A master plan to guide the parks and recreation department’s growth and development over the next five years was unanimously approved by the Oxford Township Board last Wednesday.
The master plan established and identified seven general objectives to be accomplished between 2003 and 2007.
Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis said while not every objective may be met within the plan’s five-year time frame, it does provide the department with “a template to work off of.”
“It gives us goals and direction,” he said, noting the department “completed 90 percent” of the projects outlined in the 1997-2001 master plan.
Clerk Clara Sanderson said called the new document a “great plan” and a “useful tool.”
The plan’s seven main objectives are:
n General Improvements to Existing Parks ? The existing Oxford Parks are heavily used and in constant need of improvements. Recommended improvements during the next five years include: update of play equipment, continued improvement of accessibility for persons with disabilities, adding new lighting, as well as other general improvements to the buildings and grounds of the parks.
n Development of Oakwood Lake Park ? The newly acquired park property on Oakwood Road is currently being master planned. (The plan will be submitted to the township planning commission in March.) The, implementation of that plan will be the top priority of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the next five years, in particular the development of the park’s access, circulation, and parking, and the provision of recreational opportunities. The Township will continue to explore options for the development of a shooting range either on Township property or adjoining parcels. The feasibility and management of this facility will require further investigation relating to environmental concerns, wetland permits, safety, and design.
n Maintenance of a High Level of Services ? The Parks and Recreation Department is able to maintain a high level of services with a minimum number of staff. There is a real concern that the existing staff is stretched to its limits and that this will only get worse as parks grow in number and programs expand. Unless there is an increase in staffing, the Parks and Recreation Department’s ability to maintain existing parks and programs and meet the need for future demand will be difficult at best.
n Acquisition of Additional Park Property ? Except for Oakwood Lake Park, all Township Parks are developed and their recreational activities are maximized. In order to provide additional activities such as sports fields or a municipal golf course, new park land will need to be acquired. Park land properties should be considered for their suitability to accommodate the specific desired recreational uses.
n Increased Public Awareness and Participation ? The Parks and Recreation Department has to continue to monitor needs, participation, and interests of the community and to facilitate an open dialogue with the Township’s residents. Increased advertising, networking, cooperative promotions, and funding to improve awareness and participation in the Parks system are seen as important goals to continuously seek.
n Coordination with the Township Greenways Efforts ? The Parks and Recreation Commission and Department should actively participate along with the Township Board and Planning Commission in encouraging new residential projects to provide dedicated park land, greenways and open space, trails and/or sidewalks as an integral part of their development. Coordination with the Township Safety Path Committee, the Open Space Committee, and the Polly Ann Trail Committee are important to establish.
n Development of Financial Strategies ? The Oxford Parks and Recreation system has been largely developed using a millage, general tax revenues, and state grants. Land acquisition and capital improvement projects have resulted from grant monies which are getting harder to obtain or simply unavailable. Seeking alternative sources of funding for park facilities and programs such as donations or increased millage is seen as equally essential for the future of parks and recreation in the Township.
A capital improvement schedule for 2003 through 2007 (see box above) was outlined in the master plan, with proposed funding for each project to be derived from either the department budget (millage and user fees), donations and fund-raising, grants or combinations of these.
Davis encouraged township officials to purchase vacant land “as it becomes available” for future park development. He noted that 49 percent of the township is currently comprised of vacant land that is open to development, including potential parks.
Because more park land and open spaces “benefit the entire community,” Davis said the responsibility for purchasing land shouldn’t be shouldered by the parks and recreation department alone.
If the money for such land purchases is not in the parks budget, which it’s not, Davis said the township should step in and purchase it.
“You buy (the land) now, while it’s available, before it’s too late,” Davis said. “As my dad used to say, ‘They aren’t making any more.'”
Davis said the land can always be developed into parks later, when funding is available. “It’s an investment. It’s not like you’re going to lose it,” he said.
“It would be nice to pick up another 100 acres to build an athletic complex” for baseball, soccer and football fields, Davis said, noting the current sports fields are inadequate to meet the growing demand.
To fund the proposed projects outlined in the master plan, four strategies were recommended in the plan.
The first is to increase resident support for a parks and rec. millage. In November 2002, township and village voters rejected a proposed eight-year, quarter-mill increase for parks and recreation services by a margin of 3,177 to 2,083.
Trustee Shirley Clancy said she “feels very sad” the parks millage hike didn’t pass. “I hope we can get some more funding at some point,” she said.
Davis said whether or not another millage request is placed before the voters will be up to the parks and recreation commission.
Revising recreation program and park facility user fees “to more accurately reflect actual costs” was another option recommended in the master plan.
Applying for state funding and grant monies was the third recommendation followed by seeking “other sources of funding” such as donations, sponsorships and fund-raising events.