The purpose of the Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan is to assess the needs for parks, recreation, open space and greenways and to identify the actions to be taken to improve and maintain these facilities. In addition, a five-year plan is also required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to maintain eligibility for grant funding.
A significant portion of the City’s existing park system exists today because of grant funding support from the MDNR. Community support has also been instrumental in improvements to East Lansing’s park system, with voter approval of three bond initiatives since 1995 and generous individual, organizational and corporate contributions for various projects.