ACTIVITIES

 

10th Annual Gateway Affair Fundraiser
Read the news article by Dianne Alward-Biery from the County Cleaver

 

Foresberg Memorial Donation to the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail
In October 2018, the Forsberg family met with Don Kolander of Clare County Parks and Recreation, Joy Simmer of Clare Parks and Recreation, and Tina Droomer of the Board Chair of the Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation to present a $10,000 check to go towards the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail Extension Project.

Click photo for larger image
Read more of this Press Release...

7th Annual Gateway Affair at Jay's Sporting Goods Outback Room.
(September 19, 2015)
The seventh annual Friends of the Clare County Parks and Recreation “Gateway Affair” Fundraiser took place ...
Read the Press Release

11th Annual Fall, Fun, Frenzy Halloween Party at the Harrison Lions Club Building, Oct. 31, 2014
Friends of the Clare Co. Parks & Recreation are partnering with the Harrison Lions Club to host this FREE event. This yearly event is open to all Clare County School district children from infant to 6th grades. Over 500 children and parents were treated to a variety of entertainment, games and snacks.
Read the Press Release

6th Annual Gateway Affair (2014)
Read 6th Annual Gateway Affair Press Release

 

Fall, fun, Frenzy Halloween Party at Hillside Elem. Gym, October 31, 2013
This yearly event is open to all Clare County School District children from infant to 6th grades. Over 600 children and parents were treated to a variety of entertainment, games, prises and lunch. ... Read More

1st Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser, August 10, 2013
Read the Letter to to the Clare, Farwell, and Harrison Youth Football Programs about the Donations by the Friends of Parks & Rec.

"Wilderness" Bike Ride on the Clare/Osceola County Section of the Pere Marquette Rails-to-Trails.
By A. McNeill, Staff Reporter For the Clare County Cleaver
Clare to Evart along the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, June 15, 2013.
“Wilderness” Bike Ride brings in $1,000 for Parks and Rec. ... Read More
Thank you to the Clare County Cleaver for providing these pictures, with permission!

 

"A Gateway Affair" that took place June 1st 2013
By A. McNeill, Staff Reporter For the Clare County Cleaver
$5,000 Raised for Clare County Parks and Recreation ... Read More

 

Green Pine Lake Pathway Clean Up Phase 1 (April 27, 2013)
Teamwork Improves Green Pine Lake Pathway For Hikers ... Read More

 

4th Annual Gateway Affair (June 14, 2012)
"A Gateway Affair" that took place June 2nd 2012 ... Read More

 

Courtney Park Revitalization (January 27, 2012)
Hamilton Twp. and Friends of Clare Parks Team Up to Revitalize Local Park ... Read More

GRANTS

July 20, 2022

Benjamin Hunt, 15 of Weidman and his family frequently ride the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail through Clare County and that is when he noticed a need for some additional benching and seating for trail users. Hunt is currently registered with Virtual Troop 780 and was looking for a project to complete for his Eagle Scout Service Project. Hunt contacted Joy Simmer, the Clare Parks and Recreation Director who is also the Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation board secretary. From there they held a meeting to go over the project proposal. Simmer invited Hunt to attend a Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation board meeting where he presented the proposed project to the board. The Friends board was in agreement that the trail could use some additional seating and agreed to assist with the project. Click here to read the full Press Release.

 

October 9, 2020

Footbridge installed at the Emerald Isle Recreation Complex

Pictured above: J. Camp with volunteers from Eagle Scout Troop 620

During the spring and summer of 2020, Eagle Scout, Josh Camp worked towards completing his Eagle Scout Service Project. Josh saw a need for a footbridge at the Emerald Isle Recreation Complex. The area where he chose to put the footbridge was where there is deep trenching between the trail and one of the larger fields. This trench could pose an issue for visitors trying to cross over to get to those larger fields.
Read the complete Press Release.

(left to right) Tina Colosky – Board Chair of the Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation, Joy Simmer – Director of Recreation for the City of Clare, Joshua Camp – Eagle Scout from Troop 620, and Leslie Walker and Karen Lewandowski from the Friends of Clare County Parks and Recreation Board.

 

September 29, 2020
New Trail Maps for MMC Thanks to Eagle Scout Riley Hayer & $500 Grant from the Friends of Clare Co. Parks & Rec.

Riley Heyer, Nia Becker, & Don Kolander set the final Map
The Friends gave a $500 grant toward Riley Hayer's Eagle Scout Project to post trail map signs on the Mid Michigan College trails in Clare County. Riley has been responsible for creating the trail map, and posting 20 maps on the trails. The maps clearly show all the Hiking, and Biking trails, along with the trail distances.

