From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for spending a “historic” $250 million in federal coronavirus relief aid to upgrade state parks and trails. Thursday’s announcement comes as Senate Republicans propose a $1.5 billion plan to fix deteriorating local bridges. They’re the latest proposals added to the mix as the Democratic governor and Legislature consider how to use $6.5 billion in discretionary COVID-19 funding included in a rescue package. Whitmer says the pandemic disproportionately hit the tourism industry and hospitality sector, and that funds should be used to help tourism-reliant communities rebound. She points to a backlog of maintenance requests at parks
