Canton Township celebrated the awarding of nearly $7 million in grant funding to be used for projects in the community.
“I’m thrilled that State Rep. Ranjeev Puri and State Sen. Dayna Polehanki secured funding for these important community projects enhancing pedestrian safety, providing greater activity and programming space for seniors, and protecting abused and neglected children in Canton,” said Supervisor Anne Marie Graham Hudak, commenting on the proposed projects.
“The Palmer Road pedestrian bridge will improve a treacherous path over I-275 traversed by hundreds of Canton residents each week. The new Canton Senior Center in the Summit will greatly expand the activity and programming space for seniors. And finally, renovating the Sheldon Brick School to house Kids Talk will serve abused and neglected children in all of Western Wayne County by giving them a safe space to be interviewed and hold perpetrators accountable. This project also returns this historic building to its original mission in Canton – serving children and their families,” Graham-Hudak said.
The pedestrian bridge over I-275 was awarded $3,250,000 in state funding, Graham-Hudak said. Puri secured the funding that will be used to construct the pedestrian bridge on Palmer Road over I-275 for walkers and bikers. Officials said the path along Palmer Road is traversed by many residents attending the Muslim Community of the Western Suburbs (MCWS) of Detroit schools and activities east of the I-275 overpass, trying to make their way to the Medina Activity Center (MAC) on the west side of the overpass. This pedestrian bridge will serve all walkers and bikers alike passing over I-275 at Palmer Road, according to township officials.
Puri also secured $2,500,000 in grant funding to be used to renovate approximately 10,600 square feet of space in the Summit on the Park in order to expand activity space for Club 55+, the Canton senior program, and make additional facility enhancements. Currently, Club 55+ operates in approximately 1,500 square feet. The expanded activity space and facility improvements will give seniors and other members of the community a place to enjoy billiards, shuffleboard, additional exercise classes, card games, cooking classes and expanded services and amenities, township officials said.
“This budget cycle I worked diligently to bring home dollars directly to Canton,” said Puri. “I am so proud to have secured $5.75M for Canton Township to improve pedestrian pathways for bikers and walkers, and for Summit renovations. These are huge wins for our community – the funds will be felt directly right here at home and make a meaningful, lasting impact for our residents.”
State Sen. Dayna Polehanki secured $1 million in grant money that will be used to establish a Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center at Sheldon School on Michigan Avenue in Canton. This center will focus on the safety, social and emotional health, and stability of children and families throughout the region, officials announced. The location of the building is convenient for children and families living in all of western Wayne County and is also close to the new township Youth Center, where Growth Works, Inc. will be located in the future, they added.
“KIDS-Talk is an invaluable resource for children and families in our region who have been impacted by abuse, and I’m proud to have secured $1 million in this year’s state budget to help facilitate the establishment of a new Kids-TALK Children’s Advocacy Center in Canton that will help their organization better serve those in need,” said Polehanki (D-Livonia).
“I’m confident this transformative investment will make a tangible difference for our local residents, and I’ll continue fighting hard to deliver progress for the health, safety, and stability of families in our community,” she added.
