Orion Township’s Parks and Recreation department held an open house on Wednesday, May 23.
The public was welcome to come and voice their opinions on future plans for Civic Center Park, Friendship Park, McConnell Field and Gingell Nature Area.
Leah Groya, a professional planner for Wade Trim, was hired to help with the project.
She said that Parks and Recreation are working on a five-year plan to create the master plan and that this phase of the project is about three-fourths of the way completed.
‘This is an opportunity for residents to provide input,? said Groya.
Plans for the Civic Center Park include building an amphitheater, while Friendship Park could gain a couple of new attractions.
‘It was great to see a lot of public involvement. That’s what we wanted,? said Rock Blanchard, Parks and Recreation director.
Blanchard said that the open house brought in positive feedback on Friendship Park’s future spray park and historic area.
Residents from Lake Forest subdivision showed up to voice their concerns about Gingell Nature Area.
The current plan is to convert vacant property owned by the township into a new park.
Kim Urbanowski, secretary of the homeowners? association for Lake Forest subdivision, said that the plans for the development of the land were brought to the attention of the association by one of the residents.
‘I moved to Lake Orion for the parks but Lake Orion has enough,? said Urbanowski.
Those who live in Lake Forest are not thrilled about the location of the park being right in their back yards. They would rather the property be left as it is, believing that wildlife would benefit from the open space.
Blanchard said that the plans ‘would not be adverse? and the procedures would not have an effect on the plant and wildlife.
Another concern of the residents is that crime rates may rise when paths are created from their subdivision through Gingell Nature Area.
Blanchard said that if the township does not provide trails, then people will make their own, which will cause more problems.
The department is planning to go out to the site and walk around, looking at what changes could possibly be made for Gingell Nature Area, said Blanchard.
This stage of the planning will be completed by the first part of July. A public hearing will be held before the plans are finalized.