Casco Township Parks & Recreation Committee August meeting

The August 12 regular meeting of the Casco Township Parks & Recreation Committee featured a short presentation by Casco Township resident Linda Teeter. She shared information about the National Night Out, held annually on the first Tuesday of August; this community event started in 1970 as a way of improving relations between the Philadelphia Police Department and the city. It has expanded to over 13,000 communities since then.

As a former Commissioner from the City of Kalamazoo, Linda Teeter has experienced how the event builds positive relationships between the community and Fire, Police, and EMS. Events are for all ages and she thought the event would appeal to children and seniors alike. She proposed that Casco Township host a National Night Out in 2026.

The committee received the idea with great interest and asked Linda to return to the committee next month with an outline focused on how to host an event for the Casco community.

Committee member Don Kuick led a discussion about the treatment of wetlands at the Maple Grove side of the Casco Township Nature Preserve. The committee was somewhat surprised by the preponderance of wetlands on the parcel and discussion ensued about whether to treat the wetlands in particular ways. LRE could be consulted to determine if any of the wetlands on the site are critical.

Kuick shared information about what can and cannot be done about wetlands, though some of the prohibitions have been subsequently repealed in recent years. Kuick acknowledged that while brush hogging is permissible, mowing down all vegetation to the ground and exposing the soil--called grubbing--is not acceptable. The committee will ask Brian Ridley, who maintains the Preserve, to cut 2" or higher and not to let the brush get out of control.

Debbie Weaver reported on attending the Friends of the Blue Star Trail fundraiser and requested that a relationship with the group be revitalized to rekindle progress on a Blue Star Bike Trail.

Given Chair Andy Litts' schedule for September and October, the regularly scheduled Parks & Recreation committee meetings for those months may be moved. The dates of September 10 and October 8 were proposed as alternatives.