Parks plan to culminate in grant request for 2023
An update to the joint parks plan adopted in 2018 will have its public hearings on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Manchester Township Board meeting, and Monday, Dec. 19, at the Manchester Village Council meeting.
by Marsha Chartrand
For many months, the Village of Manchester and Manchester Township have been working together to develop an update to the joint parks plan that was originally adopted in 2018. The plan is required to be updated every five years in order to be able to apply for grant monies from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that could potentially help both entities improve their parks and recreation system.
“Maintaining, improving, and expanding our current parks has been a concern of the Village Council and Village Parks Commission for many, many years,“ said Pat Vailliencourt, Manchester Village President. “Unfortunately, with our parks currently being funded solely by village taxpayers, grants, and very generous donations from local groups and individuals, there are severe financial restrictions on what can be accomplished. The possibility of a Manchester Area Parks and Recreation Commission has been brought up numerous times.“
Currently, Manchester Township and the Village of Manchester are planning separate public hearings to seek input from their respective citizens for a 2023 Joint Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The township will hold its public hearing at its regularly scheduled Board meeting this Tuesday, December 13, at 7pm at the Manchester Township Hall, 275 S Macomb. The village public hearing will be held at its December 19 Council meeting, which is set to be held at 7pm in the Village Council Chambers, 912 City Rd (lower level, beneath the library).
The draft plan has been available for review since November 9, 2022, and will remain available through the date of the hearings. It can be viewed at the Township Hall during regular office hours (8:30am–noon, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday); at the Village Hall during its regular office hours (8am–4:30 pm, Monday–Friday); and at the Manchester District Library, 912 City Rd, during regular business hours (Monday–Wednesday, 10am–8pm; Thursday–Friday, 10am–6pm; Saturday, 10am–2pm). The draft plan is also available online on the Township’s website at www.twp-manchester.org and on the Village website at www.vil-manchester.org, or it can be directly accessed at https://www.calameo.com/read/00510767328fec2418125.
If you have questions or comments about the plan, please contact the Township office at (734) 428-7090 or the Village Manager at (734) 428-7877.
“In the recent survey of the Joint Parks & Recreation Master Plan between the village and Manchester Township, more than 70% of those that responded said maintaining existing parks and recreation facilities was very important,“ said Vailliencourt. “Almost 90% said acquiring and developing new parks and recreation facilities was either somewhat important, important, or very important.“
Vailliencourt added that at the recent community input meeting on what to do about Alumni Field, more than 40 residents expressed their opinions that they wanted to be sure the field remained available for community events such as the Chicken Broil and the Fair. The ideas of the village taking it over as well as a community-supported group were brought up.
Based on these recent inputs, the Village Council and Village Parks Commission took the first step by changing its village ordinance to increase the membership of Parks Commission and allow two at-large members. This option provides an opportunity for non-village residents to join this commission.
“Hopefully,“ Vailliencourt concluded, “this opens the door for discussions that include the Village, all four townships, and the school on how we, as a community, provide the parks and recreations facilities that our community wants.“
Make your opinion known at your local board meetings! These discussions will eventually affect everyone in the community.
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