By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
Teresa Rutt pitched the first ringer at the newest addition to Green’s Park set to be open next spring.
But Rutt’s ringer will not be the last.
The Lake Orion Horseshoe Club, in partnership with the Village of Lake Orion Parks and Recreation Committee, installed the first horseshoe pit at Green’s Park earlier this month, and even left a few hand-painted horseshoes for the community to play with.
Rutt, a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, said the new horseshoe court not only gives park patrons an additional activity to enjoy when the weather is good, it promotes Lake Orion park attractions as well as highlights some of the finer activities the LO Horseshoe Club has become involved with this past year.
‘People love pitching horseshoes together and having a good time,? she said. ‘Now when the kids are playing on the playground adults will have another option pitching some horseshoes.?
The LO Horseshoe Club provided the building materials and labor free of charge.
‘That’s what the club has been trying to do, partner with entities like the village and the township to build future relationships,? president Ron Price said. ‘The club has been around since 1960 and hasn’t done much besides play horseshoes, but now we are involved in a lot of things we didn’t used to be.?
Just this summer the club donated its time and courts to the Lake Orion Farmers Market and helped out at the Orion Art Center. Come this spring Price is planning a LO Horseshoe Club open house to generate more exposure for the club with free horseshoe-playing, yummy food, face painting for the kids and information on how to become a member.
‘Ron Price was quite the stand-out volunteer many weeks this season,? Farmers Market director Heather Muzzy said. ‘He was only solicited to open the pits up once for a pitching demonstration for just a few hours but he, his wife Dawn and a few others did so much more.?
For more information on the Lake Orion Horseshoe Club, visit their website and watch their informational videos at www.pitchwithus.com/lake_orion/.
With the colder weather on its way the horseshoe pit will not be open much longer, but Price said as soon as the ground thaws he will have the horseshoe box full of horseshoes next spring. Playing the game will be based on the honor system, he said, and the horseshoes will be available to everyone who visits Green’s Park.
Installing the pit is only one of the many projects currently in the works for Lake Orion’s parks. Committee members are currently updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and are hashing out other creative ideas to obtain more funding for park improvements.
Last year their budget of about $2,250 covered capital improvements for not only Green’s Park, but also Children’s Park, Meek’s Park, Swiss Village off of Central Dr. and Unger Park located off of Bellevue Ave.
The lifeguard and swim lessons program has operated at a deficit the last several years, Rutt said, but is one of the parks programs every committee member finds true value in.
‘We would love to keep the lifeguard and swim lesson program, it’s just coming up with the creative idea to generate the funding,? she said. The next parks and rec. meeting Nov. 25 will tentatively discuss the lifeguard situation for Green’s Park. Contact the village for agenda and time confirmation, number below.
There are currently three vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee board, and interested Lake Orion Village residents should contact village offices for an application at 248-693-8391.