Dec 14, 2021 Park Commission Meeting

I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER OF THE DECEMBER 14TH, 2021 MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PARK

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

AND BECAUSE WE'RE ON ZOOM, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL, SO I'LL START MY I AM COMMISSIONER MARY NARDO FARRIS AND I AM CALLING IN FROM MY RESIDENCE IN HASLETT.

SO COMMISSIONER, LICK. HI, I'M COMMISSIONER AMANDA LICK, AND I'M CALLING IN FROM MY RESIDENCE IN OKEMOS.

COMMISSIONER STEPHENS.

MARK STEPHENS CALLING IN FROM HASLETT, MICHIGAN.

COMMISSIONER AMI ANTWERP. AMI ANTWERP I'M CALLING IN FROM EAST LANSING, WHICH IS AN ADDRESS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

DIRECTOR MAISNER HERE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM HASLETT, OFFICES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND SENIOR PARKS AND LANDS COORDINATOR GREENWAY.

YES. JANE GREENWAY HERE IN HASLETT, MICHIGAN.

I WANT TO THANK ANY PUBLIC THAT'S VIEWING US OR IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE TODAY FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT.

WITH THAT, LUANN IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO BEFORE WE GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING? I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WE WOULD JUST NEED TO FORMALLY OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH A TIME STAMP.

YOU WANT ME TO READ THAT PARAGRAPH.

UM, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO.

YOU CAN, IF YOU LIKE. SURE.

OKAY. I WILL DO THAT THEN.

WE'RE OPENING OUR PUBLIC HEARING TODAY TO DISCUSS AND TAKE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT ON THE

[2. PUBLIC HEARING – Five Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2022-2026]

EVERY FIVE YEARS THE PARK COMMISSION UNDERTAKES THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THIS FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN. THE DOCUMENT SERVES TO INVENTORY THE TOWNSHIP'S RECREATIONAL ASSETS, AS WELL AS MANDATES COMMUNITY INPUT TO DRIVE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS AND TRENDS.

THIS INFORMATION DRIVES DECISIONS AND PLANNING FOR FUTURE PARK PROJECTS.

THE PLAN IS ALSO NECESSARY TO HAVE THEM FILE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO QUALIFY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER OR THE HEARING OVER TO DIRECTOR MAISNER NOW.

RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR FARRIS.

BOY, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN FUN.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THIS DOCUMENT, AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JANE GREENWAY, OUR PARKS AND LAND MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, AND BRIDGET CANNON, WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS IN HAVING THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE AND AS WELL AS TO THE TOWN TO THE PARK COMMISSION.

LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF EFFORT AND WORK WENT INTO THIS.

WE ALL WORKED HARD ON IT AND BUT IT'S GOOD TO TAKE ANOTHER MORE SETS OF EYES ON IT, THE BETTER. AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS AND PRESENT IT WITH YOU TODAY.

THIS PLAN REPRESENTS THE VISION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP. THIS INFORMATION IS A COMBINATION OF INVENTORY EVALUATION OF CURRENT FACILITIES, PUBLIC INPUT AND NEEDS BASED ON CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS.

I THINK WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE THE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN.

IT DOES FOLLOW GUIDELINES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. OH HEY, MIKE.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER MCDONALD HAS ARRIVED AND HE IS HERE JOINING THE MEETING.

ACTUALLY, MIKE, YOU SHOULD SAY.

FROM HASLETT. AT 4:36.

GREAT, I'M LATE, I HAD TO SEE SANTA.

OK. MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS RECEIVED OVER $3 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING SINCE 1972, SO THE VALUE OF HAVING THIS PLAN AVAILABLE AND SUBMITTED TO THE DNR HAS HELPED MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PARK COMMISSIONS CURRENT AND AND PAST LEVERAGE OUR LOCAL PARK MILLAGE DOLLARS.

THIS DOES SERVE AS A PLANNING GUIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT THAT IS MORE FORMAL SO WE CAN GAUGE HOW THE HOW THE COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT OUR PARK SYSTEM AND RECREATION SERVICES.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN I'LL GO THROUGH REAL QUICK ARE THE COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION, AND THE COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION INCLUDES THE LOCATION MAP, THE CENSUS DATA, ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF THE TOWNSHIP, THE VEGETATION, CLIMATE, HYDROLOGY, GEOLOGY AND WILDLIFE.

[00:05:04]

THE NEXT SESSION SECTION IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE TALKS ABOUT THE STAFFING AND ALL THE STAFF HERE WE HAVE IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, OUR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND VOLUNTEERS, AND THEIR ROLE AND THE OPERATION OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE NEXT SECTION IS THE PARKS AND RECREATION INVENTORY AND EVALUATION.

AND THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS IS IT JUST REALLY IS A CULMINATION OF ALL OF OUR PARKS, LAND, PRESERVES, PATHWAYS, OUR GREEN SPACE PLAN, ALL THE SCHOOL ATHLETIC FACILITIES, COUNTY PARKS. THERE'S FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY COUNTY PARKS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, REGIONAL AMENITIES AND ALL OF OUR RECREATION SERVICES.

SO OUR TOTAL PARK ACREAGE IS NINE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE ACRES, EIGHTY MILES OF BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY AND NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT ACRES OF LAND PRESERVES.

SO THAT BASICALLY IS THE INVENTORY OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FACILITIES, BUT UNDER EACH OF OUR PARKS AND LAND PRESERVES ALSO IDENTIFIES WHEN WE ACQUIRED HOW WE ACQUIRED, HOW MUCH WE PAID FOR IT, FROM HOME, FOR THE PURPOSE AND WHAT THE SITE PLANS ARE AND THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S TAKEN PLACE SINCE WE ACQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES.

SO IT'S REALLY LIKE A FILE CABINET OF ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, ALL IN ONE PLACE.

SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT.

AND THAT IS THIS PLAN IS ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE FOR ANYONE TO REVIEW.

IT'S BEEN UP THERE AND AVAILABLE HERE AT OUR OFFICE, ON THE WEBSITE AND AT THE TOWNSHIP HALL SINCE DECEMBER 1ST, AND THERE IS A 30 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW REQUIREMENT.

SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RIGHT NOW, SO THE PUBLIC INPUT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO COME IN. SO THIS ISN'T A DONE DEAL YET.

THERE'S STILL INTERESTED IN TAKING ADDITIONAL INPUT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS AT HOME OR IF THEY GET ON THE WEBSITE OVER THE WEEKEND AND GET INTO SOME GREAT READING AND SEE WHAT WHAT THE PLAN IS.

NOT AFTER MY PRESENTATION TOO MAY HELP DEFINE OUR FUTURE HERE.

SO. NEXT UP ALSO ARE THE WE'VE RECEIVED TWENTY SIX GRANTS FROM THE DNR FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND EVERY FIVE YEARS WE NEED TO COMPILE AN EVALUATION OF EACH OF THOSE SITES AND THEY DO LOOK AT IF WE SAID THAT WE HAD A PLAYGROUND, WELL, WE BETTER HAVE A PLAYGROUND THERE NOW.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT THEY FUNDED AND WHERE WE'RE AT CURRENTLY AND THEN HOW THINGS ARE BEING MAINTAINED.

ALL OF THESE THINGS MATTER WHEN WE LOOK TO SEEK ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING IN FUTURE YEARS.

IF WE CAN MAINTAIN AND WE KEEP OUR OWN, OUR GOOD, ALL OF OUR FACILITIES IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION AND SAFE.

THAT'S A PLUS FOR US IN THE IN THE SCORING COLUMN WHEN WE GO TO APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS. AND THEN ALSO PART OF THAT SECTION IS ACCOMPLISHMENT SINCE THE LAST PLAN.

AND SO OUR FORMER PLAN WAS 2016 TO 2021.

AND IN THE PLAN, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SIX PAGES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE.

BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RUN THROUGH JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS BECAUSE THIS LAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN AMAZING, AMAZING WITH THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO ANYWAY. LAUNCH PARK REDEVELOPMENT LAUNCH PARK IS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA RIGHT ON THE RED CEDAR RIVER. FOR YEARS YOU WOULD DRIVE BY THAT PARK AND NOT EVEN NOTICE IT.

A LOT OF DEAD AND DISEASED TREES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TO THIN OUT.

FROM THERE, WE PUT A NEW PAVILION IN A WALK IN A THIRD MILE LOOP WALKING TRAIL ALONG THE RIVER'S EDGE.

OUTDOOR EXERCISE FITNESS AREA SO THAT PARK NOW HAS BECOME PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST RENTED PICNIC FACILITIES IN OUR ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM.

HILL BROOK PARK, THE TENNIS COURTS WE ACTUALLY RENOVATED THE TENNIS COURTS, TOOK ONE AWAY, ADDED THREE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND ALSO UPDATED THE BASKETBALL FACILITY.

WE PUT A BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND THERE AND THEN AT HARRIS NATURE CENTER, THEY'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF WORK IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE NATURE EXPLORATION AREA, A BRAND NEW PAVILION AN OUTDOOR NEW RESTROOM BUILDING THAT'S YEAR ROUND.

THERE'S A BIRD OVERLOOK DECK THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER FOUNDATION AND THE CAPITAL REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

AND THE WET LAB HAS BEEN TOTALLY RENOVATED BY OUR OWN STAFF FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM.

