the project.
The CFSEM grant will provide $500,000.00, or approximately 10% of the estimated total project cost. Staff have also submitted grant applications to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Washtenaw County Connecting Communities program to further support the project.
The CFSEM grant period extends through June 30, 2028.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding fo...
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