Alpena County awarded $473,700 SPARKS grant for Sunken Lake Park; three projects remain

Becky Rivard of Huron Engineering and Parks Commission member Dave Guthrie updated the committee on a SPARKS grant for Sunken Lake Park. The county was awarded $473,700 by the Department of Natural Resources for park improvements.

Rivard listed completed projects funded by the grant, including an ADA-accessible campsite with connections between the playground and bathhouses; an additional playground; an exercise station; upgraded and wood-chipped hiking trails; creation of an ADA-accessible trail; additional benches and picnic tables; trail gates; upgraded electrical services to support larger campers; a kayak boat launch; a Mobi mat to the beach area; and a gazebo in the day-use area. She said three projects remain and the 2026 plan allocates approximately $110,000 for filling campsites near the lake, installing pavement millings, remarking lots, producing a new map for website publication, and constructing an observation platform on the island overlooking the lake.

Rivard and Guthrie said the goal is to complete all projects by early summer and then close out the grant.