AND THERE WAS ALSO A NEW WELL THAT WAS NEEDED AND THEN DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNER ROAD PARK $2.4 MILLION PROJECT IN HASLETT FOR A SPORTS FACILITIES, BALL DIAMONDS, SIX PICKLEBALL COURTS, OPEN FIELD FOR SOCCER FOOTBALL, LACROSSE, RESTROOM BUILDING PAVILION.

[00:10:06]

WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL THIS TIME AROUND, SO THAT'S STILL GOING TO BE ON THE LIST COMING UP.

NORTH MERIDIAN ROAD PARK.

WE HAD PUT A NEW RESTROOM BUILDING IN THERE THAT YEAR AROUND, I THINK 2015, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE NOW TO ADD A BRAND NEW PAVILION.

AND SO NOW THAT'S BECOME A NEW PICNIC DESTINATION FOR US AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE'S A SLEDDING HILL THAT'S THERE WITH TWO SOCCER FIELDS.

DOG PARKS. WE DID IT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN TWO DOG PARKS, ONE FOR SMALL DOGS AT NANCY MOORE PARK AND THEN A LARGE DOG PARK AT CENTRAL PARK SOUTH.

THERE ARE ONE THOUSAND AND EIGHT DOG MEMBERS TO DATE SINCE WE'VE OPENED THOSE PARKS.

COMMUNITY ART SINCE 2016, WE'VE ADDED THREE MURALS TO OUR COMMUNITY, ONE AT [INAUDIBLE] PARK, ONE AT HILL BROOK AND THEN ONE AT THE DOG PARK.

JUST RECENTLY, WE ADDED A NEW ART INSTALLATION AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, AND THEN ALSO THE HASLETT BEAUTIFICATION ASSOCIATION ADDED THREE SAILBOAT SCULPTURES IN THE TRIANGLE IN HASLETT ON MARSH ROAD.

SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARD ADDING MORE ART TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S MORE TO COME AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CENTRAL PARK MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, THAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE GREATEST WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS THE NEW FISHING DOCK IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, THE GATEWAY FOOTBRIDGE INTO THE VILLAGE, A NEW RESTROOM BUILDING, THE CENTRAL MERIDIAN REGIONAL TRAIL CONNECTOR, WHICH IS A PAVED TRAIL THROUGH CENTRAL PARK WITH WITH A BOARDWALK.

AND THEN WE'VE ADDED THE LARGE DOG PARK.

THERE'S ALSO A FISHING DOCK IN THE CENTRAL PARK SOUTH POND, AND THEN WE RELOCATED THE FARMER'S MARKET OVER TO MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.

ANOTHER $2.4 MILLION FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN THE NEW HOME TO THE FARMERS MARKET THIS YEAR BETWEEN MAY 1ST AND OCTOBER 31ST ON SATURDAYS, ONLY EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND VISITORS TO THE FARMERS MARKET THIS YEAR.

SO THAT HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL THIS SUMMER, WE HOSTED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES FREE AND THEN NOW IN THE KIWANIS YOUTH SPORTS PAVILION, WHICH IS THE EAST WING OF THE PAVILION, IS A IS A NEW ARTIFICIAL ICE RINK WITH THANKS TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DONATED SKATES, SUBURBAN ICE WHO HAVE DONATED SKATES AND FROM A SMALL GRANT FROM DELTA DENTAL FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS, WE WE'RE ABLE TO BUY A LENDING BOX AND ADDITIONAL SKATES. AND SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO DO NOT HAVE SKATES, THEY'RE THERE TO USE.

NOW WE NEED TO WORK ON MAKING SURE THEY STAY SHARPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THIS NEW ARTIFICIAL ICE [INAUDIBLE] SKATES.

BUT BOY, AND THEN IT'S ALL LIGHTS HANGING.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. WHAT A GREAT ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY.

I'M ALMOST DONE HERE, AND THEN NOW WE'RE WORKING ON A NEW PROPERTY ACQUISITION ON OKEMOS ROAD THAT WILL BE THE NEW FACE FOR NANCY MOORE PARK, SINCE THAT IS ONE OF OUR GEMS AND OUR PARK SYSTEM, BUT IT'S HIDDEN BEHIND THE MERIDIAN SERVICE CENTER.

AND SO THE OTHER IT'S GOT A DUAL PURPOSE AS OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WORKS ON COMPLETING THE MSU LAKE LANSING TRAIL PAVED PATHWAY THAT WILL BE A TRAIL HUB WITH PROBABLY A SMALL PARKING LOT, A RESTROOM BUILDING.

THE PLANS HAVE NOT BEEN SOLIDIFIED THAT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO DISCUSS HERE IN THE COMING YEAR, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO CLOSE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE IS A HOUSE THERE THAT WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS, AND I KNOW THAT PARKS AND LAND MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR GREENWAY HAS THAT ALL UNDER CONTROL.

AND I KNOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO RUN A TRAINING ON THAT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

SO THOSE ARE JUST JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS, BUT THOSE ARE PRETTY MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS IN FIVE YEARS THAT THE STAFF WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND SO MY HAT'S OFF TO EVERYONE ON MY TEAM AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE TOWNSHIP WHO HAVE HELPED GET US THERE.

THEN THEN WE GET TO AND MOST OF THOSE ITEMS THAT I JUST MENTIONED, HEAD GRANT SUPPORT AND ONE SHAPE OR FORM, WHETHER IT WAS FEDERAL GRANT, STATE GRANT, LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS. OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF PARK MILLAGE DOLLARS AND SOME GENERAL FUND MONEYS IN THERE AS WELL. BUT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS ENTIRE PLAN IS THE PUBLIC INPUT PORTION. AND WE WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN HAVING OUTSTANDING COMMUNICATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS, NOT JUST NOW, BUT YEAR ROUND AND TWO WAY COMMUNICATION.

AND AND THIS IS OUR WEBSITE THROUGH EMAILS, THE PHONE CALLS WE RECEIVE, THE VOLUNTEERISM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS THAT EMMA CAMPBELL, OUR STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR, HAS IMPLEMENTED THAT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

WE HAVE THE LONG STANDING VOLUNTEER GROUP FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN, THE HARRIS NATURE

[00:15:05]

BUT THIS PLAN REALLY WORKS TO FORMALIZE ALL OF THAT INPUT.

AND SO AS WELL AS ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT HAPPENS HERE AROUND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ENGAGED IN A STATISTICALLY VALID COMMUNITY SURVEY THERE UNDER A CONTRACT FROM A COMPANY WHO DID THIS, AND IT WAS A COMMUNITY WIDE SURVEY.

BUT MANY OF THE QUESTIONS ON THERE ALSO PERTAIN TO PARKS RECREATION PATHWAYS, LAND PRESERVATION, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE MUCH OF THAT INFORMATION SINCE IT WAS STATISTICALLY VALID.

IT WENT TO ONLY A FEW PEOPLE IN EACH OF THE ZIP CODES, AND I BELIEVE THEY HAD TWO HUNDRED AND LET ME SEE HERE ABOUT THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX RESPONSES.

AND THEN THE PARK COMMISSION THOUGHT THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO REACH OUT A LITTLE MORE AND AND WE ENGAGED IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY WIDE SURVEY, BUT REALLY FOCUSED JUST ON PARKS AND RECREATION, AND WE DID THAT THROUGH SURVEYMONKEY.

SO WE SENT INFORMATION OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT WE ALSO SENT DIRECTLY TO ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

SO THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO USE OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE RENTED PAVILIONS, ALL OF OUR YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPANTS, EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN THAT WE HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR OUR PICKLEBALLERS, OUR DEER MANAGEMENT.

FOLKS OUR SENIORS, SO WE SENT DIRECTLY TO ALL THESE PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE IN THIS SURVEY AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

AND WE HAD FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN RESPONSES FROM THAT.

AND WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT SURVEY RESULTS FROM BOTH OF THOSE SURVEYS WERE FAIRLY IDENTICAL.

SO THE FIRST GROUP THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DID, I WASN'T EXACTLY SURE THAT MAYBE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THAT SURVEY WERE REALLY OUR STAKEHOLDERS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH US WHERE WE THOUGHT, FOR SURE, THE SECOND SURVEY, WE ARE TALKING DIRECTLY TO OUR PEOPLE OUR PEEPS.

AND BUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CAME BACK VERY, VERY CLOSE IN IN THE SCORING.

AND SO WE ALSO HAD A UNIVERSAL ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT JANE GREENWAY PUTS TOGETHER OCCASIONALLY AND JUST TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR PARKS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND THE EXPERIENCE BETTER FOR ALL ABILITIES, PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES. AND AND SO THAT TOOK PLACE.

AND AS WE LOOK AT, I MEAN, JUST A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH HANDICAPPED SPACES, CREATE QUIET SENSORY SPACES.

SHADE IS IMPORTANT, MANY PEOPLE, MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARE ON MEDICATION THAT MAYBE HAS A POOR INTERACTION WITH THE SUN, AND SO HAVING SHADE IS IMPORTANT.

SENSORY ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES, FAMILY BATHROOMS, UNISEX BATHROOMS, MORE HOOKS IN THE BATHROOM. THESE ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THE ADA GUIDELINES, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

SO AND THEN ALSO WE'RE HAVING WE HAVE OUR PLANS BEEN UNDER 30 DAY REVIEW AND THERE'S THE PUBLIC HEARING TAKING PLACE TODAY TO SEEK ADDITIONAL INPUT AND WE WILL ACCEPT INPUT UNTIL JANUARY 4TH.