Board of Friends of Clare Co. Parks & Rec with Riley at the MMC Poet Outdoor Center
Download the Trail Map Here (coming soon)

 

2018 Rails To Trails Conservancy Doppelt Fund grant in the amount of $5000.00. (September, 2018)
Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce that Clare is the recipient of a 2018 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Doppelt Fund grant in the amount of $5000.00. This grant is intended to assist with increasing support for an off-road alignment of the popular Pere Marquette Rail Trail through the City of Clare, to help bicyclists navigate the gap and visit the city. This gap is referred to as the “Clare Gap”.
Read more...

 

Grant to Greenwood Township for Playground Area Improvements (Oct. 2017)

 

Grant to help give disabled access at Wilson State Park beach. (Sept. 2017)
Starting next summer visitors to Wilson State Park in Harrison with physical challenges will have easier access to the clear water of Budd Lake, thanks to a generous grant from the Clare County Community Foundation. The $4,000 grant will allow the purchase of a special mat that will run from the parking area to the lake and allow for people with disabilities, walkers and elderly visitors to join friends and family in the water.
Read the Press Release

 

Grant to City of Clare Recreation Dept. (Aug. 2017)
Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation granted $656 to provide the sand for the new beach volleyball courts at Shamrock Lake Park in Clare.

 

Grant to Village of Farwell (May 2015)
Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation Board Member Don Kolander presented a $1000.00 check to the Village of Farwell Parks and Recreation Committee. The Village of Farwell Parks and Recreation Committee wrote a grant to help with funding for fixing and painting the swings at the front of the park. This is the second year the Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation has helped the Village of Farwell. The Farwell DPW Crew; Russ Hamilton, Jason Walters, and Rob Sabisch fixed and painted the swings up. The Village of Farwell Parks and Recreation Committee includes Gina Hamilton, Joe Hilyard, Joe Manley and Tracy Lee who wrote the grant for the committee.

 

Harrison Little League Baseball Improvements
$500 for Harrison Little League Baseball field fencing, and improvements.

$1000 Donation to the Clare/Gladwin 5K River/Run/Walk for the Backpack for Buddies Program, May 10, 2014
Thanks to the Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation for their generous $1000.00 donation to the Clare/Gladwin 5K River/Run/Walk. This run/walk is endorsed by the Governor’s Council. This event took place starting at the MidMichigan Medical Center-Gladwin Community Education on Saturday, May 10, 2014. The race/walk event was enjoyed by 60 community members. On the day of the event $340.00 was donated by our participants. Friends, families and community members participated by volunteering their time, walking and/or running the race. They enjoyed a sunny, spring day with the beautiful scenery of the Riverwalk path. The donations and the proceeds will be used for the Clare/Gladwin Backpack program for the Clare/Gladwin counties school districts. This program is being supported by the Clare/Gladwin Health and Plan committee, a sub-committee of the Together We Can, serving 6 counties. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors, Together We Can in collaboration with the Central Michigan District Health Department, MidMichigan Health, S.P.A.R.K.S of the Clare/Gladwin RESD, Friends of Clare County Parks & Recreation, Vasher’s Country Garden, Buckeye Market, and Kile Plumbing. If you would like to know more about the Backpack program, please contact: Julie Wright, RN, BSN, MidMichigan Medical Center-Gladwin Community Nurse Educator at (989) 246-6291 or Kim Schiavi of the Central Michigan District Health Department, HP&P/Community Transformation Grant Secretary at 989-773-5921, extension 8440. Thanks, Julie L. Wright, RN, BSN Community Nurse Educator MidMichigan Medical Center-Gladwin

Grant for Improvements on the rail-trail near the Farwell Village Park.
Village DPW crews leveled the transition from trail to park verge, installed cement pads for the benches, bicycle racks and trash containers which were purchased with a grant from 'Friends'. Bicycle racks were seen as an important safety factor; enabling storage while trail users visited Village and Park facilities.
The DPW has also kindly agreed too handle annual seasonal installation and removal of other benches installed by 'Friends' along the trail at other locations in the area. Seasonal removal of the benches was deemed advisable in areas where snowmobiles are allowed to operate; as these vehicles do not always keep to the defined use area.

MMCC Fitness Center Grant (March, 2012)
Grant Helps Community Members Use MMCC’s Fitness Center for Free ... Read More