Three University of Michigan grad students arrived in town last week to present Clarkston officials with a preliminary plan to transform Depot Park into an ecological showcase.
The plan included conceptual plans and ideas for projects like rain gardens, native plantings, stream bank stabilization, and green energy.
‘We want to be able to show techniques in the park that people can use at their homes to help preserve the ecological integrity of the area,? said Eric Bauer, who like his two partners in the project, is a Master’s of Landscape Architechure candidate at the UM School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Low-impact development’ecologically sensitive design to minimize the impact of humans on the environment’is key in the concepts and ideas the group will develop over the summer and into the fall.
Bauer said the group intends to think in terms of integrating ecological design with aesthetics to make the park a pleasant and educational place for its many events and users.
‘The perception of native plants is their messy order,? he said. ‘So if we can work to improve the perception of order through edge treatments or thoughtful planting, we can make it palatable to a larger group of people.?
Bauer, who has a background in economics and management, is a 2000 Clarkston High graduate.
‘Everybody in Clarkston knows Depot Park,? he said. ‘What I didn’t know is the park includes all that wetland area down to Middle Lake near the cut through to Deer Lake.?
The group is considering plans for a boardwalk through the 35-acre wetland to allow children and others to learn about the area while remaining safe’and clean, he said.
The group’s objectives include, first, the production of a master plan illustrating possibilities and conceptual ideas for different areas in the park and around the village.
The students also plan to create a watershed handbook to educate residents about the effects, both positive and negative, humans can make on the environment.
‘It’s really important the storm water stays on site,? said UM student Susie Mattke-Robinson. ‘We are at the headwaters of the Clinton River, so it’s important the water is cleaned here so we’re not affecting things further down the line.?
Mattke-Robinson said the group would also like to expand on projects and ideas already implemented by the Watershed Group.
‘We’re interested in using more rain gardens,? she said. ‘The existing rain garden is doing a pretty good job at handling a lot of the storm water run off coming right from the parking lot.?
In addition, the group also wants to include proactive plans in the proposal.
‘The current millrace has the potential for erosion,? Mattke-Robinson said.. ‘So we’d be interested in utilizing methods like vegetative plants and boulders for restoration and stream bank stabilization.?
Other concepts presented included green energy, green walls and green parking.
‘As we look across the street to the existing parking lot where the farmers market takes place, we see the asphalt breaking down,? said the group’s third partner Stephen Layton. ‘It will probably need to be fixed in the next few years, and a green parking alternative would be a great way to filter some of the storm water as opposed to just pouring into the millrace and down into our wetland.?
In addition to ideas for protecting the water, the group also presented thoughts on conserving it, as well.
‘We’re going to think about rain barrels in the park as a demonstration,? Layton said. ‘It’s really a great technology people can take back to their house, and with simple installation they can water vegetables or plants. It’s really easy and it helps conserve water.?
Although the group is not short on ideas and has now presented their preliminary plan and received an enthusiastic go-ahead from the Clarkston Watershed Group and the Clarkston City Council, they are open to input.
‘We’re considering having a community design workshop in September,? said Bauer. ‘The watershed group has a great following of a lot of creative people and if we can get the word out we come up with some neat ideas for the park.?
The group hopes to have a final presentation to the Watershed group by December. Meanwhile, local interest and awareness is growing.
‘The presentation was great,? said Clarkston City Councilwoman Kristy Ottman, ‘It really got the wheels turning at how fantastic our town could look.?

The Watershed group hopes a master plan for Depot Park will promote community awareness and interest, and therefore help to secure funding.
‘What we expect is a plan we can use as a master footprint,? said group founder and co-chair Jim Brueck. ‘It could be multiple year project, but it’s something we can use as a foundation.?
A $400 grant awarded by the Oakland Native Partnership Initiative will fund planting between the parking lot and Lower Millpond at Main and Washington.
‘Wild Ones provided most of the funding and really got us started last year with the funding for the Depot Park Rain Garden,? said Watershed Group co-chair Cory Johnston, who is also a Clarkston City Council member.
The group is a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities.
‘A $700 grant from the Wildflower Association of Michigan will be used for plants in the Children’s Garden.
The group has also applied for the 5-Star grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Finally, the group is hopes to win support from The Hometown Helper. Residents can encourage efforts of the Watershed Group by logging on to myhometownhelper.com to add comments and lend support. Judges award grants based on a project’s merit and its impact’and support’within the community. Projects are considered every month through May 2007, with funds awarded until June 15.