Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated passage of the balanced and bipartisan budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes $45 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants for 75 land acquisition and park development projects across the state. 

One of the included grants for the coming year is for $200,000 for the DNR to upgrade the Barry Shooting Range in Yankee Springs, adding electricity, water, septic, a range tower and accessible facilities. 

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund celebrates its 50th anniversary year this year. It is a restricted fund that was established to provide funding for public acquisition of lands for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as for public outdoor recreation development projects. It is funded through interest and earnings on funds derived from the revenues of state-owned oil, gas and minerals.