SO ANYONE WHO'S WATCHING THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS TO YOU CAN JUST SEND IT TO THE THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THE PARK COMMISSION WILL TAKE ACTION ON THIS PLAN ON JANUARY 11TH AND THEN GOES TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ON THE 18TH AND THEN IT'S DUE FEBRUARY 1ST.

SO WE ARE GETTING TO THE END OF THIS AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK GETTING HERE.

BUT BUT WE ARE HERE.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO JUST COVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THE KEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S EARTH SHATTERING.

FYI BUT OVERALL, THERE WAS VERY HIGH SATISFACTION IN THE AREAS OF FACILITIES, AMENITIES, CUSTOMER SERVICE, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.

SAFETY WAS LIKE A BIG ONE.

PEOPLE FEEL SAFE USING OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES, AND I DO HAVE TO.

BUT THERE'S MANY REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BOTH ARE VERY ENGAGED IN OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

LOCK AND UNLOCK OUR PARKS AND RESTROOMS DAILY.

AND SO HAVING THEM AVAILABLE ON SITE A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY, I'M SURE, IS DOES MAKE

[00:20:01]

THE TOP PARKS VISITED REALLY HAVE REMAINED THE SAME FROM 2010 UNTIL NOW.

I WAS LOOKING BACK ON FORMER PLANS, BUT CENTRAL PARK IS PROBABLY THE IS THE MOST VISITED PARK, INCLUDING NANCY MOORE, THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE AND THE FARMER'S MARKET AS ALL ONE GROUP AND THEN NUMBER TWO IS THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER.

SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED MUCH THERE OUR MOST DESIRED AMENITIES.

WALKING IS PROBABLY WALKING AND JOGGING, ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE UNDERTAKE. SO THE MOST DESIRED AMENITIES ARE PAVED TRAILS AND PATHWAYS, AND THEN OUTDOOR SPACES FOR GATHERING.

FOR PUBLIC GATHERING.

PARK RESTROOMS, RIVER ACCESS AND NEW AMENITIES.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR SKATE PARK, SPLASH PAD AND MORE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THEN ALSO A SWIMMING POOL, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL RANKED FAIRLY HIGHLY.

BUT AS WE LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE ITEMS THAT WE ADD INTO OUR PARK SYSTEM, THERE'S A LOT OF OVERHEAD INVOLVED IN SWIMMING POOLS.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT AVAILABLE FACILITIES IN THE AREA, I KNOW HASLETT SCHOOL IS THEIRS IS A COMMUNITY POOL.

AND SO AND I THINK OKEMOS SCHOOLS AT CHIPPEWA.

THEY EVEN CLOSED ONE OF THE POOLS.

SO MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, I GUESS I WOULD LOOK TO MAYBE PARTNERING WITH HASLETT SCHOOLS AND OFFERING MORE OPEN SWIM PROGRAMS WITH EXISTING FACILITIES.

SO SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT, WE NEED TO TAKE A BETTER, MORE WELL-ROUNDED LOOK AT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY? DO WE NEED BETTER PROMOTION OF THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE CURRENTLY IN THE AREA AND OR DO WE NEED TO PARTNER MORE WITH AVAILABLE FACILITIES IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS REALLY AVAILABLE? BECAUSE SOMETIMES, AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE JUST NOT AWARE OF IT.

SO IT'S LIKE, OH YEAH, SWIMMING POOL WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT WE DO. THERE IS ONE AVAILABLE.

IT'S NOT OUTDOOR, BUT BUT THERE IS A SWIMMING EXPERIENCE THAT CAN BE HAD.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, THE MAC.

I THINK THE Y, U CLUB, SO THERE'S OTHER PLACES, BUT THOSE ARE MORE THOSE ARE PRIVATE.

LET'S SEE HERE. THE PROXIMITY TO PARKS AND AMENITIES RATED VERY HIGH, AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS WOOPS I NEED TO SHARE MY SCREEN.

AND. OK, THIS WALKABILITY MAP, THIS MAP SHOWS IDENTIFIES IN THE GREEN ARE ALL THE TOWNSHIP PARKS, AND IN THE ORANGE ARE THE LAND PRESERVES AND THEN ALSO IN THERE ON THE DOTS, I THINK.

IT COULD HAVE.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT THE SCHOOLS ARE LISTED IN THERE, BUT WHAT THOSE GRAY CIRCLES ARE, THOSE GRAY CIRCLES ARE A QUARTER MILE RADIUS.

AND SO BASICALLY ANYONE WITHIN IN THOSE GRAY CIRCLES ARE WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM A PARK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT SHOWS TO ME AMAZING COVERAGE THAT WE HAVE OF OUR PARKS OUR PRESERVES AND OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE MANY SCHOOLYARDS HAVE PLAYGROUNDS AND WHERE COMMUNITIES AND CHILDREN GATHER. SO AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ON HERE SHOWS OUR PATHWAY SYSTEM AS WELL.

SO THAT, TO ME, IS VERY MEANINGFUL, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STRIVE FOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PARKS AND FACILITIES AVAILABLE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF OUR RESIDENTS.

ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO STOP THAT SHARE.

ALL RIGHT. AND THEN.

COUPLE THINGS HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION I'M ONLY MAYBE HALFWAY THROUGH, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT IS POPULAR A PADDLE SPORTS KAYAKING STAND UP BOARDS, THAT INDUSTRY IS GROWING AS A NATIONAL TREND, SO CREATING MORE RIVER ACCESS OR ACCESS ON LAKE LANSING SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

OUR COMMUNITY PLACES A HIGH VALUE ON OPEN SPACE AND OUR LAND PRESERVES THAT IT HAS THAT WE HAVE PRESERVED AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AS A COMMUNITY, GREATER NEEDS.

OUR RESIDENTS STRONGLY EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR MORE SPECIAL EVENTS.

CULTURAL EVENTS ART IN THE COMMUNITY AND MUSIC.

SO WITH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL NEVER BE THE SAME.

I DON'T THINK SINCE COVID AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE INCLUDING IN ALL OF OUR PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING IN THE FUTURE.

BUT LARGE SCALE EVENTS WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER MAY HAVE TO JUST BE ON HOLD. LIKE CELEBRATE MERIDIAN PROBABLY ISN'T SOMETHING COMING BACK REAL SOON, AT LEAST PROBABLY IN 2022, FOR SURE.

BUT MAYBE WHAT OUR EFFORTS SHOULD BE IS TOWARDS SMALLER ACTIVITIES.

[00:25:02]

AND THEN WE HAVE LOVE PARK DAY AND EARTH DAY EVENTS AND HALLOWEEN.

WE HAD SOMETHING THERE AND EASTER.

SO THERE'S LITTLE SMALLER EVENTS THAT WE CAN DO, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE ROUTE THAT WILL BE TAKING IN 2022 TO ENGAGE PEOPLE, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

TRENDS. TOP TRENDS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, RENEWED INTEREST IN PARKS, TRAILS AND WALKABLE ENVIRONMENTS.

PEOPLE ARE STAYING CLOSER TO HOME AND UTILIZING LOCAL PARKS FOR RESPITE AND RECREATION.

AND BOY, DON'T WE KNOW IT.

OUR PARKS, I THINK, WERE WERE MORE HIGHLY VISITED THIS PAST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER YEAR, THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND AND ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE STAFF AT EACH PARK OR WE SURE HAVE A LOT OF TRASH AT EACH PARK.

AND SO THAT'S LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE MEETING UP THERE HAVING LUNCH AND TRYING TO SOCIALIZE IN A SAFE WAY.

BUT THEN ALSO THEY DON'T TAKE THEIR TRASH WITH THEM AND THEY LEAVE IT THERE.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON HOW WE CAN BETTER MANAGE TRASH IN OUR PARKS.

PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS CONTINUE TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE PREVENTION, CLIMATE CHANGE PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND ALL OF THAT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

AS WE LOOK AT ALL THE CRAZY WEATHER PATTERNS THAT WE HAVE NOW AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IT IS THAT WE BE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE.

ALSO, THEY SAID, EXPANDING EXPANSION OF OUTDOOR DINING OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTHY FOODS AND FARMER'S MARKETS WILL CONTINUE.

AND OUR FARMERS MARKET, AS WE KNOW, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL DURING SINCE COVID. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL, BUT MORE NOW WITH THE MARKETPLACE AND AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

PARKS AND RECREATION WILL PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

SKYROCKETING RATES OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS WILL CALL FOR A MORE HOLISTIC FOCUS ON WELL-BEING AND ACCESS TO PARKS AND GREEN SPACE.

TECHNOLOGY AND WI-FI ACCESS AND PARKS ARE BECOMING EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, I THINK, DURING THE LAST PLAN, BUT NOW IT'S BECOMING.

IT'S NOT JUST A WANT.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO WHERE IT'S A NEED.

AND I KNOW THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IS LOOKING AT COMMUNITY WIDE BROADBAND ACCESS, SO THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND IN PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY IN OUR PARKS AND THEN ALSO WITH ALL THE ONLINE PURCHASES.

FEWER BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDINGS AND BUSINESSES AND EMPTY BIG-BOX STORES.

AND THERE COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OF THOSE BECOMING INDOOR RECREATION SPACES FOR SKATE PARKS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITY SPACES, YOU NEVER KNOW SO.

