Project Name: Oak Trail – creation of a designated nature trail!
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
Neighborhood organization or association (such as a non-profit)
What is the organization’s name?
City of Menominee
What neighborhood does the organization serve?
Water Tower Park neighborhood
First and last name?
Brett Botbyl (City Manager) & Shannon Jones (Applicant)
Twitter Handle
Facebook Handle
Instagram Handle
Is the organization a registered 501 (c)3 non-profit?
Yes
ABOUT THE PROJECT
What is the name of the neighborhood where the project will take place? (Please include city/village name too. Example: Mexican Town, Detroit)
Water Tower Park
Anticipated project launch date
July 31, 2023
Describe your project idea including: a) Is it a project or event? b) What will you do? c) Where will you do it? d) Who, if any, are your project partners?
Creating the Oak Trail, a designated nature trail, is the first step to a multi-year project. This undesignated trail is a part of the forest area surrounding a pond that is part of the City of Menominee’s Water Tower Park.
It is a delightful area to walk, observe nature for seasonal changes and explore the quiet areas of one’s mind to contemplate life’s great triumphs and struggles. The heart of the loop is a small pond, surrounded by a forest area, and a glacial sand deposit.
How will you engage your community in this project?
Community engagement is the project outcome. Presently there is limited awareness of the existing nature trail at Water Tower Park.
The funds would be utilized to purchase a sign with the trail name, trail markers and wood chips to create an even walking plane. This will allow the community to connect with nature in meaningful ways outdoors.
Having access to hiking loops within the city limits allows for a wide variety of community members to come together and appreciate their local neighborhood.
This project is the first component of a multi-year project that was proposed to the City of Menominee. The proposal outlines a number of enhancement existing features of Water Tower Park to cultivate an outdoor recreation complex.
This trail will serve the purpose of inspiring community members to appreciate the amazing beauty and wildlife that is right outside their doors!
How will the project celebrate the neighborhood’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
The creation of an established nature trail will highlight the natural beauty that is present within our community. Research, as presented by the Greater Good Science Center, indicates that being in nature has demonstrated a decrease in stress, makes individuals happier, reduces attention fatigue and increases creativity. Some studies suggest that nature can improve generosity and kindness.
By allowing outdoor opportunities to cultivate these values in community members, it allows for individuals to be more authentically themselves and promotes prosocial behaviors. This is a fundamental root to celebrating diversity. Furthermore, once established, there is no cost to walk a nature trail. Additionally, it is located within a local neighborhood, so it is open to all individuals within our community regardless of age, race, religion, nor socio-economic status!
How do you plan to spend the $1,000 microgrant? Please list and explain the items, services, fees, expertise, etc. that you plan to purchase.
– Trail name sign post with map of designated nature trail (quote pending) – estimated $590 plus shipping
– Trail markers to establish the upper and lower loops (estimated $100)
– Remaining funds to be put towards wood chips and filler for low lying areas to provide a level/dry walking path.
Will your project require special permits?
No
Are you the owner of the property where the project/event will occur?
Yes
Rachel’s Notes
Reviewed 4.17.23. Confirmed member status. submitted by an individual but it is a city project. Kind of in a neighborhood.
ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S NEEDS
Why does your neighborhood need this project?
Having access to outdoor recreation is beneficial to all age groups. Our children, teens and adults need natural spaces to explore, learn and reflect. Creating the Oak Trail is important to the overall health and well-being of our community! Nature trails breathes life into the minds of all ages.
What do you hope to achieve through this project? Be as specific as possible!
The hope is to establish a partnership with Menominee municipalities to further enhance the creation of an outdoor recreation complex at Water Tower Park. A proposal was drafted for this and shared with the City of Menominee and would be funded through a series of grant applications.
The creation of a designated nature trail will serve two functions – draw community members to appreciate the existing park, and build momentum and awareness of this wonderful resource we have in our area. As more individuals access the trail, it will help build the community’s mindset to improving other areas of the park. An additional grant will be placed at a community level in May for funds to post educational signs around this trail to build the knowledge of animal, tree and plant identification.
What resources do you already have to make this project successful? Resources could include things like time, partners, expertise, donated goods/materials/space, matching funds, and more.
The greatest resource ensuring the success of this project is the already established communication between City leaders. I have had the opportunity to work with Brett Botbyl, Menominee City Manager as well as Donna Marineau, a City Council Member.
Through their support in communicating the inventions of the Water Tower project proposal, this grant was suggested as a funding source by Jean Steagman, Menominee City Mayor. This grant application is being submitted on behalf of the City of Menominee.
Additionally, being a parent of young children, and working as a school nurse, I have a great deal of passion and motivation to carry out this work. As it is meaningful on a community level as well as for my individual family!
IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): Birds eye view of Water Tower Park!
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Image Caption 2 (if any): Pond area – would be part of the nature trail.
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Image Caption 3 (if any): Winter time view of pond area.
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Image Caption 4 (if any): Surrounding neighborhood of water tower park.
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Image Caption 5 (if any): Sample of type of sign designating the nature trail
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