Township park plans take shape
By Susan Bromley
Brandon Twp.- The clearing of trees will soon clear the way for a new township park.
The township board approved recommendations for phase one of a 47-acre recreation park at the corner of Hadley and Oakwood roads.
‘It took us a little longer than I thought, but we’ll get started next year,? said park committee chairman Tom Stowell. ‘I’d like it to happen quickly.?
In 2006, engineering plans will be prepared for a soccer field complex; ground will be leveled and seeded for four or five soccer/multi-purpose fields; a fence will be installed to protect the fields as they become established; a service drive will be created allowing work to proceed; and dead or clearly dying trees, as well as trees hindering development will be removed.
The fields will need to grow for one year. The cost for the first-year plan is estimated to be $200,000. There is approximately $100,000 in township accounts for park development, with an additional $54,000 set aside by Brandon Recreation. The township expects to receive approximately $52,000 next year from cell tower leases they are maintaining on Seymour Lake Road property. The board has decided not to sell the cell tower rights, of which their profit increases 5 percent per year.
The park committee is also hoping for donated goods and services from businesses, organizations and other community members for both 2006 and 2007 plans. Projected plans for 2007 include engineering for entrance and parking areas; construction of parking and an entrance from Hadley Road; construction of a picnic area and pavilion; and possible construction of a playground area and walking trail on the park perimeter.
Stowell will soon meet with fellow committee members Charlene Carlson and Bob DeWitt as well as Recreation Director Fred Waybrant to discuss fundraising efforts.
The fields will be ready for play by 2007, although it might not be until the fall. Stowell says the park committee will wait two years to make a proposal to the board for years three and four of park development, which would likely include four baseball/softball fields in the ‘clover-leaf? design; a large concession/bathroom building; two T-ball size fields; site electricity; a basketball court; maintenance/storage building; and possible additional picnic pavilions.