BUT I DO THINK ON THE FLIP SIDE, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK PARKS AND RECREATION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALLY EQUATE RECREATION WITH WITH ECONOMIC SUPPORT.

I KNOW WHEN MIKE DEVLIN DOES HIS EVALUATIONS WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE PLAYING AND THE SOCCER PROGRAM OR THE BASEBALL PROGRAM.

WE ASKED THAT QUESTION LIKE, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU REALLY SPEND OUTSIDE OF PAYING FOR THE APP FOR THE REGISTRATION FEE DURING THE SEASON? AND THERE'S ALWAYS SPORTS EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO BUY AND THEN GAS AND THEIR SNACKS AND THEY GO OUT AFTERWARDS.

AND OUR ADULT SPORTS PROGRAMS ARE PROBABLY HEADING INTO SOME LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND TAVERNS AFTER THE GAME.

I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, SAID LUANN.

WE LOVE FARMER'S MARKET DAYS BECAUSE OUR BUSINESS LIKE DOUBLES AND TRIPLES ON FARMER'S MARKET DAYS, BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.

THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH RECREATION AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BUSINESS AND ASKING FOR A DONATION.

THAT'S NOT IT. IT'S LIKE, HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH WITH OUR BUSINESSES? I KNOW ON OUR WEDNESDAY FARMER'S MARKET.

WE TRIED TO WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE] TO SEE IF ANY OF THE BUSINESSES WANTED TO COME AND BE A VENDOR AT THE MARKET AND JUST TO SHOW THEIR ITEMS THAT THEY'RE SELLING TO JUST FOR EXPOSURE PURPOSES.

AND WE'LL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO DO THAT INTO THE FUTURE.

OK, SO NOW I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN AGAIN.

AND WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, AND I'M NOT SEEING THEM.

SERIOUSLY.

[00:30:05]

THE NUMBER ONE IS TO PROVIDE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES AND LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PHYSICAL AND SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.

AND SO THESE ARE THE OBJECTIVES TO ACCOMPLISH.

THAT IS TO INCREASE OUR MULTI-USE TRAILS AND PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, IMPROVE AMENITIES FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND ALL PARK FACILITIES, IMPROVE SIGNAGE, MORE YEAR ROUND RESTROOMS AND MORE BENCHES ALONG TRAILS AND PATHWAYS PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFSET PROGRAM REGISTRATION COSTS WHEN NEEDED.

CONTINUE TO MAKE NECESSARY PROGRAM AMENDMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL NEED REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSAL INCLUSION.

INCLUDE CULTURALLY DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE THE MAKE UP OF OUR COMMUNITY. CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN NOKOMIS CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER AND THEIR WORK TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON CULTURAL HISTORY AND LANGUAGE AND PRACTICES. AND THEN OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE, I HATS OFF TO OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE CREW.

THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB WHENEVER THERE IS ANY VANDALISM WITHIN 24 HOURS, IT IS RECTIFIED AND THEY ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE JUST CONTACTING US WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING, WE GET OUT AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY AND THEN CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN JUST INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO KEEP OUR PARKS SAFE.

AND THEN NUMBER TWO WOULD BE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, EDUCATION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP.

AND THESE HAVE TO DO WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, ENERGY SAVING OPPORTUNITIES.

I KNOW WITH WE, WE DID SOME.

WE CHANGED OUT THE [INAUDIBLE] CENTRAL PARK AND THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE AND AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, WE UTILIZE TOUCHLESS FAUCETS SO WE CAN CONTROL WHEN THE WATER IS GOING ON AND OFF, PLUS IT'S A MORE SANITARY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD SINCE COVID.

MONITOR AND REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES, ENCOURAGE NATIVE PLANTINGS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ECOSYSTEM HEALTH.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU BETWEEN THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER STAFF AND EMMA WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, THEY'RE BOTH THEY'RE ALL DOING AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT MONITOR AND RESPOND TO EARLY SIGNS OF EROSION, DISEASE AND FACILITY DETERIORATION.

SUPPORT THE FARMERS MARKET AND THE SUCCESS ALSO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER AND THE CONSERVATION CORPS.

NUMBER THREE IS PLANNED FOR CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER.

AND HAVE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES, SEEK GRANTS, SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS BASED ON THE INCREASED PARK USAGE, IN ADDITION OF NEW PARK FACILITIES, WE NEED TO EVALUATE THE STAFFING AND THE MAINTENANCE DIVISION, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BASED ON THE SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE REQUEST FOR MORE EVENTS, ARTS AND MUSIC AND SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMS. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REINSTATE THE PARKS AND RECREATION SPECIALIST POSITION THAT WAS ELIMINATED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RIGHT NOW, MIKE DEVLIN IS REALLY OUR ONLY COMMUNITY RECREATION PERSON, AND THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE WITH ALL THE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN AND ACTIVATING THAT SPACE TO ITS FULL CAPACITY AND AND OUR DOG PARKS NOW.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE EVENTS THERE AND THERE'S JUST MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND ANOTHER PERSON IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOWN TWO STAFF PEOPLE FROM THE LAST PLAN FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE TWO ADDITIONAL STAFF PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE NOW IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN WE, OF COURSE, WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND UTILIZE CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS.

UTILIZED RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AS A VEHICLE TO EDUCATE AND INSTILL POSITIVE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES SUCH AS ETHICS, VALUES, CITIZENSHIP, SPORTSMANSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.

AND I WILL READ THROUGH ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT THEN COMMUNICATION, I THINK.

WE CAN DO ALL THE GREATEST THINGS WE WANT IN THE WORLD, BUT WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT. WE NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHEN, HOW TO BE INVOLVED AND THEN FOLLOW UP WITH, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM REPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE FACT.

SO IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT, THEY CAN AT LEAST SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO I THINK DEFINITELY WE NEED TO MAINTAIN PRODUCTION OF THE PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE, WHICH WE USED TO HAVE THE FAMILY FUN GUIDE, AND IT KIND OF GOT CONDENSED IN WITH THE PRIME MERIDIAN MAGAZINE.

IT USED TO BE A TWO ISSUE MAGAZINE.

[00:35:01]

DEVELOP MARKETING PLAN TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITH ALL METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, AND UTILIZE VARIOUS METHODS OF PROMOTION AND ADVERTISING TO REACH THE BROADEST SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE QUALITY PROGRAMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FORM OF PROMOTION.

WORD OF MOUTH AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN WHEN I LOOK AT THE SURVEY RESULTS, I LOOK AT PROGRAMS LIKE SPORTS FOR SHORTIE'S THAT NEVER HAS TO BE ADVERTISED.

IT JUST FILLS AUTOMATICALLY.

THAT TELLS YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND PEOPLE WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

SO IMPROVING OUR COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE I THINK BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE OLDER. I KIND OF LIKE HAVING A BOOKLET IN MY HAND.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT OUR EMAILS THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT. SO I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY GET ALL THE TIME.

AND SO I KNOW WE HAVE COMMISSIONER VAN ANTWERP, WHO IS A SPECIALIST IN COMMUNICATION THAT I THINK WE CAN SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT MAYBE PUTTING A MARKETING PLAN TOGETHER FOR PARKS AND WITH YOUR INPUT. AND SO WE CAN DO MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON OUR COMMUNICATION.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP, THEY DO GREAT WORK. THEY JUST UPDATED THE WEBSITE, SO IT IS MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND FIND THE INFORMATION AND FIND OUT THINGS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES.

AND SO HATS OFF TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.

SO THEN ONE MORE ITEM HERE.

SHARE MY SCREEN WITH IS THE ACTION PLAN.

OK, SO THE PARK COMMISSION OR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, THE TOWNSHIP HAS THEIR SIX YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

AND THIS IS A PLAN THAT IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE PARK COMMISSION AND AS A GROUP, YOU DETERMINE WHAT ITEMS ARE IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THE FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN ARE PARTNER DOCUMENTS.

WE UTILIZE THE INFORMATION FROM THE FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN TO CREATE OUR ACTION PLAN AND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IS WE HAD IN THERE FOR 2022 BECAUSE THIS WAS ADOPTED IN 2021, THE TOWN OF ROAD PARK PLAYGROUND, WHICH WILL NEED TO LOOK AT MOVING TO A NEW YEAR PARKING LOT REPAVING AND CENTRAL PARK SOUTH.

BUT EXPANSION OF NORTH MERIDIAN ROAD PARK FOR SAFETY REASONS.

WHEN THERE'S SOCCER GOING ON, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING THERE AND WE HAVE PEOPLE PARKING ON NORTH MERIDIAN ROAD.

AND SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING MORE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO PARK INSIDE THE PARK.

NEW PARK SIGNAGE AND SITE FURNISHINGS, SHADE STRUCTURE AT TOWNER, FLOATING PURIFICATION ISLANDS FOR THE CENTRAL PARK SOUTH POND, AND THEN ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S NEW THAT I JUST ADDED AND THAT'S WHY I BOLDED IT, IS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE OUR STRUCTURES IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE THAT WE'VE HAD TO SPEND QUITE A BIT OF MONEY WITH PEST CONTROL DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S NO PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS AND THERE'S NO ACTIVITY GOING ON, THAT IS WHEN THE BATS, THE MICE, THE SQUIRRELS DECIDE TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE.

