Genesee County, MI — Take a look around. Things are happening here, and people are starting to notice.

One of the things we are most excited about is a direct tie to the future of Genesee County as a destination for outdoor recreation, as well as the Board of Commissioners’ mission to promote healthy, safe and livable communities across the county.

There’s a new state park coming to the county — our first!

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, once the project is completed, contiguous river passage, that has been absent for more than a century, will be restored. This includes a whopping 25 miles of waterways for fish passage and providing new opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and other water-based recreation.

Under an agreement with the DNR, our very own Genesee County Parks, Michigan’s largest county parks system, will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and operation of this vital public asset.

The project will transform the downtown waterfront, an extend opportunities for outdoor recreation for our more than 400,000 residents. The expanse will encompass an area three miles east to west and more than 1.5 miles north to south in the heart of Genesee County (click here for the map).

From the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

“A new state park is coming to Flint, and it will energize the riverfront, create more diverse recreation opportunities and bring economic benefits to the city.

While many of the park units are already open to the public, enhancements will be ongoing through 2026 when construction is expected to finish.

The approximately 230-acre state park, which will be located along a 3-mile stretch of the Flint River and a section of Swartz Creek (a tributary of the Flint River), will be Michigan’s 104th state park and Genesee County’s first. It will bring together local existing parks and natural areas, creating an outdoor experience of five park units and connector trails.”

This ambitious project, slated to be completed in 2026, would not have been possible without a partnership between Michigan DNR, The Genesee County Board of Commissioners, The Mott Foundation and the City of Flint.

Onward and upward!

More info here: https://tinyurl.com/5bx2vf22