Lions Club Seeks Match for $10,000 Challenge Grant, Has Dec. 30 Deadline
By Amy Polk

Above, Clark Township Recreation Committee members (from left) P.J. Smith, Dan Izzard, Linda Sherlund, Phil Milan of the Les Cheneaux Lions Club, Mike McMaken of McMaken Carpentry, Steve Autore, Darrell Hill, Linda Hudson, and Gene Collins of the Les Cheneaux Lions Club, dedicated the new picnic pavilion Wednesday, October 17. Below, the 30-foot by 40-foot wood and steel pavilion has a steel ceiling to make it easier to keep clean. It will provide a sheltered area for outdoor picnics, gatherings, and meetings.

Les Cheneaux Lions Club will help raise $10,000 for Clark Township recreation, and the effort may bring another $10,000 to the township from an anonymous donor who pledged to match the amount the club raises. To date, the Lions Club has raised $7,700 toward this challenge grant, and members have until December 30 to raise the balance.

"The donor made it very clear that he was looking for individual investment for this project," said Lions Club member Ken Drenth. "The donor is looking for the local people who can give smaller amounts, like $25 or $50."

Because of this one stipulation, Clark Township was unable use a $10,000 Mackinac County economic development grant as the match, but instead must find new sources of funding. Clark Township received the county grant in May, and the money was used to drill and install a well, add electrical service, and prepare the recreation park site in Cedarville for irrigation. Over the summer, McMaken Carpentry of Cedarville also constructed and donated a 30-foot by 40-foot, wood and steel pavilion. The structure was dedicated before the Recreation Committee meeting Wednesday, October 17.

"We thought if we built something nice here, everyone in the community would follow with their support for the park," Mike McMaken said. "We wanted to make sure we had a great take-off for this recreation park."

Community support has made his business successful, Mr. McMaken said, growing it from three employees to 25 over the past 15 years, so he wanted to give something back to the community.

"We certainly are grateful to Mike for his donation, and it's a great start for the recreation park," said Steve Autore, a member of the recreation committee.

Mr. McMaken's donation joins other contributions of money, time, and equipment from groups and individuals like the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, Frank Taylor, Michigan Limestone Operations, Mathews Excavating, R and R Excavating, Phil Milan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Autore Oil and Propane Company, MOTHERS Computers, and many other individual donors who have contributed time and money. K and K Concrete of DeTour also donated free labor by pouring the cement pad for the pavilion.

The $10,000 challenge grant drive led by the Les Cheneaux Lions Club is hoped to bring a total of $20,000 by December if the Lions Club meets its goal and the anonymous donor contributes $10,000. The money will offset the cost of building the two new ball diamonds that will be used for recreational ball games like softball, T-ball, and slowpitch. The recreation park is behind Clark Township Hall, off Blind Line Road, and the new pavilion is now visible from the road.

The Lions Club has asked the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation to be the fiscal agent for the challenge grant, so donations to help the club meet its fundraising goal can be sent to: Lions Club Recreation Project Challenge Grant to the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Cedarville, Michigan 49719. Checks should be written to "Lions Club Recreation Challenge Grant."

The Lions Club is interested in the recreation project, Mr. Drenth said, because members see its potential to make Clark Township a more attractive place to live by providing more activities for residents and visitors. After the ball field project, Recreation Committee members are planning volleyball courts, a walking path, skating rink, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and restrooms.

"There's a recognition on the Lions Club that having a quality recreation facility is a real community asset," Mr. Drenth said. "A community recreation facility makes our area more attractive as a recreation destination, and the more reasons we can give people to come here, the better it will be for us."

To that end, Lions Club members bought two sets of bleachers for the park last December, and members will donate time and rock-picking equipment to removing the many rocks in the field and planting grass seed.

"The Lions Club wants to make this a priority in the community," Mr. Drenth said.