SAGINAW, MI — A piece of Saginaw County land that once housed a longtime General Motors factory will be the new home to a public riverfront park.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources acquired 334 acres, located at 77 W. Center St. and along the Saginaw River, from RACER Trust for a new waterfront park. The property is on the west side of the river, just south of M-46 and downtown Saginaw.

Saginaw County Parks and Recreation will operate the property as a destination for hiking, fishing, wildlife watching and other light recreation, while also providing equipment, facilities and staffing for the park.

The acquired property includes wetlands, shallow-water ponds and forested river corridors, offering opportunities for wildlife viewing and increased trail connectivity, according to officials with Saginaw County Parks and Recreation.

“I view the acquisition and conversion of this site as transformational in the way we view land use going forward in our community,” Saginaw County Board of Commissioner Chairman Michael Webster. “This is a highly unique partnership that will allow more citizens to enjoy the pristine natural features of our region.”

Two Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants totaling $590,000 will provide funding for park development, with the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Michigan chapter of The Nature Conservancy establishing a maintenance endowment, according to project organizers.

Development will include an entrance gate, recycling and trash bins, interpretive signage, an accessible trail for fitness and recreation, and another trail at the southern end of the park for wildlife viewing, according to a joint press release from Saginaw County Parks and Recreation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Trails within the park will also link to the Iron Belle Trail – which spans from Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit – as well as the Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail, Saginaw Valley Rail Trail and surrounding public land and nearby neighborhoods.

“Providing opportunities for safe recreational experiences, healthy lifestyles and wildlife appreciation for all Michigan citizens is a priority,” said DNR Director Dan Eichinger. “By creating more accessible green spaces for residents of urban communities like Saginaw, we and our partners are helping to improve quality of life.”

Future phases of park development may include restoration of prairie grasslands and habitat, additional wildlife observation platforms and trail connections to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and the Green Point Environmental Learning Center. Public input will be sought on future park development, according to the press release.

“This 334-acre acquisition along the confluence of the Tittabwassee and Shiawassee Rivers, forming the Saginaw River, is a critical piece of the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Restoring the site’s natural features and forever protecting it has been a worthwhile process,” said Brian Keenan-Lechel, director of Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. “One planned component of the development phase will be an interpretive timeline of the property, detailing its rich history. Saginaw County Parks is excited to work collaboratively with the MDNR and the community on the development phase and looks forward to welcoming patrons onto this scenic property.”

The properties were owned and operated by the former General Motors Corp. before RACER Trust took ownership in 2011 as a result of the GM bankruptcy. They include the former Saginaw Malleable Iron Plant property — which made iron castings — a closed landfill and a small parcel that is adjacent to the former Delphi Saginaw Steering Gear Plant 2, according to officials with the DNR.

GM got rid of five properties in Saginaw during its downsizing. They were among 89 properties in the US that moved into RACER's possession, MLive/The Saginaw News has reported.

Prior to the DNR’s acquisition of the property, RACER Trust completed extensive evaluation and remediation work, with oversight and approval by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. RACER Trust will continue monitoring and maintenance activities at the property. The DNR, in cooperation with its partners and other government agencies, also reviewed the remedial work at the property and developed plans to ensure continued safe use, according to the press release.

“We are very pleased to be able to make this opportunity available to the community and hope it serves as a valuable resource and asset to the people of Saginaw County,” said Elliott P. Laws, of EPLET, LLC, administrative trustee of RACER Trust.

A community celebration and groundbreaking for the Saginaw riverfront park will be held during the spring of 2020.

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