AND AND SO THERE'S WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN BUILDING REPAIR AT THE HARRIS NATURE CENTER. FOR SURE, THERE'S PROBABLY AROUND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK AT THE NATURE CENTER THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, ROUGH REPLACEMENT FURNACE REPLACEMENT, [INAUDIBLE] FARMHOUSE. NOW THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT FOR OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN IS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THESE THINGS AND THEY DO THE GENERAL UPKEEP.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE LARGER ITEMS, THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE THE PARK COMMISSION NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP OUT A LITTLE BIT.

AND BECAUSE REALLY BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR STRUCTURES IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE.

AND SO WE'LL PROBABLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ADDING SOME FUNDS INTO THE BUDGET FOR 2022 THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO HELP SUPPORT THAT NECESSARY ACTIVITY.

AND THEN ALSO WHEN MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN WAS FIRST ENVISIONED AND DEVELOPED THAT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC NEVER IMAGINED.

WE WOULD HAVE A FARMERS MARKET YEAR AROUND OUTDOORS, AND THEREFORE THERE'S SOME UPDATES THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO MAKE IT A SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITY AND STILL UTILIZE THAT FACILITY IN THE OUTDOORS. AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT PUTTING SOME WINDSCREENS OR TARPS AROUND SOME OF THE AREAS TO BLOCK THE WIND.

I KNOW WE HAD A HUGE WIND EVENT ON SATURDAY, AND THE FARMER'S MARKET PRETTY MUCH BLEW

[00:40:02]

THE FENCING BLEW DOWN.

AND SO THERE'S SOME THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO HELP PROTECT THE SPACE.

AND THEN ALSO, THE RESTROOM BUILDING WAS NOT CONSTRUCTED TO BE YEAR ROUND, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THAT A YEAR-ROUND FACILITY.

AND SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF BUDGETED ITEMS THAT I PUT IN NEW FOR US TO CONSIDER FOR 2022. ARE YOU TO CONSIDER, I SHOULD SAY.

AND THEN IN 2023 WE HAVE OUR CENTRAL PARK PAVILION RENOVATION PROJECT FROM THE OLD FARMER'S MARKET, BUT THAT COULD BE THE BONES OF THAT PAVILION ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

IT JUST NEEDS SOME FIXING UP.

MARSHALL PARK PLAYGROUND AND OKEMOS ROAD PARCEL DEVELOPMENT HERE.

ONCE WE ACQUIRE IT THIS YEAR AND THEN WE'RE ON A NEW PARK SIGN REPLACEMENT ON A MULTIYEAR SCHEDULE. OTTAWA HILLS PLAYGROUND SKATE PARK, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT A SKATE PARK, WE KNOW WE'VE HAD STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND TWO VARIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS REQUESTING TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO AND HOPEFULLY GENERATE ENOUGH FUNDS IN 2024 TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MORE RIVER ACCESS AREAS, AND ONE AREA WAS WONCH AND FERGUSON PARKS BECAUSE WITH THE NEW BRIDGE GOING IN ON OKEMOS ROAD, THEY ARE GOING TO BE ADDING AND UNDER BRIDGE WALKWAY BETWEEN FERGUSON AND WONCH PARKS.

SEEMS LIKE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THERE WITH WATER RECREATION AND RIVER RECREATION. AND THEN NANCY MOORE PARK PLAYGROUND, PAVILION LOOP TRAIL, HILL BROOK RESTROOM, WONCH PARK IMPROVEMENTS WITH STREAMING STABILIZATION.

AND WHEN WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] RECREATION CENTER THAT REALLY DESERVES A MEETING OF ITS OWN TO DETERMINE ITS FUTURE AND CENTRAL PARK IMPROVEMENT WITH A SPLASH PAD.

AND THEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALWAYS MAKING TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS TO MERIDIAN RIVERFRONT PARK.

SO AND SO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS MOVING FORWARD WOULD BE TRAILS AND PATHWAYS SINCE WALKING AND JOGGING AND ACCESSIBILITY.

OUR NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST WITH SURVEY RESPONDENTS.

WORK WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AS MUCH NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AS WE CAN THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP.

WATER TRAIL, RIVER ACCESS, STREAM LAKE STABILIZATION.

THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

SPORTS FIELDS AND FACILITIES.

WE'RE PROBABLY MAXED OUT ON DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS FIELDS RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THING WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THEM SAFE AND WELL MAINTAINED AND UPGRADED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEN ALSO LAND ACQUISITION AND EASEMENT EASEMENT AGREEMENTS.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH PARKS AND LAND PRESERVES THAT WE ARE OPEN TO TAKING A LOOK AT NEW PARCELS THAT COULD INCREASE AND IMPROVE OUR RECREATION SYSTEM.

AND THEN WITH PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES OR WITH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE VERY SATISFIED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD LIKE MORE DIVERSE PROGRAMS. AND SO. MORE MORE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES, MORE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ART, MUSIC AND FOOD.

TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS, THERE'S A GROUP THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO, AND I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S AN AREA THERE THAT WE COULD EXCEL IN.

AND THEN A PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND TEENAGERS AND FOR SURE, USING MARKETPLACE WITH MUSIC ACTIVITIES, SKATING NIGHTS, ALL SORTS OF FUN STUFF THAT WE CAN REACH THIS AGE GROUP BECAUSE THIS IS A TOUGH AGE GROUP TO PROGRAM FOR.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, FOSTER GREATER COOPERATION WITH SCHOOLS AND SURROUNDING GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND BUSINESSES.

MAYBE SOME LUNCHTIME SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUTDOOR SPACES ARE LIKE, SAID, VITAL FOR DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND HERE AND THEN IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION.

SO THAT IS THAT IS THE PLAN IN A NUTSHELL.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY IN CONCLUSION.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES, INCLUDING PARKS, LAND PRESERVES, RECREATION PATHWAYS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, PARK MILLAGE, PATHWAY MILLAGE, LAND PRESERVATION MILLAGE. COMMUNITY SERVICES MILLAGE GRANTS, DONATIONS.

THE OUTSTANDING AND CONSISTENT VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND STRONG PARK COMMISSION LEADERSHIP ALL WORK TOGETHER TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE LIVABILITY, SOCIABILITY, CULTURE AND FUN ABILITY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS PLACE WE CALL HOME MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

[00:45:06]

SO I GUESS. THANK YOU, LUANN.

YOU BET. THAT WAS GREAT.

I SAID THIS EARLIER. I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE ON THE LINE, ANYBODY WATCHING THIS LATER OR IN THE COMMUNITY TO GO TO THE LINK ON THE WEBSITE.

THERE IS JUST A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT, AND I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT STAFF HAS PULLED TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY, I THINK JANE GREENWAY AND BRIDGET CANNON, ALONG WITH DIRECTOR MAISNER AND THE REST OF HER STAFF.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU REALLY GET IN AND I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST STARTED TO PERUSE THIS AND GO THROUGH IT, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER. BUT I THINK RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY REALLY ENJOY AND FIND SOME VALUE TO THAT IF THEY WOULD GET INTO THAT.

SO BASED ON THAT, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC MEETING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE PARKS AND REC MASTERPLAN.

STEPHEN, IS THERE ANYONE THERE WAITING TO MAKE A COMMENT? EVERYONE YOU HAVE IN THE MEETING IS IN IN THE MEETING, IT'S ALL OF YOU.

THERE'S NO EXTRA ATTENDEES.

OK. JUST DOUBLE CHECKING.

SO FOR FUTURE, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS OR SEE THIS.

ANN WHAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO MAKE COMMENTS UP UNTIL THE JANUARY 4TH DATE? YEAH. SO THIS THIS PRESENTATION AND THIS MEETING WILL BE REPLAYED ON HOMTV, SO PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY JUST GO TO THE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE MEETING AND VIEW IT WHEN IT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.

AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING ADDITIONAL COMMENT, THEY CAN CALL OUR OFFICE AT 853-4600 OR EMAIL MYSELF OR JANE GREENWAY AND THEY CAN ACCESS OUR INFORMATION VIA THE WEBSITE. AND ACTUALLY JUST PARKS AT MERIDIAN.

OR WHAT'S OUR JANE WHAT IS OUR OUR EMAIL ADDRESS PARKS AT MERIDIAN.MI.US? YES, CORRECT.

AND THAT COMES TO ALL JUST COMES TO OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO CALL US, EMAIL US, STOP IN AND SEE US.

BUT WE ARE INTERESTED IN HEARING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THEN ALSO WITH OUR SIX YEAR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT AND NEW PRIORITIES COULD PRESENT ITSELF AND THE FUTURE AND WE CAN MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN AS NEEDED.

BUT THIS PLAN AND THE PREVIOUS PLANS HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING A DIRECTION.

AND ONCE THERE'S A PLAN, IT'S EASIER TO YOU SEE THINGS THAT, OH, THERE'S MONEY HERE TO GET THIS DONE OR THERE'S MONEY HERE FOR THIS.

AND SO ONCE WE HAVE THIS ALL IN A PLAN AND WE KNOW THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE.

SO LOTS OF VALUE TO THIS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF PUT TOGETHER FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE HAD A CONSULTANT DO THIS AND THEN FIVE YEARS BEFORE THAT, STAFF DID IT BEFORE.

I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND THIRTY THOUSAND PROJECT WHEN WE DO CONTRACT IT OUT.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE THINK WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW IT.

