By NORMA LERNER
Dowagiac Daily News

CASSOPOLIS – The Cass County Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a retreat with the goal in mind to discuss and set goals for 2010.

The retreat will be held in October with the date to be set.

This is a first for the newly created parks and recreation board that met last week.
Board Chairperson Judy Olson said the retreat is a step forward for next year’s park plans and events.

Olson reported that after Oct. 1, the parks department will no longer do maintenance at Lake Park on Birch Lake in Porter Township.

She explained that Porter Township owns the park and should be doing the maintenance.
Parks Director Scott Wyman recounted that the park has always been maintained by the parks department and as a road commission park.

He said it is small, less than a fourth of an acre.

He said there is one fishing pier, one trash barrel and no swimming.

The matter has been discussed for some time with the township supervisor, who will be notified about the decision.

Wyman told board members that the county allocation approved was $160,209, less than the requested amount of $182,000.

He reported that the monthly budget is going along well toward the end of the fiscal year and projected 90 percent of the budget will be used up by then.

He said capital purchases during the year transferred from the Cass County Road Commission were $141,435.

Of that, 40 acres were purchased adjacent to Dr. T. K. Lawless Park, $82,270; parking and lot paving at Arthur Dodd Memorial Park, $10,294; road commission used equipment purchases, $8,910; used truck purchase for maintenance, $5,000; a snow plow, $4,834; two shelter roofs, $4,300; and a rotary chopper, $3,425.

There is $22,402 left for other purchases.

Wyman discussed probable expenditures with the funds would include starting on the proposed dog park at Lawless Park and lighting for the equestrian and bus parking lot at Russ Forest.

The upcoming Lawless Park event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 for the Harvest Festival.

Admission is $3 per person, with children 2 years and under free.

Planned are pumpkin painting, face painting, hayrides and games.

The park is located on Monkey Run Street east of Vandalia and south of M-60.

Wyman may be contacted at 445-8611 for information.