Imagine...
Living in a County that is located on a great lake and not
being able to observe the fauna and wildlife, nor fish in its waters.
Imagine living in a County that is steep in historical
significance to the State and region that it is located, yet not having the
opportunity to visit the historical sites enjoyed by thousands of other
visitors.
Imagine living in a County where very few parks and
playgrounds are not available to you because you cannot access them.
If you can imagine that, then you understand the plight of
approximately 16% of the Monroe County population that has a disability limiting
their full participation in the recreational opportunities within the county.
 In the fall of 2006 the Community Foundation of Monroe County
was awarded a $385,000 matching grant funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
through the Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures (MCFV). This grant was one
of five awarded to community foundations around the State.
Through a broad based community needs workgroup, four
recreational projects were selected:
The
Department of Natural Resources will enhance a 5,700 linear feet-walking path
that will run from the Sterling State Park to the River Raisin Battlefield. Enhancements to this project include the construction of two barrier free
viewing/fishing piers as well as the placement of interpretative audio and
visual signs.
Monroe
Charter Township will purchase handicapped accessible playground equipment for
two playgrounds for its new 30-acre park.
Partnering
with the City of Monroe a Sensory Garden will be built. Tentatively the garden
will be located in Munson Park and will incorporate a Texture Garden, Music
Room, Color Garden, Motion Room, Tactile Room, Scented Garden and a pond.
Interpretive
historical and cultural stations will be added to the Navarre-Anderson Trading
Post, making the grounds more accessible and better utilized for all people.
 In addition an
Access to Recreation Advisory Council (ATRAC) has been formed to serve as
a permanent advisory group to the Community Foundation of Monroe County. The
purpose of ATRAC is threefold: to serve as an advisory workgroup to the
projects under this grant; to provide on-going consultation to the Community
Foundation in the permanent Access to Recreation Endowment program: to serve as
an advocate for universal accessibility in recreational planning throughout the
County.
A permanent Access to Recreation Endowment Fund is being established at the Community Foundation of Monroe County. The
income from the endowment will provide ongoing support for these and future
accessibility projects in Monroe County.
For further
information on the Access to Recreation grant, or to give to any of the projects
outlined above or to the permanent endowment fund, please contact the Community
Foundation of Monroe County at (734) 242-1976.
For good.
For ever.
| 
