Community Administrative Structure
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BARRY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD BARRY COUNTY CHARLTON PARK VILLAGE AND MUSEUM BOARD Barry County Parks And Recreation Plan A Recreation Plan Submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources February, 2008 Parks and Recreation Board Rick Moore - Chair, Paul Henry Trail Curt Cybulski - Vice Chair, City of Hastings Debbie Jensen - Secretary, Citizen at Large Valerie Byrnes, Economic Development Alliance Chamber of Commerce Keith Ferris, Board of Commissioners Thomas Funke , Otis Sanctuary Jerry Ladere, Charlton Park Village & Museum Board Warren Wheeler, Citizen at large James Oliver, Village of Middleville Charlton Park Village and Museum Board Kraig Leathers - Chair, Citizen at Large Jerry LaDere – Vice Chair, Gas & Steam Club Elspeth Inglis - Secretary, Citizen at Large Jack Reffett, City of Hastings Janet Lydy, Thornapple Garden Club Valerie Byrnes, Parks and Recreation Board Lloyd Kilmer, Civil War Reinactors Brian Reynolds, Barry County Historical Society Jeff VanNortwick, Board of Commissioners Anne Bush, Native American Cover Photograph of McKeown Bridge courtesy of Rose Hendershot of Photographic Memory, Hastings TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction Introduction……………………………………………………. 1 Plan Purpose…………………………………………………… 1 Plan Scope……………………………………………………… 1 Plan Summary…………………………………………..……… 1 2. Community Description Community Description……………………………………….. 2 Regional Location Map ………………………………………... 2 Population………………………………………………………. 3 Climate…………………………………………………………. 4 Lakes and Rivers………………………………………………. 4 Watersheds……………………………………………………… 6 Wetlands………………………………………………………… 6 Land Cover……………………………………………………… 7 3. Administrative Structure Charlton Park Village and Museum Board……………………… 8 Parks and Recreation Board……………………………………… 8 Board Membership………………………………………………. 8 Current Funding Sources………………………………………… 9 Charlton Park Annual and Projected Budgets…………………… 9 Charlton Park Staff Description…………………………………. 10 Charlton Park Organizational Chart……………………………… 10 Parks and Recreation Board Organizational Chart………………. 11 Board Policies and Procedures…………………………………… 11 Charlton Park Budgets……………..…………………………….. 11 Park and Recreation Budgets……………..………………………. 13 4. Recreation Inventory Barry County Facilities: Historic Charlton Park………………………………………. 14 McKeown Bridge…………………………………………… 16 Norris Road…………………………………………………. 16 Paul Henry Thornapple Trail………………………………… 17 Park Accessibility Assessment ……………………………………. 17 DNR Recreation Grant Inventory…………………………………. 18 State of Michigan Facilities……………………………………….. 19 Other Municipalities………………………………………………. 20 School Facilities…………………………………………………… 20 Semi-Public/Private Recreational Facilities……………………….. 20 Municipal Recreation Facilities Table…………………………….. 24 School Recreation Facilities Table………………………………… 25 Campsite Table…………………………………………………….. 26 Boat Launch Table…………………………………………………. 27 Barry County Public Lands & Recreational Facilities Map………... 28 Paul Henry Thornapple Trail Maps………………………………… 32 i 5. Planning and Public Input Process Recreation Planning……………………………………………….. 35 Plan Process and Development……………………………………. 35 6. Needs Assessment Facilities vs. Population….………………………………………… 37 Geography, Demographics, and Future Needs…………………….. 37 Accessibility………………………………………………………... 38 Connectibility……….……………………………………………… 38 Land Purchasing…………………………………………………..... 39 Charlton Park Historic Village and Museum………………………. 39 Charlton Park Recreation Area…………………………………….. 39 McKeown Bridge Park…………………………………………….. 40 7. Goals and Objectives Charlton Park Board Mission Statement….…………………….…. 41 Charlton Park Board Goals and Objectives.……………………….. 41 Park and Recreation Board Mission Statement.………………….... 42 Park and Recreation Board Goals and Objectives.………………… 42 8. Action Program and Capital Improvement Schedule Action Program…………………………………………………….. 45 Charlton park Board Project List Capital Improvement Schedule…. 47 Parks and Recreation Board Capital Improvement Schedule………. 50 9. Local Adoption and Certification of Plan Certification Checklist……………………………………………… 52 County Commission Resolution of Adoption………………………. 54 Parks and Recreation Board Resolution of Adoption………………. 55 Charlton Park Village & Museum Board Resolution of Adoption…. 56 Publication Notices and Newspaper Articles……………………….. 57 Minutes of Public Hearing………………………………………….. 59 Regional Planning Agency Transmittal Letter……………………… 60 10. Appendices Policy Statement…………………………………………………… 61 Public Meeting Notes……………………………………………… 62 Aerial Photographs of Park Sites………………………………….. 