Connecting Communities Grants

Connecting Communities is a competitive grant program that provides supplemental funding for the development of non-motorized trails or similar projects.

Projects should support the Parks and Recreation Commission’s primary goal of providing valuable, non-motorized connections between communities and activity centers thus offering a healthy alternative for recreation, transportation, fitness, and energy conservation.

Non-motorized trail along Baker Road in Northfield Township

Eligibility

The program is open to all municipalities and public entities in Washtenaw County. 

Eligible Projects

How To Apply

The 2022 grant cycle is now open. Submissions are due by 4:00 PM, August 31, 2022. 

Interested applicants should review the program criteria found in the application package below and notify us of the intent to apply. All projects will be scored competitively, due to the limited amount of funding available. Projects that are awarded funding will be announced in the fall.

New for 2022, staff will be offering an informational webinar via Zoom on Tuesday, May 24, at 11am. First-time Connecting Communities grant applicants and those wishing to learn more about the initiative are encouraged to attend. Please email [email protected] for login information. We will also place a copy of the presentation on this webpage after the session.

2022 Application Package
2022 Scoring Criteria

Connecting Communities Background

The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPARC) is a proponent of the development of non-motorized trails within the community.  In order to maximize its resources and assist communities with their own trail projects, the WCPARC initially made available up to $600,000 each year during the 2010 to 2014 period ($3 million in total) toward the cost of eligible projects. By the end of 2014, fifteen projects were awarded to ten different communities. 

In 2016, the residents of Washtenaw County passed a four-year Road and Trails Millage of which 20% will be allocated to WCPARC for the development of non-motorized trails, including the Border to Border Trail. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to use 1/3 of its allocation to reinstate the Connecting Communities initiative. The Millage was renewed for another four years in 2020, therefore the Connecting Communities program will remain active through at least 2024.

For more information, please call WCPARC staff at 734-971-6337.