AND BUT THE MAIN PART IS THE PUBLIC INPUT.

AND HOW DO WE PUT THAT ALL INTO THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD, SO EVERYONE FEELS THEY'VE BEEN HEARD AND AND ACTUALLY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO THE INPUT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO GO TO COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER STEPHEN.

YEAH, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

AND IT'S TO STEPHEN, I THINK, OR WHOEVER DOES HOMTV.

IF THERE'S A WAY TO SUPERIMPOSE THAT IN THE VIDEO, LIKE ON THE SCREEN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WITH THE THE LINK TO GO TO.

SO THAT IF PEOPLE WATCHING IT, THEY CAN JUST TYPE IT IN OR SOMETHING LIKE UNDER SOMEBODY'S PICTURE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY OR NOT.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A LINK UNDERNEATH IT OR WHATEVER I WAS JUST CHECKING.

MR. STEPHENS THAT WOULD BE A HOMTV QUESTION.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE TECHNICAL CAPABILITY TO DO THAT AND DO THE POST-PRODUCTION STUFF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PLANNED FOR THIS VIDEO OR NOT, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I GET THAT QUESTION TO BRING YATES, WHO OVERSEES THAT OPERATION.

THANKS, STEPHEN. APPRECIATE IT.

COMMISSIONER VAN ANTWERP. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, I DON'T REALLY I MEAN, I THOUGHT THE PLAN CAME TOGETHER REALLY WELL, I, OF COURSE,

[00:50:04]

SO IT WAS JUST NICE TO SEE THAT KIND OF BUBBLE UP IN THE PLAN AND HAVE THAT BE A PRIORITY. YEAH, I DON'T REALLY.

I THINK EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.

I THINK I LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED, LIKE YOU COMMUNICATED. SO I THINK THAT'S IT.

GREAT JOB, STAFF. COMMISSIONER LICK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.

AND JUST WANT TO SAY SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB.

DIRECTOR MAISNER AND TO JANE AS WELL AND OTHER STAFF PULLING THIS TOGETHER, SURVEYING THE COMMUNITY, DOING ALL THE OUTREACH AT THE FARMERS MARKET, I MEAN, YOU REALLY DID ATTEMPT TO DO A PHENOMENAL JOB OF COLLECTING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

NONE OF THESE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE ARE TAKEN LIGHTLY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE RESOURCES TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY THE MOST.

AND IT ELEVATES THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE'RE BRINGING FILLING GAPS WHERE THOSE NEED TO BE FILLED AND CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITY AND THINKING THROUGH AND READING THROUGH THE PLAN AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SHARED TONIGHT, LUANN.

IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTICULAR YEARS THAT SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE IN, OR IF WE HAVE JUST OVERALL QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS THAT WE WANT TO SHARE AS COMMISSIONERS, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT? WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PLAN IS AN ADOPTED PLAN BY THE COMMISSION FROM LAST YEAR.

I DID ADD THOSE TWO BUILDING THE NATURE CENTER, THE VILLAGE BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, BUT EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THAT PLAN.

THE COMMISSION ADOPTED IN 2021 FOR 2022 AND THEN ALSO THEN IN 2022, YOU'LL LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND YOU CAN MAKE WHATEVER CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE THEN OR BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU ADOPT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CHANGES IN THOSE THAT'S UP TO YOU, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES UP UNTIL THE TIME WHEN YOU ADOPT THE PLAN.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER WHOLE MONTH BASICALLY AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK THROUGH.

THERE COULD BE SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE I MISSED OR THAT AREN'T WE THINK WE MISSED SOMETHING OR WHATEVER. LET US KNOW AND WE CAN GET THAT IN AND WE MAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF IT.

SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE'VE BEEN SNEAKING THINGS IN FROM PUBLIC INPUT AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING WE'LL HAVE A SECTION THAT LISTS ADDITIONAL ITEMS ADDED.

AND SO IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT.

OK, SO THAT CAN JUST BE SUBMITTED TO YOU BY JANUARY 4TH OK, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND AGAIN, WONDERFUL JOB.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.

I THINK THE WALKWAY THAT WAS JUST ONE OF A HUNDRED THINGS THAT LU MENTIONED.

UNDER OKEMOS ROAD TO CONNECT THE TWO PARKS IS AN EXAMPLE OF NEVER GIVING UP.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WEREN'T ON THE COMMISSION, THE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION ORIGINALLY HAD NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING THAT BECAUSE LIFTING UP THAT BRIDGE.

THEY SAID HAS SOME REALLY LARGE COST FOR EVERY FOOT THAT GOES UP AND I'LL NOT BE THE ONE DOWN THERE, BEING THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, LU, BUT WE'LL ALL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT UNTIL THE DARN THINGS DONE, SO IT DOESN'T WIND UP THREE FEET HIGH.

AND THAT IS AN EXAMPLE THERE OF OTHER PARKS, SUCH AS THE INNER URBAN TRAIL THAT IN MY OPINION AND SOME OTHERS WHO I SEE OUT ON THE TRAILS, I DON'T KNOW THESE DAYS IF THERE'S REALLY MUCH OPPOSITION TO WHEN YOU CAN ADD SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT LIGHT POLES AND SO FORTH FOR SAFETY PURPOSES THAT I THINK IT'S USUALLY A GOOD IDEA AND THAT.

WALKWAY BETWEEN THOSE TWO PARKS, WHENEVER IT DOES GO IN, I I THINK IT SHOULD BE PREDESIGNED TO HAVE A NICE BRIGHT LIGHT IN IT.

AND AGAIN, LU AND I HAVE TALKED MAYBE JANE TOO ABOUT BE NICE TO PUT ON OUR WISH LIST TO HAVE A FEW EXTRA LIGHTS PUT IN ON THE INNER URBAN TRAIL.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE SECTIONS WHERE IT'S PRETTY DARK AND IT GETS DARK AND PEOPLE ARE OUT AND THEY STILL NEED TO GET BACK TO THEIR HOME OR CAR.

AND I REALLY WISH JUST BECAUSE I GET ASKED ABOUT IT THAT WHOEVER IS BUILDING THAT NEW THINGY IN THE OLD [INAUDIBLE] SPACE GETS GOING SOMETIME SOON.

[00:55:09]

SO IN THE END, YEAH, AND I MEET OTHERS THERE, AND FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT PEOPLE CIRCULATE IN A PLACE LIKE THAT.

SO THE OTHER NIGHT SOMEONE APPEARED TO HAVE MAYBE STASHED A UNLICENSED TRUCK IN BEHIND THE OLD BLOOD BUILDING THERE AND MAYBE THE FACT A COUPLE OF US WALKED BY IT, IT MOVED THE NEXT DAY AND THERE IS A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE A HOME THAT LIVES IN HER MERCURY MOUNTAINEER RIGHT BY LITTLE CAESARS.

AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THE POLICE ABOUT IT, AND THE WAY THEY PUT IT IS THE WAY IT IS THEY SAID. WE HAVE OFFERED HER NUMEROUS TIMES AND PLACES TO GO, AND WE CAN'T AND WON'T KICK HER OUT UNLESS AND WHATEVER IT IS, [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMEBODY THE LANDOWNERS SAY, YOU KICK HER OUT, IT'S JUST A KIND OF A SAD VIGNETTE ON HER TIME.

AND I GUESS WITH THAT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF PEOPLE SEE THINGS THAT DON'T LOOK QUITE RIGHT, DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE POLICE.

OUR POLICE ARE VERY IN TUNE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY WILL NOT SEE THIS AS A NUISANCE.

I KNOW WE HAD SOMEONE WHO WAS WALKING THEIR DOGS OFF LEASH AND SOMEONE ELSE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT. AND IT'S LIKE, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT JUST CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU SEE THINGS AND LET THEM DETERMINE HOW BEST TO ACT.

AND ABOUT THE TIME I WAS GOING TO GET AROUND TO CALL THEM AFTER ONE MORE DAY IN THERE, I SPOKE TO TWO OFFICERS WHO WERE IN THE SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT, AND THEY THEMSELVES HAD TALKED TO HER EARLIER.

AND NO, IN A SENSE, IT'S A BETTER PLACE TO BE HOMELESS THAN SOME OTHER NASTIER PLACES AROUND HERE. THANK YOU, MIKE, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS RESPECTIVE TO THE TO THE PARKS AND REC PLAN RIGHT NOW? OKAY, THANK YOU. JUST FROM MY POINT, I HAD TWO QUICK POINTS.

ONE WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING BASED ON THE SURVEY RESULTS THAT NOT THE TOP COUPLE ITEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING LIKE TRAILS AND WALKING [INAUDIBLE] IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT SOME OF THOSE OTHERS THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE PUTTING THEM AT A HIGH PRIORITY AS PEOPLE THAT PUT THEM ON A LOW PRIORITY.

AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH IN BETWEEN.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

AND THE ONLY OTHER POINT I HAD WAS BASED ON THE SURVEY AND THE THE COMMUNICATED NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO REINSTATE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION SPECIALIST POSITION.

I CAN'T IMAGINE MOVING FORWARD BASED ON WHAT EVERYBODY'S NEEDING, PARTICULARLY IN A PANDEMIC, PANDEMIC CONDITIONS AND PEOPLE WANTING TO BE OUTSIDE MORE FROM A RECREATION STANDPOINT AND DO THAT HEALTHILY.

