GRAND BLANC, MI – The City of Grand Blanc is moving forward with plans to repurpose a former golf course into a public outdoor recreation area, supported by a $1.5 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The funding will help transform 147 acres of the Jewel of Grand Blanc golf course, 5270 Perry Road, into a park designed to offer diverse outdoor activities.

This addition will expand the city’s park system and address a lack of recreational spaces on the east side, where residents have had limited access to green areas.

“Any of our residents will be within 10 minutes of a park,” said Wendy Jean-Buhrer, Grand Blanc city manager. “Almost all of our residents are except for those individuals that are near the golf course.”

The city manager also said it’s rare to have that much vacant land available in the city, and the money comes from an off-cycle grant – funding awarded outside the standard or scheduled application and review periods for a grant program.

Off-cycle grants are typically offered under special circumstances, such as when additional funds become available, a unique opportunity arises, or there is an urgent need for a specific project.

During the Nov. 5 election, residents were asked to approve .5 mills for the operations, benefit and maintenance of all city parks in November, but it was turned down by 143 votes.

The city conducted a master plan in 2022 receiving input from residents on what they’d want in the park.

The features included pickleball courts, a disc golf course, walking trails and dog parks, all of which the park will have.

This grant money is only for acquisition and demolition. The city will utilize the annual $120,000 and future grants for amenities in the park, Jean-Buhrer said.

“We also want to have some public input sessions with two of the subdivisions of Kings Pointe Apartments because they are greatly impacted by the new park, and we want to know what they would like to see in it,” she said.

The city manager said in addition to this project, 142 new homes will be built on the north side of the park constructed by Statewide Management LLC, who owns the golf course.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring.

The Jewel of Grand Blanc hasn’t been in operation since 2021 after Statewide Management purchased it.

“This will more than double our access to public park land,” Jean-Buhrer said. “We have heard from a lot of the community that lives along the golf course and in other areas of the city and this is what they would like.”