News Photo by Julie Riddle Children play at Lakeside Park in Rogers City on Thursday evening. Rogers City recently received $185,000 in state funding to update the park and work is planned for the pavilion, restrooms, and playground.

ALPENA — Three parks in Northeast Michigan will undergo improvements after Michigan allocated $535,000 to help fund renovations.

On Wednesday, the state announced that Rogers City and Alpena will receive grants, while the Michigan Department of Natural Resources pledged to pay for a project in one of its state parks in Alcona County.

The funding was announced in December, but became official earlier this week.

Funded projects include:

∫ Alpena will receive $300,000 toward the construction of a new restroom and pavilion facility at Bay View Park. Officials say the facility is badly needed, especially during large events like the Michigan Brown Trout Festival and band shell concerts.

The small bathroom building that used to be across the street from the harbor and park was closed several years ago because it was in disrepair. The overall cost of the project could end up around $900,000, and the city has committed $600,000 toward the project.

∫ Rogers City is slated to receive $185,000 to update the popular Lakeside Park on Lake Huron. Extensive work is planned for the pavilion and restrooms, as well as the playground, which City Manager Joe Hefele said in February is deemed a safety hazard. He also said the current bathrooms don’t comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

∫ The $50,000 allocated to Harrisville State Park will pay to replace a footbridge that provides a pedestrian link between the modern campground and the day-use beach area. The bridge is more than 20 years old, and the abutments are failing because of erosion. The new bridge will provide an accessible route from the campground to the beach.

Alpena City Engineer Steve Shultz said the new bathroom facility at Bay View Park will fill a large need and will be designed similarly to modern facilities at Starlite Beach but would be open year-round.

“It is time,” Shultz said. “It is time to have something downtown. A lot of merchants have bathrooms, but those are not public bathrooms … This is something we wanted to go for, and it’s good we got the money from the state to help pay for it.”

Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan said Lakeside Park is an important place for area events and for people to gather and the state grant will help to make it even more safe and enjoyable.

“Lakeside Park is a primary focal point for many community activities, as well as for visitors to enjoy, a beautiful park that will be made even better by the upgrades made possible through this grant funding, as well as local support,” he said. “The pavilion will receive a total makeover, including modernization of restrooms, making them handicap-accessible and available year-round. The park will see the addition of an updated playground with many new pieces of equipment to replace items that are up to 60 years old.”