Courtesy Photo This artist’s rendering provided by the city shows the proposed redevelopment of property on the northeastern banks of the Thunder Bay River. That’s the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center at the far right as seen from the river in the foreground.

ALPENA — A $4.5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. that would have built a new park and amphitheater adjacent to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center has been canceled.

State officials reallocated similar grants across Michigan to help small businesses struggling after being forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant was approved earlier this year and a fundraising effort was launched to collect the $450,000 needed for a 10% match.

Katie Wolf, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the Maritime Heritage Center, said she understands why the money was shuffled around for other uses.

“Given the scale and impact of the pandemic, and the needs that there are, you just have to do what you have to do,” she said.

To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in March ordered all but the most essential businesses to close, and they are only now beginning to reopen. More than 2 million Michiganders have filed for unemployment benefits since March.

The MEDC project would have included an extension of the Maritime Heritage Trail along the Thunder Bay River, a playground area, a pair of pavilions, shade structures, expanded parking, up to four sports courts, and a festival space with an amphitheater.

Wolf said that, although the MEDC has decided not to fund the project now, the Friends of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary group and its partners are trying to find funds elsewhere. Wolf said she couldn’t give specifics, yet, but federal money is being sought.

She added it is still possible that the state recommits to the project when its balance sheet improves.

“I can say we are looking at a variety of sources for funding, primarily from federal funds,” she said. “We have also received word from the state that we can still use the matching funds when the MEDC is in position to resume the block grants. Also, all the people who I have talked to that make donations or pledged funds think the project is still worthwhile and committed to it.”

Depending how much money the group can capture, the size and scope of the project could change, Wolf said.

“The project could be scaled back, or could be more gradual,” Wolf said. “It is still moving forward, though, and we are going to continue to make sure it is shovel-ready, because many grants call for shovel-ready projects. That, and finding funding, are our main goals right now.”