A National Fish and Wildlife Service (NFWS) Grant of $197,000 has been applied for to build a bridge to replace a failing unsafe culvert pipe and protect endangered aquatic species at Fox Nature Preserve.

On 10/14, the Oakland Township Board supported the Parks and Recreation Commission’s (PRC) application. Although PRC is a separately elected, mostly autonomous body under state law, granting agencies invariably want to see support of PRC plans from our Township Board as well.

In my view this is an important project to make the park more usable. Currently the north and south portions are separated by this culvert which has safety warning signs restricting access. I’ve never FOIA’ d the safety report from our insurance company to get details, but I can see a possible drowning hazard for children being sucked into the culvert pipe and trapped under water.

After compliments from Trustee John Cassadei to PRC” s Dr. Ben VanderWeide for saving taxpayer money by pursuing grants, resident John Markel raised the question of our $37,000,000,000,000 national debt and don’t such grants contribute to it.

The facts are – NFWS is a 501C3 non-profit. It’s 2024 annual report shows $544,683,360 of annual revenue, with 41% from federal funding and 59% from other sources. See page 28 at this link –  annual-report-2024-web.pdf

See all   74 pages of application information at this link to the board packet. See pages 50 through 124 753195553.pdf

See the full 9 minute Board discussion on the meeting video at Agenda 6-2, minutes 22:50 to 32:00 at this link: Board of Trustees Meeting – October 14, 2025