Port Huron City Council requests grants to fund Black River Canal repairs, parks and more

Yahoo

11-03-2025

The Port Huron City Council approved applications for several grants during its regular meeting Monday that would go toward repairing or replacing city parks and infrastructure.
The eight grant applications, which combined to just under $10 million, were all approved by the city council. Each of the grants required a match from Port Huron, which City Manager James Freed said had already been accounted for in the budget.
The most notable application was for $6.5 million from the Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending Appropriations Program which provides federal funding to local communities, for renovations to the Black River Canal. The proposed renovations would reduce the risk of the canal being damaged by natural disasters, flooding or erosion, according to the grant proposal in the agenda minutes.
Related news: Black River Canal work paused due to funding issues
During public comment Scott Farquhar, a local resident who has previously organized efforts to clean the river and who jokingly calls himself the self-appointed mayor of the Black River, encouraged the council to vote yes on the grant.
"The importance of that canal, it's not only for boating," Farquhar said. "I know one of you for sure lives on Black River, but we all see Black River and the debacle that has happened with the canal and what it's done to Black River, as far as the water flow."
The Tainter gate structure of the Black River Canal was damaged in January 2024 by flood waters. Freed announced in February that plans to repair the canal were being paused due to the high cost and the lack of assistance from neighboring communities.
Freed said the city may not know if the federal funds will be granted until October. He said he has put in an identical application for state funding.
"I'm just asking everyone for money, hopefully one of them gives it to us," Freed said.
More area news: Detours ahead: Portion of Allen Road to be closed for bridge work
The city also approved an application for $2.25 million from the federal government to cover a new fire truck equipped with an extendable ladder.
Freed said a new fire truck with an aerial ladder was a necessity with or without the grant, and that the price could significantly increase if the city waits to purchase a replacement.
"A fire engine was about $400,000 a couple of years ago. Now you're approaching almost $1 million," Freed said. "The latest fire truck we bought was in the $600,000 range. An aerial ladder truck about 10 years ago was about $1.5-$1.7 million. It's now $1 million more."
The remaining six grant applications were to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Passport Fund and Trust Fund, each for either $150,000 or $250,000 to pay for repairs and upgrades to Port Huron's parks.
Each of the grant applications was approved, though City Councilmember Barbara Payton voted no on two of the applications for upgrades to Sanborn Park.
Payton expressed concern that Sanborn Park would be getting funds for a permanent restroom when similar proposals for a restroom in parks on the southern side of the city had been rejected.
"I'm wondering how it is that this is going to be implemented in Sanborn Park when the south side has been neglected for many years," Payton said.
Freed said SC4 would be assisting in maintaining the Sanborn Park facilities. City Councilmember Sherri Archibald noted two of the other proposals were for upgrades to Knox Field on the south side of Port Huron.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron seeks funds for Black River Canal, fire and park upgrades