$50K grant helps keep Marine City Tot Lot revitalization plans alive
Michele Goodrich joked on Thursday that she remembers playing on the playground equipment at Marine City’s Tot Lot park — utilized many years later by her kids.
Located at the southeast corner of South Main and Washington streets, the park is within two blocks of the city’s downtown.
Goodrich and other city organizers admit it’s seen better days, but they’re hoping a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile will seed continued grant investments to help them realize bigger plans to revitalize the little recreational space.
“Safety standards and accessibility have come a long way in 30 years. … So, once Holly promoted going after grants, that has been on the top of my list for a long time," Goodrich said of former City Manager Holly Tatem. "Because we inherited that playground structure from Harsens Island (Elementary School, which closed in 2006), so it’s run its useful life.”
Late in 2022, Marine City officials moved forward with multiple applications to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grant program, a newer multi-phase opportunity funded with COVID money for local governments’ parks and recreation concepts, as part of a larger effort to pursue grants.
That was under Tatman, who was ousted by city commissioners in January. At the time, some officials and residents expressed concern over how the grant push would progress.
Goodrich, who works as the city’s deputy clerk and in utility billing, has also been serving as a grant writer.
The city’s application for the Tot Lot in the first of three Spark application rounds was for around $330,000.
Now, however, Goodrich said the T-Mobile grant announced last Thursday could help them lower the amount they are request from the DNR in the next Spark application round.
Goodrich said the $50,000 “puts a dent in a play structure,” though they still need further funding for the remainder of improvements, including rubber surfacing, widening the sidewalks, new fencing and a single-stall bathroom.
“That’s one of our chief complaints we have. It’s a playground for little kids with no bathroom,” she said. “So, to get people to stay there longer, to visit the downtown longer, it’s important.”
On Thursday, Jeff Nielson, rural market manager for T-Mobile, said the grant was part of a $25 million total investment for the company since project selections began — 25 cities per quarter — in 2021.
“Really, what this represents is a big push from T-Mobile to move into what we’re calling smaller markets or rural areas,” he said.
Marine City Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche said she agreed the award helps the city move forward on the Tot Lot.
“Through the revitalization of the entire space, we hope to create a safe and engaging community playground, recreational resources and all-inclusive opportunities for play are available to all our residents and visitors,” she said.
The Tot Lot was empty mid-day Thursday, though Goodrich said the park is busiest in the summer and after school.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: $50K grant helps keep Marine City Tot Lot revitalization plans alive
