The City of Alpena is submitting a grant application to the Michigan Department of Natural resources for a trailhead project off Woodward Avenue.

The project is a collaborative effort between the city, county, township and the local soccer association, which has “control” of the approximate three-acre parcel the trailhead would be built on.

The $350,000 project would be funded through a combination of the $245,000 grant and a local match of $105,000.  The local match would be comprised of city engineering costs, youth and recreation millage money and other local foundation grants.  The city and township would each kick in $3,500.

The county still needs to agree to turn over control of the property from the soccer association to the city.  The soccer association has already agree to give up control of the land, which is located on the north end of the soccer fields.

The project consists of a parking area for cars, trucks and trailers, a pavilion with picnic tables and benches, a bathroom facility, bike racks and more.  If the grant is awarded and the other funding pieces fall into place, the city would like to begin construction in 2013.