http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html The original Gratiot River County Park (100 acres and 4,000 feet of Lake Superior sand, slate, and cobble lakeshore) was established in 2002. It was acquired by Keweenaw County using a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant (75%) and a Federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grant (NAWCA, 25%). The NWC advocated for the project at the township, county, and state levels; obtained the NAWCA grant on behalf of the County; helped obtain three Trust Fund Grant extensions; and facilitated/negotiated/resolved the grant development, mineral rights, easement, and cabin issues. Shortly after the Park was established, the owners of the land immediately to the north launched plans to develop 24 lakefront homes with access via a bridge across the Gratiot River, right splat in the middle of the new Park. To permanently preclude the bridge, the NWC purchased the land (called Gratiot River North) in 2003 and served as interim owner until late 2008, when the bulk of the GRN lakefront (122 acres and 4,489 feet of shoreline; the remainder acreage is NWC Gratiot River North) was acquired as an Addition to the Park by the County using another Trust Fund Grant (75%). This second Trust Fund grant was written and administered by the NWC on behalf of the County, and the NWC donated the required 25% matching funds ($677,000) by selling the property for 75% of its state-appraised value. Special recognition and thanks to then County Board Chairman Don Keith, whose vision and leadership were critical to the success of the Addition project. It simply would not have happened without Mr. Keith. If you love this area, please consider joining the NWC. The Park and Addition would not exist without the efforts of the NWC, and the five years of interim ownership left the NWC considerably in debt. To view the images below, double-click on any photo or play slideshow. Directions to GRCP at bottom of page. http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#0 2334dade-530b-4a94-80ad-cce9d42bb45e http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/mouth/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/mouth/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">mouth of the Gratiot River</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#1 e8ed9522-cae1-4162-b8f7-94c85e57b9c6 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00212/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00212/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">trout, and salmon, and smelt, <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">oh my</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#2 a2e59cb9-a2bd-4710-b5a9-56ab0e3465d2 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/cobble/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/cobble/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">cobble</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#3 a7ef4be1-2007-46e1-9189-2919fb94c1b2 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00025/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00025/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">thimbleberry blossoms</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#4 6dc1e89e-d777-4934-9d17-bbd6759ecf64 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC01720/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC01720/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">the drive to and from GRCP is a great fall color tour</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#5 cc7fd13f-c91f-4b82-a14e-6092b5907825 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00596/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC00596/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">wood duck nest box on the river, part of the NAWCA grant</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#6 efc37913-f1d3-4cad-af3b-29a872354fbe http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC01654/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/DSC01654/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">August sunset</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#7 dc485e03-05db-4c2c-963b-64f05fd017a1 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/NWC%20GRN%20and%20GRCP%20detail/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/NWC%20GRN%20and%20GRCP%20detail/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">NWC GRN and GRCP detail</p></div></div> http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park.html#8 b023487c-b3ee-463c-aa67-7fe2075fdec9 http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/directions%20to%20all/thumb.jpg http://www.northwoodsconservancy.org/NWC/Gratiot_River_Park_files/Media/directions%20to%20all/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">Gratiot River Road (yellow) leads  to GRCP/Lake Superior.</p></div></div>