Goodrich-By a 4-1 vote on Monday the village council OK’d an updated parks and recreation master plan. The vote comes after two public hearings, which included Monday night prior to the council meeting.
The recreation master plan compiled by LSL Planning Consultant, was first created about 15 years ago and updated about every five years. The plan identifies recreation areas and specifies potential areas of expansion and goals for the village. In 2011 the village requested Atlas Township to join in the plan; however, they declined.
‘This was the third revision of the plan over the past year,? said Jakki Sidge, village administrator. ‘The working plan is necessary to obtain grants and demonstrate projects are in the works.?
Key in the new plan is the reconstruction of the old Mill Pond Dam including a spillway and cascade water feature with pedestrian promenade, fishing access and canoe launch area just south of Hegel Road. Cost of the project is estimated at about $2 million. The spillway can also control water flow and improve recreational access to Mill Pond, according to the plan.
Moving forward on the dam project is necessary, added Sidge. In the summer of 2014, at a cost of about $40,000, Midland-based Gerace Construction repaired the village dam after sink holes were discovered near the dam.
‘The repairs continue to hold, right now the dam is fine, but that could change when you’re dealing with a 100-year-old dam,? she said.
‘Again this plan is just a guide, not a rigid year-by-year list of improvements. Everything is to be reviewed by the village council on an annual basis. The projects will depend upon successful awarding of grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund and other sources.?
The recreational plan also included upgrades to the Huron Street Park on the Mill Pond, the Kearsley Creek Park and pathway connections.