Development of a waterfront community park on the Railroad Dock in St. Ignace could begin as early as next fall, now that the city is slated to receive a $134,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant, plus an additional $38,000 from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for the park's accessibility to handicapped visitors.

Deb Evashevski, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director, told board members Friday, December 12, that the grasscovered family park will include walkways, landscaping, a fishing platform, picnic area, signs telling local history, and a children's education section with a railroad and history theme. The planned park will be developed on land near the boardwalk that leads to the Wawatam Lighthouse.

Total cost of the project is estimated to be $210,000.

The project was turned down for a Trust Fund grant last year.

The city now has $248,000 for the project because of the Kellogg Foundation's bonus grant of $38,000.

A $25,000 grant for the project was awarded last year by De - partment of Environmental Quality Coastal Zone Man - agement, which has been holding the funds in anticipation the city would move forward with the project.

To meet matching grant re - quirements, local organizations have pledged $51,000, including $10,000 from Mackinac County, $10,000 from the city, of which $5,000 is in-kind labor and $5,000 is in funding, $5,000 from St. Ignace Kiwanis Club, $3,000 from the St. Ignace Lions Club, and $23,000 from the DDA.

The Kellogg grant for handicap accessibility, said Mrs. Evashevski, "doesn't have to be earmarked for this project. We can use it as we choose."

To apply for it, she assembled a committee of local residents to work on handicap accessible requirements for the park. Com - mittee members include Mike Grogan, who uses a wheel chair, John Miller, who is legally blind, Phyllis Chan, who works with special education children at St. Ignace Area Schools, the Rever - end Wayne Foote, who represents senior citizens, and city engineer Brian Olsen of R.S. Scott and Associates, who knows handicap accessible construction guidelines.

Braille will be incorporated into the park's signs.

The Natural Resources Trust Fund board recommended the $134,000 grant earlier this month and sent it to Governor Jennifer Granholm, who will forward it to the Legislature for appropriation. This usually is completed by the end of the summer.

The Trust Fund was established in 1976 to provide funding for public acquisition of lands for resource protection and for public outdoor recreation. Funds come from royalties on the sale and lease of state-owned mineral rights. This is the second year the W. K. Kellogg Foundation has funded the development of accessible outdoor recreation facilities and to promote education of accessibility issues.

Since 1991, the DDA has sought and been awarded $1,724,756 in grants and received another $689,134 in local contrib utions. Projects have included the development of American Legion Park, Kiwanis Beach, and the boardwalk.