Petoskey News Review Article
Grant request could help bring Boyne Area Skate Park closer to fruition
M. Alan Scott
The Petoskey News-Review
Updated Feb. 26, 2026, 9:17 a.m. ET
The Boyne Area Skate Park could be closer to becoming a reality.
The Boyne City Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 24 unanimously approved the Parks & Recreation Commission’s recommendation to let the city apply for up to $282,000 in state funding for the skate park.
That funding is available through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF). The Michigan Department of Natural Resources administers the MNRTF, which is a grant program that supports land conservation and public outdoor recreation across the state. The fund is financed mainly through interest earnings generated from revenues derived from state-owned mineral, oil and gas leases, rather than general tax dollars.
Funding is provided for the acquisition of land for natural resource protection and development of public outdoor recreation facilities, such as parks, trails and access sites. The Boyne Area Skate Park qualifies under these guidelines. The fund’s provisions require the skate park to apply through local units of government or other public entities, necessitating support from the Boyne City Commission.
Boyne Area Skate Park is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its vice president, Greg Vadnais said he won’t know until later this fall if the park will be awarded the full grant request, but that the project continues to move forward regardless. The skate park had to be included in the city’s latest Master Plan under the Parks and Recreation section to be eligible for the MNRTF.
“Everyone supports this. The community has been 100% behind us from the police chief to the (city commissioners),” Vadnais said. “We have other verbal commitments as well.”
The skate park would be constructed at Boyne City Rotary Park between the soccer fields and the baseball diamonds. Most of the land has already been cleared, Vadnais said. The land has been surveyed and soil samples taken. All other preliminary approvals are in place. All that remains is the funding.
If the MNRTF grant is awarded, Vadnais said the nonprofit will only need to raise an additional $15,000 to $20,000 to fund the expected construction costs of the skate park. The group continues to pursue other methods of funding as well, including grants, public and private donations, and fundraisers.
Muskrat Distilling is hosting a fundraiser for the skate park from 7-11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 at its Boyne City location, 121 Water St. One dollar from every drink sold during that time will be donated to the Boyne Area Skate Park.
“The distillery is in support of building the skate park and investing in our community,” Muskrat Distilling General Manager Rebecca Houser wrote in a text. She said the restaurant doesn’t have a fundraising goal in mind but hopes to raise “as much as we can.”
Under current plans, a completed Boyne Area Skate Park will include a dedicated space for skateboarding, BMX, scooters and other wheeled sports that support physical activity, socializing and skill development for people of all ages.
The group has hosted several fundraising events and community activities, such as skate fundraisers, booths at local events and merchandise sales to support the park’s eventual construction.
Vadnais said fundraisers like the one hosted by Muskrat Distilling help to build further support for the project in a fun way.
“It’s a great event with food, non-alcoholic drinks, karaoke and more,” he said. “We appreciate their support and any support from the community.”