THAT I BELIEVE THAT'S REALLY A CRITICAL ISSUE MOVING FORWARD IS TO REINSTATE THAT PARTICULAR POSITION.

SO THAT WAS ALL I HAD ANYTHING ELSE LUANN.

AND THEN I'LL FINISH UP, OK? WE WILL ALSO BE TOUCHING ON THIS TOPIC DURING OUR REGULAR MEETING.

WHAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW THIS PUBLIC HEARING THAT'LL BE AGENDA SICK DAY.

WE, THE PARK COMMISSION WILL BE TAKING COMMENTS UNTIL JANUARY 4TH, AS WE STATED, AND THEN THE PARK COMMISSION WILL BE TAKING FORMAL ACTIONS ON THIS PLAN DURING OUR MEETING ON JANUARY 11TH, 2022.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL FORMALLY CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FIVE YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.

SO THE NEXT STEP IS TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY'S THE REST OF TODAY'S MEETING.

[Items 3 & 4]

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES THAT ARE REQUESTED FOR THE MINUTE OF NOVEMBER 9TH, 2021? JUST RAISE YOUR HAND. I JUST HAD ONE, IT GOES BACK TO OUR MEETING DATES IN DECEMBER, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WE'RE NOT MEETING.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST MEETING LISTING THAT MEETING AS DECEMBER 13TH, WHICH WOULD BE OUR NORMALLY SCHEDULED TIME IN 2022, AS OPPOSED TO DECEMBER 8.

[01:00:04]

WITH THAT, DOES ANYONE, HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 9TH.

COMMISSIONER MCDONALD'S, SECOND COMMISSIONER LICK.

OKAY. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON DISCUSSION ITEMS, AND MARY, COULD I INTERRUPT, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY VOTE.

WE DIDN'T REALLY VOTE ON THE AGENDA OR ON THE MINUTE.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME THROUGH MY FIRST MEETING AS CHAIR SPEAKERS] GOOD THAT SOMEBODY SPEAKS UP.

OK, WE'LL GO BACK TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

YOU PUT HANDS UP ALL THE YEAS.

ANY NAYS ON THE AGENDA? ALL RIGHT, SO THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AND SAME THING FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE YEAS, THESE VOICE OR HAND? OKAY, ANY NAYS? OK AND THAT'S APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THANK YOU, LUANN. FOR AGENDA NUMBER FIVE, THEN DIRECTOR MAISNER I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE

[5.a. Five Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2022-2026]

IT WAS JUST REALLY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY BASED ON IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT TODAY THAT YOU MAY WANT TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER VAN ANTWERP. JUST A COUPLE SMALL THINGS THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BRING UP DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ONE THING THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S INCORRECT OR NOT, BUT I'M THINKING IT MIGHT BE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SURROUNDING PARKS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, SPECIFICALLY ROSE LAKE? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS.

ROSE LAKE IS MANAGED AS A WILDLIFE AREA, AND I GO THERE ALL THE TIME AND USE THE TRAILS.

IT'S LIKE OUR FAVORITE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO GO.

HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ACTUALLY KIND OF TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO GO TO TRAILS AND MOUNTAIN BIKE AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNTERS OUT THERE.

SO IT JUST I JUST THOUGHT, MAYBE WE NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT.

SO IT'S NOT IN OUR PLAN AND WE'RE NOT SENDING PEOPLE TO THE WRONG PLACE WITH THE WRONG EXPECTATION. VERY SMALL THING.

AGAIN, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE I LOOKED IT UP ON THE DNR WEBSITE AND THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT TRAILS, BUT THEY DON'T.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR.

OK, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IS WHERE IT SAYS THE OKEMOS PUBLIC OKEMOS ROAD PARCEL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS THE ONE THAT WE THAT WE GOT THE DNR GRANT FOR AND WE'RE OK THE ENTRANCE TO.

OK. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK AND FOR SOME REASON, AM I HAD? I WAS. I WAS THINKING IT WAS COMING UP IN 2022.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT IS WE'RE NOT ALREADY IN 2023 BECAUSE I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT.

DID YOU SAY SOMETHING? I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THOUGHT WE HAD MONEYS IN.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T PUT MONEY IN FOR 2022 FOR DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE STILL NEED TO PUT A SITE PLAN TOGETHER.

AND THEN IF WE COULD EITHER FUND IT OURSELVES OR APPLY FOR A GRANT.

SO I GUESS THAT LEFT US THAT YEAR THAT UP IF THE COMMISSION WOULD DESIRE.

BECAUSE I'M NOT WELL, I'M NOT LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT 2021 BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN HERE AND I DIDN'T THINK TO GO BACK AND LOOK, BUT.

THE MONEY WE GOT FROM THE GRANT IS GOING TO THE FOR US TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY, SO THE MONIES FOR 2023 ARE ACTUALLY TO BUILD THE PARKING LOT AND ALL OF THAT, RIGHT, THAT'S OK.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE MIX UPS AND I HAD BECAUSE I FORGOT THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY FOR THE DIFFERENT STAGES.

ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS WELL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING IT UP IN THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE, NO, THAT'S FINE.

AND HOPEFULLY WITH DEVELOPMENT TOO WE'LL LOOK TO THE PATHWAY MILLAGE TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF THOSE DEVELOPMENT COSTS AS WELL.

OK, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.

DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? YEAH. AND IT'S NOT MEANT TO ANSWER AMI'S COMMENTS ABOUT ROSE LAKE BECAUSE I'M A RETIRED PARKS PERSON.

BUT MARK CAN MAYBE CORRECT ME ON A THING OR TWO.

AND WITH ROSE LAKE [INAUDIBLE] BEING ASSISTED BY PITTMAN, ROBERTSON FUNDS, THE NUMBER ONE SURPRISE THING IS NO HORSES ARE ALLOWED.

DON'T ASK. WELL, YOU COULD ASK THE FISH AND WILDLIFE.

BUT SO NO HORSES AND I BELIEVE MARK.

WHILE THERE ARE EXCELLENT TRAILS AT ROSE LAKE, I WAS OUT THERE THE LAST TWO NIGHTS.

I DON'T THINK MICHIGAN DNR CAN.

[01:05:04]

IT WAS MORE OF A LONG STANDING TOUCHY POINT, MORE WITH I JUST SAY MORE WITH HUNTERS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SEE 900S OUT THERE AND THAT'S INDIVIDUAL PERSONS, NOT MARK OR ME.

I THINK NOW I WENT OUT LAST NIGHT WITH WITH DAISY AND IT IS HUNTING SEASON AND A GUY CAME OUT AND HE'S WEARING A ORANGE HAT AND A BEAUTIFUL GERMAN SHORT HAIR.

BUT HE WASN'T HUNTING, AND HE JUST SAID, THIS IS WHERE I COME TO TAKE DUKE OUT FOR RUNS AND LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER.

DOES THAT HELP A LITTLE, AMI? BECAUSE I REALLY I DON'T THINK THEY CAN PUT MUCH OUT ON THE PUBLICITY SIDE, BUT IT'S A IT'S THE BEST PLACE AROUND HERE, IN MY OPINION, TO TAKE A LONG HIKE WITH YOUR DOG AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A LEASH ON WHAT? WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS, MARK OR MEMORIES OR SOMETHING? WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE OUT THERE AT ALL MIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PUBLIC LAND, IT'S OPEN FOR ANYBODY WITH ANY ACCESS.

YOU KNOW, IN THAT, I KNOW.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, PEOPLE DO TAKE THEIR DOGS OUT THERE FOR A WALK WITHOUT LEASHES.

I MEAN, YOU CAN HUNT WITH A DOG WITHOUT A LEASH, SO PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE WALKING THE TRAILS IN THAT AREA AND YOU CAN NOT WALK THE TRAILS, TOO.

YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THE WOODS AND THROUGH THE FIELDS, TOO AS WELL.

SO. SO AMI, WHAT ARE YOU? WHAT'S KIND OF YOUR FOLLOWING? I'M I'M LAUGHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT PERSON YOU RAN INTO WAS MY HUSBAND WITH MY DOG.

I KID YOU NOT. HE TOLD ME I WAS REALLY NICE TO HIM, AND HE WAS REALLY NICE TO ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOU AT THE TIME, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS FUNNY.

YEAH, HE SAID HE JUST DISCOVERED THE PLACE THREE DAYS AGO AS FAR AS A FUN PLACE TO TAKE YOUR DOG. YEAH, BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THE PHEASANT HUNTING AREA.

ANYWAY, IT'S REALLY FUNNY.

WE GO TO THE TRAILS ALL THE TIME.

IT'S JUST HILARIOUS. IT WAS YOU OF ALL PEOPLE THAT HE RAN INTO AND TOLD ME ABOUT, AND YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP NOW. NO, I WAS JUST WORRIED THAT EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE GO TO THE TRAILS, IT'S DEFINITELY A DESTINATION TO BE WANTED IN THE PARKS PLAN.

JUST IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S HUNTERS OUT THERE, THAT WAS IT JUST KIND OF THAT WAS THE ONLY THING NOT TOO BIG OF A DEAL, BUT I GUESS I'LL LEAVE THAT TO [INAUDIBLE]. MAYBE WE JUST ADD A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF IT.

YEAH, THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN.

BE FRANK. I DIDN'T READ THAT DESCRIPTION OF IT JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THE PLACE.

