Brandon Twp.- The official opening of the Brandon Township Community Park will happen next spring, not this fall.
Parks and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant had hoped to have play begin soon on four multi-purpose fields at the new park located at Oakwood and Hadley roads. However, a recent heat wave and a lack of ordinances for the new park has pushed the opening back.
‘The sod (for the fields) won’t be laid until after Labor Day,? said Waybrant, who adds that he is looking for volunteers for the task. ‘We don’t want to take chances because of the heat index lately. We also want to make sure the sod is well-established and that all the ordinances are in place. We’re looking at rules, security, special permits, pavilion rentals, and overall usage of the park pertaining to Brandon residents and non-residents.?
Plans for the park continue to move along. When the sod is laid for the four multi-purpose fields on which soccer and flag football will be played, the end of Phase I of the park will be complete. Tasks already completed include the park entranceway, an asphalt parking lot for 300 cars, two skating rinks and a well. Park irrigation plans and a concrete foundation for a pavilion will be finished this week.
Waybrant is excited about a new plan for the park, too? a 30-35 foot tall sledding hill that will be built this fall. The hill will have a plateau on top that will be fenced in, and could accomodate skiiers and snowboarders as well as sledders. With township board approval, Waybrant is hoping to have the park open for winter activities by January or February. He is also planning to eventually have a chairlift that is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) approved for the sledding hill.
The chairlift is just one part of having a universal park, accessible to all residents. Waybrant and the park committee are pursuing a trust fund grant from the Department of Natural Resources and the Kellogg Foundation. The grant is $500,000 and the township would match it with $264,000. The township will find out in December if they have received the grant, and if approved, they could complete Phase II of the park’s development, which includes baseball and softball fields, concession stands, the sledding hill chairlift, additional parking, two playground structures, bathrooms, and a good portion of 8-foot wide asphalt walkways.
Funds from the Ortonville Rotary’s Build-A-Park Club Fund will enable the township to match the grant money. The club now has about 110 family and business memberships, and has almost $20,000 in private donations. Rotarians request a one-time $100 donation for membership in the club, all proceeds of which will go to development of the park.
Waybrant is grateful for all donations to the club, and also for the many in-kind service donations. Recent donations from Bedrock Express, Bory, Inc., Roger Engels, and Luke’s Trucking have equaled $10,000 for installation of a play structure. He notes he has received great support from his staff and the township board.
‘Things are moving along really well,? Waybrant said. ‘I was fighting for the fall opening (of the park), but… I had to bite the bullet and realize that with the time and investment of the community, they will be proud to see what’s taking place.?
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp agreed.
‘We had hoped we might be able to have a fall opening, but we believe there is no sense rushing,? he said. ‘We’ll make sure we have adequate ordinances in place, give vegetation time to take root, and have all our ducks in a row so that when we open we minimize any unforeseen headaches and have a park for our community to be very, very proud of.?
For more information on the Build-A-Park Club, how to donate, or to volunteer, call (248) 627-4640.