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Riverbank Park – one of five units within the new state park planned in Flint, Genesee County – is getting an exciting boost from the U.S. Department of the Interior: a $5 million grant through the DOI’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.
The 230-acre state park will unite five existing local parks and natural areas with new, nonmotorized connector trails stretching along sections of the Flint River and Swartz Creek. Extending approximately 3 miles east to west and more than 1.5 miles north to south, the Y-shaped park design will help diversify outdoor recreation opportunities, energize the riverfront and support the local economy by bringing more people to the area.
"The possibility of developing a new state park or outdoor recreation facility in Genesee County has been a goal for quite some time," said Ron Olson, chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division. "Seeing it come together, with inspired partners and community support, is incredibly rewarding. This Department of Interior grant helps keep that momentum in high gear."
The DOI awarded Genesee County Parks – a cooperative partner with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division to establish the new state park – $5 million in federal funds to create new upland recreation amenities at Riverbank Park. This will include the installation of pavilions, picnic tables, benches, bike racks, barbecue stations, restroom facilities, an outdoor exercise station, and accessible sidewalks, pathways and ramps. New safety measures such as handrails, a lighting network and sightlines also will be included.
The grant was matched with $5 million of nonfederal grant dollars, including $1.48 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund support and $3.52 million in other local funds.
As part of a unique cooperative agreement with the State of Michigan, Genesee County Parks will operate and perform ongoing maintenance at the new state park, while overall it will be jointly managed with the DNR to offer visitors an efficient, familiar state park experience.
"We're excited to collaborate with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to create this lasting legacy for the citizens of the city of Flint, Genesee County and the state of Michigan," said Patrick Linihan, director of Genesee County Parks.
The new park will become Michigan's 104th state park, and the first state park in Genesee County.
Bids for these planned recreation improvements, along with other upland recreation improvement projects, will be posted at a later date on the project site.
Construction in the new state park is already underway, and enhancements will be ongoing through 2026 when construction is expected to finish.
Earlier this year, work began to restore passage in the Flint River, including fully removing two dams and creating a new in-river structure (including six riffles). This will help create new recreational boating access within the river and open 25 miles of waterways for fish passage. This in-river work is expected to be completed in 2025.
While many of the park units are already open to the public, it's anticipated that enhancements will be ongoing through 2026 when construction is expected to finish.
Up to $30.2 million in federal relief funding (American Rescue Plan Act funding) was proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and approved by the Michigan Legislature in March 2022 for the development of a new state park in Flint. That funding is now leveraged by $16 million of additional funding for development of the park.
Additionally, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation provided a critical $18 million investment, which was then matched by $22 million in additional state general funds. This remarkable collaboration created a sustainable $40 million endowment with the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, ensuring long-term, sustainable funding for this park’s operation and maintenance.
For more information on the project, contact Ron Olson at OlsonR@Michigan.gov or 517-243-1477 or Patrick Linihan at plinihan@gcparks.org or 810-249-3812.
Project information, including unit details, a construction timeline and more, is also available at Michigan.gov/StateParksProgress.
Contact: Ron Olson (DNR Parks and Recreation), 517-243-1477 or Patrick Linihan (Genesee County Parks), 810-249-3812