CWA staff help shape five new parks and recreation plans

To compete for state grants and manage limited resources, more and more Michigan communities are creating or updating their parks and recreation master plans.The Oxford Township Parks & Recreation Plan was approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in March.  The five-year plan calls for the parks and recreation department to relocate to Seymour Lake Park and for the township to open a community center and to find new locations for active recreation facilities. Accomplishments from the preceding plan include opening Oakwood Lake Park, expanding recreation programs and staff, and creating the Kids Kingdom playground.  For more information about this plan, contact Brian Oppmann.CWA’s Laura Kreps and John Enos guided the City of Woodhaven in Wayne County to its recently approved park and recreation plan, which also spans five years. The plan includes significant public input through online surveys and public meetings.“I have been part of five master plan projects and hearings in my career and I never had one go that well. In the room tonight I experienced a great deal of trust for your work from the city council and community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tim Rooney. For more information, contact John Enos.Green Oak Charter Township’s previous recreation master plan was created with the Southeast Livingston County Recreation Authority. The new, local plan responds to demand for trails, both from residents and from the state, which has been actively trying to create a fully connected trail system that traverses the entire state of Michigan. The township also is looking to develop a piece of property bequeathed to them with the caveat that it be kept as a nature preserve or park.“Parks and recreation plans make sense for communities that need to manage existing resources or respond to public demand for those features,” said CWA’s Chris Nordstrom. “They must have a plan to apply for most grants, notably the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund.”Carlisle/Wortman team members also recently completed recreation plans for the cities of Berkley and Saline.Contact Chris for more information about recreation planning and grant writing.