Top News Story of the Week: 

Community Recreation Plan Passes Despite Obstacles​

COVID Nearly Shuts Down Village
Picture
By Mike Walters
January 24, 2022: Clinton, MI -- Though Covid cases in Lenawee County have risen rapidly in January, according to numbers from the Lenawee County Health Department, Monday night’s Village Council meeting would not be deterred.
Closed all of last week due to the virus, the Village of Clinton Council still held the Community Recreation Plan public hearing on Monday, January 17, 2022, albeit remotely. The topic of the meeting was a public hearing and review of the Community Recreation Plan, which was developed to “focus on recreational needs and how to address them over the next five years and beyond,” according to a public notice issued by the Village last month. In order to officially adopt the Plan, the Village held a special Council meeting on January 24, 2022, in the Village office parking lot. The Council unanimously voted to adopt Resolution Number 2022-02, a resolution to adopt the Community Recreation Plan. 

The number one goal of the plan is to provide multi generational recreational opportunities and facilities within the community, according to the document. Goals were established with community input. In August, the Village used Survey Monkey to gather community input via electronic survey, advertised on the Village’s website. On December 9, 2021 and on January 6, 2022, the Village posted notice of the public hearing in the Local.

Goals of the Community Recreation Plan were prioritized and focused on Tate Park, an 85 acre park which serves as the primary recreation land and facilities in Clinton. 

Some of the high-priority projects include expanding the paved pathway systems with lighting and seating, installing all-inclusive play equipment, improving ADA compliance, improving the entrance drive and parking lots, and improving the drive to ball fields. Some of the medium priority projects include improving ball fields, remodeling restrooms, adding a drive and parking for the south area, football and soccer fields, adding a south restroom/storage/concession building, connecting walkways in the south area, adding a dog park, adding a play area in the south area, and adding a spray park. Some of the low priority projects include adding baseball diamonds and an equestrian venue.

Primary funding for park operation and maintenance is through the general fund of the Village, whose annual budget for 2021-22 is over $1.4 million. The budgeted annual expenses for parks in 2021-22 is $146,880. That money is used for park maintenance, operating supplies, utilities, and small construction projects, according to a draft of the Community Recreation Plan. The Village of Clinton has three parks: Tate Park (85 acres), Veterans Park (one acre), and Water Works Park (one acre). Money in the Tate Park Trust, which was established by the estate of John Robison and is now worth approximately $1.3 million, is available only for capital improvements within Tate Park, not operating costs.

In the August survey, which had 136 respondents, the greatest use of the park was to visit a playground (68%), followed by walking or jogging along the path (64%). Participating in organized sports (54%) and “just relaxing and enjoying the outdoors” (44%) also ranked high.

Survey respondents asked the committee to consider adding play equipment (50%), adding natural area pathways (49%), and providing better access to the water (41%). Exercise stations along the pathway (34%) and the addition of all inclusive (ADA compliant) equipment also ranked high (35%).

​The majority of respondents were ages 35-44 years (47%) and 45-54 years (23%).