BUT JANE, I'LL REVISIT IT.

AND WHAT DAYS DOES HE COME OUT THERE? I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET OUT THERE TOMORROW, ANYWAY.

HE'S THERE ALL THE TIME ON THE TRAILS HE RUNS, THE TRAILS ALL [INAUDIBLE].

THAT WAS HIS FIRST TIME WHERE YOU WERE, AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WILDLIFE DIVISION TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS TRYING TO GET YOU CAN'T GET RID OF AUTUMN OLIVE. BUT THEY HAVE CLEARED.

I DON'T KNOW, A COUPLE THREE HUNDRED ACRES OF AUTUMN OLIVE AND PLANTED NATIVE GRASSES.

IT'S JUST ON ITS OWN.

IT'S JUST A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THE NATIVE GRASSES NOW HAVE TAKEN OVER.

AND HE WAS WALKING IN A NATIVE GRASS FIELD, YOU COULD YOU COULD TELL HIM THAT IT WASN'T JUST FULL OF A BUNCH OF WEEDS.

COMMISSIONER STEPHENS, DID YOU HAVE OTHER COMMENTS OR? WELL, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THE ONLY THING THAT WAS GOING TO COMMENT ON, AND I HAVEN'T READ THROUGH THE WHOLE PLAN TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IN IT FULLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DO WE TALK ABOUT THE EAST LANSING AQUATIC CENTER AT ALL IN THERE AS A FACILITY THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR A PUBLIC OPEN OUTDOOR POOL? YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE HANNA CENTER, I DON'T KNOW, MIKE, YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HANNA CENTER AND THEY HAVE AN INDOOR POOL THERE.

WE DO HAVE THOSE POOLS HERE, SO I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LUANN.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES ALL OVER BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC THAT THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR A POOL. SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO REVISIT THAT OR TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE SEE THE NEED.

AND IT MIGHT BE PROMOTION LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS OR ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER LICK, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I WAS AND I APOLOGIZE LUANN IN THE IN THE OPEN FORUM ASKING THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHEN WE COULD PROVIDE FEEDBACK BECAUSE I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TIMING LIKE RELATED TO THE LAND ACQUISITION AND AND I THINK LIKE WHY TOO.

SO JUST WONDERING IF ANY OF THAT WAS FLEXIBLE FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN BECAUSE I

[01:10:03]

IS THAT WHY IT WAS PUSHED OUT SO FAR IS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT DECIDE TO DO THAT AND SO WE WOULDN'T SEEK TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR THAT.

I THINK IT WAS, WHAT, 2025? HMM. YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WHEN THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2021 I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BROADBAND, THE COMMUNITY WIDE BROADBAND.

AND SO GETTING WI-FI IN PARKS, I THOUGHT, COULD BE MAYBE MORE OF A CHALLENGE, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE. AND SO THE THING IS WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS THAT THAT'S REALLY THE PARK COMMISSION SETS THE PRIORITIES EACH YEAR.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT AND CHANGE THE DATES.

BUT THE NICE THING ABOUT HAVING IT ALL THERE IS THAT SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE PLANNED AT A LATER YEAR, BUT YOU SEE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WORKS FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN THAT KIND OF HELPS CHANGE OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR TIMING AT THAT TIME.

SO NONE OF THAT IS LIKE IN STONE THAT IS LIKE A WORKABLE.

PLAN MOVING FORWARD, BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DO, AND I THINK MAYBE THEY WERE PLACED IN THAT TYPE OF ORDER BASED ON HOW FUNDING COULD BE ACQUIRED AND WHEN IT COULD ACTUALLY BE ACCOMPLISHED.

YOU KNOW, THERE USED TO BE YEARS AND YEARS WHERE THERE WAS NO MONEY AND WE WOULD JUST KEEP MOVING EVERYTHING DOWN A YEAR BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.

AND NOW IT'S BEEN PRETTY AMAZING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS WE HAVE IN RECENT YEARS. OK, AND THEN JUST ONE MORE QUESTION IF THAT'S OK.

COMMISSIONER FARRIS, I WANTED TO ASK, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HAVING LIKE A CHILDREN'S FARMER'S MARKET OR LIKE A CHILDREN'S ART MARKET? YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DO WHERE THEY HAVE ENTREPRENEUR NIGHT AND KIDS DEVELOP THINGS.

IS THAT EVER ANY THING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED? I DON'T REMEMBER HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AS A GROUP, BUT JUST THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC AT SOME POINT.

YEAH, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA.

AND PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AS WE WERE GETTING READY AND EXCITED FOR PLANS FOR MARKETPLACE TO OPEN, WE HAD TALKED A LOT ABOUT THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES TO ACTIVATE THE SPACE.

AND AND THEN WHEN WITH REDUCED STAFFING AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, IT ALL KIND OF WENT TO THE WAYSIDE. BUT HOPEFULLY, IF WE CAN GET MORE STAFF AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH PROGRAMING AND RECREATION PROGRAM THAT WE CAN BRING SOME OF THOSE THINGS BACK.

I KNOW TOM TOM CAREY DOES A GREAT JOB IN MANAGING THE MARKET, BUT HE HAS HIS HANDS FULL WITH THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF 70 BLUE SPACES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AND SEASONAL VENDORS AND DAILY VENDORS, AND THEN TRYING TO GET MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES GOING ON.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A RECREATION DEPARTMENT WANTED TO TAKE ON IS TO TRY TO ENGAGE YOU IF WE WANT TO TRY TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND ART.

MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING WITH PAINTING THE FIRE HYDRANTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OR THE ELECTRICAL BOXES.

MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO CLASSES AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TO CREATE ART INSTALLATIONS THAT WE CAN.

ACTUALLY, THAT WILL LAST AND WE PUT THOSE INTO OUR PARKS THAT THEY'RE A PART OF THAT.

SO I THINK AND MAYBE THERE'S A WHOLE ART COMMUNITY ART POLICY.

I KNOW THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW WE WOULD BE A STRONG PARTNER IN HELPING TO FACILITATE AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

SO THE MORE WE CAN WORK WITH KIDS AND GET THEM ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE CITIZENSHIP AND THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY, I MEAN, IT'S ALL A WIN-WIN.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL GREAT IDEAS AND THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T THINK OF EVERYTHING AND WE LOVE IT WHEN THERE'S MORE INPUT AS TO HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. YEAH, THANK YOU.

AND THIS COMES AS THE COMMENT AND QUESTIONS COME FROM MY NIECE WHO OVER THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT HERSELF HAD A FINGER KNIT AND SHE MADE US ALL SNAKES.

AND THEY ARE LIKE COILED UP, YOU KNOW, AND THEY SIT AND THEY'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL, AND SHE WAS LIKE, DO YOU THINK I COULD SELL THESE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET? AND I WAS LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE AND EVERYTHING. AND SO SHE'S LIKE, DO YOU THINK THEY'D HAVE A CHILDREN'S MARKET? AND I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE, AND SO I PUT THAT IDEA OUT THERE IN HONOR OF HER ABILITY TO TEACH HERSELF HOW TO FINGER KNIT.

SO IF THAT STEMS ANY OTHER IDEAS, WONDERFUL, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND I LOOK FORWARD.

GREAT. GREAT IDEA.

GREAT IDEA.

THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. TIES INTO OUR PLAY STRUCTURE THERE AT THE FARMERS MARKET, ALSO WHERE YOU CAN SET UP THE KIDS CAN SET UP THEIR OWN LITTLE SALES AND THAT STRUCTURE.

SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS?

[01:15:03]

[6.a. Parks and Recreation Department Work Plan Update]

IT'S NOT TOTALLY INCLUSIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE AND THEN SOME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2022.

AND WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO IS WAIT UNTIL THE JANUARY MEETING AND KIND OF THEN I CAN HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE YEAR END REPORT TO PROVIDE.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HEAVILY ON THE ACQUISITION PIECE, CLOSING OUT THE CURRENT GRANT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE TWO HARRIS NATURE CENTER PROJECTS AND THE TWO CENTRAL PARK PROJECTS.

I THINK JANE HAD IT ALL.

WE'VE GOT IT ALL WRAPPED UP TODAY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WE'RE WORKING ON THE ACQUISITION, ALSO WORKING ON A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR A DONATION OF A LABYRINTH FOR CENTRAL PARK THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET CONSTRUCTED NEXT YEAR.

SO I'M GOING TO STOP THERE.

THERE'S JUST THE TRAIL MAP.

WE HAVE THAT THE NEW TRAIL AND PATHWAY MAP WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO FINALIZE BY THE END OF THE YEAR. A LOT OF THINGS IN THE WORKS, BUT WHY DON'T WE WAIT AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT EVERYTHING IN JANUARY? OK, THANK YOU, LUANN, AND WE'LL WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT IN JANUARY OF 2022 ALREADY. PUBLIC COMMENTS? STEPHEN DO WE HAVE ANY ONE THAT HAS JOINED US OR WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I AM NOT SEEING ANYONE AT THIS TIME.

OK, THANK YOU.

ARE THEY ANY OTHER MATTERS OR COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STEPHENS.

NO, COMMISSIONER VAN ANTWERP.

COMMISSIONER LICK, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD'S DIRECTOR MAISNER ANYTHING MORE? OK, THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, THEN WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 5:49 ON DECEMBER 14.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.