Preserving rural character in the Manchester area: a forum for local officials and residents

August sunset over field in Manchester Township

by Sybil Kolon

This forum is open to anyone who wants to share their thoughts about the topics of land preservation and rural character in the Manchester area. Please contact me at sybil.kolon@gmail.com or reach out to the Mirror to submit your thoughts. If you are on Facebook or other social media sites, and even if you’re not, please share this and other related articles with your friends and family around the Manchester area. 

How Important is Recreation to the Manchester Community?

Our last report, on December 4, 2023, covered the early stages of the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission’s (WCP&RC) effort to develop a comprehensive master plan for the entire county. Their detailed survey is now available. See the link at the end of this article. 

Do you believe the Manchester area has enough recreational opportunities, both indoors and outdoors? Do you think the WCP&RC provides enough recreational resources in the Manchester area? Now is the time to speak up.

It is a detailed survey and will take about fifteen minutes to complete, but we need to make sure our concerns are known. There are outdoor recreational opportunities provided by the county in the area, and those can be selected in response to several of the questions. There is also a comment section at the end where you could specify if you think the Manchester area needs more services or make other comments.

The availability of outdoor recreation can help preserve our rural character. If people value outdoor recreation, that can help to maintain and expand the parks, preserves, and trails available, which will also help preserve our rural character. Even indoor recreation can have a positive impact, as most healthy, active people will likely seek outdoor recreation as part of their fitness plan.

Provide feedback to the WCP&RC at the following link, including a survey and interactive mapping function: https://engagepros.mysocialpinpoint.com/WCPARC 

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.