By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
A parks and open space plan like the City of Dowagiac submitted to public input Monday night is required by the State of Michigan to qualify for grants.
No comment was heard at the Feb. 12 hearing, but copies of the document will be available at City Clerk Jim Snow's office at City Hall and at Dowagiac District Library until March 9 so the public still has a month to be heard.
A final draft of the plan will be brought before City Council's March 12 meeting for approval.
The proposed plan for 2007-2012 updates one adopted approximately five years ago.
Retired grounds director Gary Carlile, who revises the plan as a consultant, attended the council meeting to explain what that entails.
"You look at the community, the administrative structure, you do a recreation facilities inventory and look at how those facilities are maintained and how they serve the neighborhoods. You describe the planning process – what you did to put the plan together. I outlined where I think the community is and some goals and objectives. Getting input from the public is an important part."
First and foremost, Carlile said, "You maintain and improve what you've got and make sure our park system is accessible to all persons and assure that parks in neighborhoods are available for general spontaneous use. In other words, if you have a whole bunch of big activities going on in these neighborhood parks and overruns them, the neighborhood can't use the park."
One goal is acquiring, protecting and expanding areas for youth sports, particularly the property surrounding Russom Field for which the city unsuccessfully sought a grant last year to acquire.
Also, on the east side of Dailey Road, between Dowagiac and Southwestern Michigan College, there is some privately-owned land the city might want to acquire to "lock up to secure our eight miles of running and cross country skiing trails," Carlile said. "We've got over 225 acres of publicly-owned open space around the college, which is remarkable."
Another aim, Carlile expressed, is to expand the scope of community recreation programs.
"That sort of plays into the area-wide recreation authority idea." Also, "to construct a community center, swimming pool and ice rink. It doesn't mean you're going to be able to do all this stuff immediately, but you know you want to look at ways of solving it."
Mayor Donald Lyons indicated that there have been discussions about rebuilding the basketball courts and play area at Water Tower Park.
The council also paid out $348,922.14, including $168,420.30 for bills and $180,501.84 for payroll. Councilman Leon Laylin abstained from the vote on a $15 bill owed to Laylin Welding.
Councilman Bob Schuur was absent.