9 & 10 News July 6, 2021 A major proposal for Michigan’s local parks and trails, $150 million. Last month, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposed to use $250 million of federal COVID-19 relief funds to improve state parks. Tuesday, it’s $150 million for local parks and trails. “Parks are essential infrastructure and, accordingly, we should invest,” said Gov. Whitmer. Whitmer says the state’s park system, both state and local, has been underfunded for decades. During the pandemic, they are being used more than they have been in decades. “We saw through the pandemic how important it was for us to get outside,” said Whitmer, “To connect, to stay safe, to keep our sanity.”