Casco Parks & Recreation Meeting of March 11
- Julie Cowie
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
The Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee held their regular meeting on March 11 with all members in attendance. Discussion highlights:
A local singer/songwriter is looking for a place to hold a "music in the park" event and would like to use the Casco Township Nature Preserve
The dapper willows at First St are quite large. There is some cambium damage on other trees from deer.
LRE has been hired to conduct a wetlands study at the Nature Preserve, which will be their first project of the Spring.
A small group met with the Executive Director of the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF), Stephanie Calhoun, to explore fundraising options. Ms. Calhoun shared several local foundation options for grants in addition to the ACCF funding cycle which opens May 19 and closes June 23. The ACCF could also manage funds raised through a "Friends" organization at a rate of a 1-2% administration fee. The Blue Star Bike Trail is a resource on this as they have ACCF manage their "Friends" effort.
Bike racks are desired at the Casco Township Nature Preserve. The Allegan Tech Center (Allegan ISD) could potentially fabricate these racks. They may also be a source of graphic design for a logo for the Preserve.
The Committee wants to have an Open House at the Nature Preserve to mark the completion of the bathroom/parking expansion and also launch a fundraising campaign to restore access to the beach. Funds to offset event costs could be raised from Meijer, WalMart, and the Gun Lake Casino. Kelly Hecker offered to lead the sub-committee, helped by Debbie Weaver, Libby Catt, and Matt Super. Julie Cowie, a public member, also volunteered. Clerk Rachel Ridley will be recruited.
The scope of restoring public access to the beach is unknown, but an earth moving project could be $600k and more.
Interpretive signs still need to be installed to complete the renovation project at the Preserve. Pam Blough is to have signs shipped to Davis for installation by June 29.
The Clerk provided the committee with a financial statement of Committee expenses, which was reviewed with appreciation.
Brian Ridley will attend the meeting next month so he can be informed of desired Preserve cleanup goals.
The septic field berm at the Preserve needs regular mowing to be appropriately maintained.
A prescribed burn to eliminate non-native overgrowth at the Preserve was discussed. SHAES Chief Hinz was supportive and willing to have a tanker on site during the burn. This seems most appropriate for February or November.
The Nature Preserve sign needs repainting and the walkways need to be powerwashed. Goal to have these items completed by end of June.
The committee will request approval from the Board for $500 to plant bulbs at the Preserve.
A question was raised about when pickleball nets will be re-installed at the Township Hall; with scheduled renovation of the Township Hall site, the court may be impacted.
The next meeting will be held on April 1, at the Nature Preserve with Brian Ridley, instead of the regularly scheduled meeting of April 8 which falls during Michigan's Spring Break.
In public comment, Dave Campbell proposed the Parks and Recreation millage to be increased to raise money for restoring public access. He expressed frustration that so little has been done in recent years. He also expressed frustration over cross-talk by the committee during discussion, which made it difficult to hear and understand proceedings.
Julie Cowie asked for clarification about the timing of reaching out to potential local funders for the proposed June Open House, given deadlines and the timing of the next committee meeting (April 1).
In further discussion, Committee members expressed dismay at how long the Nature Preserve restroom and parking project took based on the dependence on grant funding, which is a drawn out process. The required wetlands study has delayed action on the public access restoration project but it is a necessary first step.
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