Parks and Recreation Committee solicits proposals to restore beach access

The Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee oversees the Casco Township Nature Preserve

At its regular October meeting on October 14, the Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee clarified its strategy to restore beach access to the Casco Township Nature Preserve. The Committee is soliciting conceptual plans from three engineering firms to restore beach access through a bluff pathway. The three firms include LRE (Land & Resource Engineering, Walker, MI); Edgewater Resources, St. Joseph, MI; and Merritt Midwest, Inc. of Stevensville, MI. The goal is to procure a biddable plan by December.

A subsequently selected and approved plan would then be used to solicit grants and secure permits and funding for the beach access restoration project. This action follows a wetlands report provided by LRE two months ago. The Committee also discussed treatment of wetlands and designated their November meeting to discuss this topic more fully.

The cleaning service at the Casco Township Nature Preserve reported on vandalism in one new restroom resulting in a sink becoming loosened from the concrete wall. The lockset of this restroom is also damaged. The damaged restroom has remained closed as winterization is scheduled in the coming weeks. One restroom remains open until the winter weatherization occurs in early November.

A new drinking fountain located on the exterior wall of the restroom building will also be weatherized. The committee is exploring a strategy to increase security at the Nature Preserve in an attempt to discourage any future vandalism of the new restrooms.

The Committee also decided on purchasing two large and heavy trash receptacles for the restrooms. It is anticipated that soap dispensers permanently mounted on the restroom walls will also be installed in time for the Spring re-opening of the Preserve restrooms.

The meeting was chaired by Debbie Weaver in the absence of Chair Andy Litts. Kelly Hecker was also absent. Additional members of the Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee include Libby Catt, Paul Macyauski, Matt Super, Don Kuick, and Trustee Mary Campbell, representing the Township Board. The Committee holds its monthly meetings on the second Tuesday at 7:00 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for November 11 at the Casco Township Hall, 7104 107th Avenue.