The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has given a $1.3 million grant to Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission to keep its struggling park system up and running.

The Flint-based philanthropy said Friday the grant coincides with the start of the county’s new fiscal year. It says the money is critical because the county parks face a major budget shortfall caused by falling property tax revenues.

The foundation says its grants to the county parks have totaled about $17 million since 1965.

The county’s 21 parks include a historic village, authentic narrow-gage railroad, arboretum and nature preserve.

The Mott Foundation was established by automotive pioneer C.S. Mott in 1926.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)