Brandon Twp.- The final recommendation of a committee formed to find a resolution to Village Skate Park problems includes an 8- to 12-foot chainlink fence with landscaping, security lights and closing of the park on Saturdays and Sundays to give residents some peace and quiet.
Township Trustee Bob DeWitt presented the recommendation at Monday night’s board meeting, with 5-2 approval by the board to take the proposal to the village council, which next meets at 7 p.m., April 28 at the township offices, 395 Mill St.
Trustee Tom Stowell and Supervisor Ron Lapp voted no.
‘My objection is to the fence,? said Stowell. ‘I don’t think there is any way to make it look anything but monstrous.?
Lapp agreed.
‘I think it will look like a prison fence,? he said.
Other highlights of the recommendation include installing new signage, creating a bike rack, strict enforcement of ordinances and applying for a grant through the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority’s Risk Avoidance Program (RAP). If approved, the grant would give the township and village $10,000, which the municipalities would be required to match with another $10,000. In approving the recommendation, the township agreed to pay $3,750, contribute $2,500 from an existing Skate Park fund, and ask the village to chip in $3,750 to total the $10,000 needed from the municipalities.
Problems at the park, located at Cedar and Ball streets in the village, have existed since it opened several years ago say neighbors, and have included indecent exposure, smoking, drugs, foul language and more. Neighbors have advocated closing the skate park, which they say should never have been placed in a residential area, or moving it to the new community park at Oakwood and Hadley roads.
‘It’s a true dilemma, because no matter what, there are consequences,? said Stowell, who was part of the committee to make a recommendation. ‘Closing the park dumps the problem into the village. If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what the solution is other than to close and move the park.?
Brandon Deputy Mike Garrison said kids need a positive outlet like the skate park. He acknowledged that along with that comes bad kids, but the majority are good kids.
‘We work hard to keep it calm there,? he said. ‘The problem is we show up and they behave and follow the rules and we don’t see what we were called out for.?