64 ii INTRODUCTION Parks, Recreation and Open Space are important elements of Barry County and reflect positively on the quality of life of residents and experiences of visitors. In recent years, a more holistic approach to recreational planning has been encouraged, stretching beyond the boundaries of traditional parks to include sidewalks, linear trails, greenways and other publicly and privately owned lands. In addition to the human benefits of recreation and open space, there are also important environmental benefits; such as water resource protection, reduced vehicular traffic and plant and wildlife protection. Plan Purpose The 2008 Barry County Parks and Recreation Plan is a guide for the future development of recreation opportunities for Barry County residents and visitors. The Plan serves as the official advisory policy statement for the maintenance and development of County park and recreation lands. The plan addresses current recreation issues and identifies future needs of the community and the means for meeting those needs over the up-coming five-year period. The plan allows for some flexibility to respond to changing conditions. The previous Barry County Parks and Recreation Plan was adopted in February 2004. Administrative changes made in 2007 have led to the need for this updated plan based on realistic goals for the future of parks and recreation in Barry County. The plan is written to meet the requirements of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to allow recreation grant applications. The State of Michigan currently has funds available for land acquisition for parks and green space and development of recreation facilities through the Natural Resources Trust Fund and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Plan Scope The scope of this plan includes proposals for the management and improvement of the County’s existing sites as well as proposals to increase the facilities available. This plan covers the major goals for management and development of Charlton Park Village and Museum. However, due to the unique nature of this facility, this document may be supplemented in the future by a more specific Historic Charlton Park Strategic Plan. Although the plan concentrates on County owned land, consideration is also given to facilities owned and operated by other municipalities and private entities within the County. In terms of time, the Action Program section of this document covers development over the next five years. However, the Goals and Objectives developed to guide recreation planning may continue to be relevant for many more years to come. Plan Summary Barry County currently owns and manages three recreational facilities: Historic Charlton Park, McKeown Bridge Park and the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail. This plan identifies proposed improvements to all of these assets. Other items considered in the Plan include planning for greenways and connectivity across the County and the development of a new sports complex. 1 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION Community Description Barry County is situated in the southwestern lower peninsula of Michigan in the center of the triangle with metropolitan areas of Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Kalamazoo/Battle Creek at its points. Numerous inland lakes, rivers, and rolling terrain mixed with upland forests characterize the County. The county continues to experience increasing growth pressures and the effects of growth and development are impacting the natural features and local quality of life. The Barry County Parks & Recreation Plan will address the County’s needs in the following 16 townships, covering approximately 516 square miles, which are as follows:1 Assyria Township Johnstown Township Baltimore Township Maple Grove Township Barry Township Orangeville Township Carlton Township Prairieville Township Castleton Township Rutland Charter Township Hastings Charter Township Thornapple Township Hope Township Woodland Township Irving Township Yankee Springs Township 1 The following text and tables, on pages 3 through 7 of this plan were excerpted from the Barry County, Michigan, Master Plan DRAFT, October, 2005, by Williams & Works. 2 The City of Hastings is the only city in the County and is the most urbanized area of the County. The villages of Freeport, Middleville, Nashville, and Woodland are located in the north half of the County. The County also features many un-incorporated communities, including Cloverdale, Delton and Dowling. The County is home to the Middleville and Barry State Game Areas. These areas provide lands for wildlife, recreation, and timber resources and are located in Hope, Irving, Orangeville, Rutland Charter, Thornapple and Yankee Springs Townships. Population The study of population growth trends and changing indicators, such as age, education, income, and employment, is important in developing an understanding of the County’s recreational needs. The 2000 U.S. Census indicates a population in Barry County of 56,755. Population growth has been steady, with a 2006 estimated population