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Unadilla Township Five Year Recreation Plan DRAFT 11-17-2016 Adopted February xx, 2017 DRAFT 11-17-2016 Page 2 Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Unadilla Township Board........................................................................................ Linda Walker, Supervisor Linda Topping, Clerk Julie Weiland, Treasurer Sue Cox, Trustee Lori Cowan, Trustee Unadilla Township Planning Commission .................................. Michael DeMint, Chair Bryan Spadafore, Vice Chair Susan Cox, Secretary Linda Topping, Clerk Diane Constable Recreation Plan Steering Committee ............................................ Lori Cowan Diane Constable DRAFT 11-17-2016 Assisted by: Carlisle | Wortman ASSOCIATES, INC. Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan Page i DRAFT 11-17-2016 Page ii Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Plan .................................................................................................1 Planning Process .......................................................................................................1 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................3 Population ...................................................................................................................4 Housing ........................................................................................................................7 Land Use ......................................................................................................................9 Natural Features ......................................................................................................11 Related Planning Initiatives ................................................................................15 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE .....................................................................22 Administration .........................................................................................................22 Funding & Budget ..................................................................................................22 Volunteers & Partnerships ...................................................................................23 RECREATION INVENTORY ..................................................................................24 DRAFTLocal Recreation Facilities ....................................................................................24 Preserves and Natural Areas ..............................................................................28 Regional Recreation Facilities ............................................................................30 11-17-2016Comparison to Recreation Standards .............................................................36 Accessibility Assessment & Grant-Assisted Projects ..................................37 MDNR Grant Fund Status .....................................................................................37 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION & NEEDS ASSESSMENT ........................39 National Recreation Trends ................................................................................39 Public Input Meeting & Resident Survey .......................................................41 Public Review & Public Hearing .........................................................................42 GOALS & OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................43 Goals ............................................................................................................................43 ACTION PROGRAM ...................................................................................................45 Action Plan ...............................................................................................................45 Project Schedule .....................................................................................................48 Implementation Strategies .................................................................................50 Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan Page iii FIGURES 1. Livingston County ............................................................................................3 2. SEMCOG Region ................................................................................................3 3. Population Trends, Unadilla Township ......................................................5 4. Population Trends, Livingston County & SE Michigan ........................5 5. Median Age Comparison ...............................................................................6 6. Unadilla Township Age Distribution Comparison ................................6 7. Existing Land Use Patterns ..........................................................................10 8. Natural Features ..............................................................................................13 9. Historical Vegetation circa 1800 ................................................................14 10. High Quality Natural Areas ..........................................................................17 11. Iron Belle Trail Preliminary Route Map ....................................................19 12. Great Lake-to-Lake Route Map ..................................................................20 13. B-2-B and “The Loop” Trail System Detail ...............................................21 14. Unadilla Township Park Facilities ..............................................................27 15. Regional Park Facilities .................................................................................30 TABLES DRAFT 1. Historical Population Data ............................................................................4 2. Population Projections ...................................................................................4 3. Housing Stock ....................................................................................................711-17-2016 4. Residential Building Permits .........................................................................7 5. Land Use Percentages .....................................................................................9 6. Unadilla Township Major Lakes .................................................................12 7. Unadilla Park Facilities ..................................................................................28 8. Regional Park Amenities ..............................................................................30 9. Suggested Parkland & Acreage .................................................................36 10. Accessibility Assessment .............................................................................37 11. MDNR Grants ....................................................................................................37 12. National Sports Participation 2013 ..........................................................39 13. Project Tasks .....................................................................................................48 Page iv Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan APPENDICES A. Notices of Draft Plan Availability & Public Hearing ............................55 B. Recreation Steering Committee Resolution .........................................95 C. Minutes of Public Hearing ........................................................................101 D. Township Board Resolution .....................................................................107 E. Letters of Transmittal ..................................................................................111 F. Public Input Summary ...............................................................................117 G. Park Plans ........................................................................................................147 DRAFT 11-17-2016 Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan Page v DRAFT 11-17-2016 Page vi Unadilla Township 2017 Recreation Master Plan INTRODUCTION The Unadilla Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan articulates a vision for parks and recreation in the community. The purpose of this Plan is to guide recreation planning and development eff orts of Unadilla Township over the next fi ve years. Once adopted, the Plan is the offi cial document to be used by the community to guide decisions regarding parks and recreation. Unadilla’s fi rst recreation plan was adopted in 2004 and most recently updated in 2009. The Township has since acquired a community park in Unadilla and has helped developed the Lakelands Trail which runs from Whitmore Lake to Stockbridge. The updated Plan is intended to meet state standards for community recreation planning that are necessary to gain eligibility for grant programs. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN The Unadilla Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan follows the format suggested by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in the Guidelines for the Development of Community Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Plans (2015). It begins with a Description of the Planning Process which was used to develop the Plan. The Plan then presents a Community Description, providing information on both the social and physical characteristics of the community. The community Administrative Structure is described in the next section, including