Springfield Township’s Shiawassee Basin Preserve is 35 acres bigger, thanks to an agreement with neighboring Rose Township.
“We’re excited to be a part of it,” said Supervisor Mike Trout, Springfield Township. “We welcome any opportunity to work with our neighbors.”
In exchange, Springfield Township offers its parks and recreation programs at residential rates for Rose Township residents for the next 15 years.
“We have nothing in the way of the kinds of programs and facilities offered here,” said Supervisor Alison Kalcec, Rose Township.
“It’s a real advantage for Rose Township,” Trout said.
Rose Township, which doesn’t have a parks and recreation millage, has one park with ballfields and pavilion facilities, undeveloped park land, and Oakland County’s Rose Oaks Park.
Former supervisors Collin Walls and Chester Coop started work on the agreement about five years ago with Springfield Parks and Rec Director Jennifer Tucker.
“We benefit from their hard work,” Trout said. “It’s a great idea.”
The property is on the southwest corner of Springfield Township’s Shiawassee Basin Preserve. It was transfered to Rose Township in 2005 as part of a circuit court ruling in the now-stalled Hills of Davisburg subdivision project.
The Interlocal Agreement requires Springfield Township to maintain and preserve the property.
“We’ll fold it into our current Parks Management Plan,” said Sarah Richmond, administrative assistant for Springfield Township Parks and Rec. “We’re really excited about it.”
“Springfield Township has a lot more resources to protect it,” Kalcec said.
Plans include a new walkpath to the western side of the property to allow access for invasive species control, prescribed burns, and other conservation projects, Richmond said.
“The Shiawassee Basin Preserve is a jewel of the area ? it has the number one rated prairie fen in Michigan, the Long Lake Fen Complex,” she said. “This squares up the property. It’s a way to preserve it and we’re happy to see it happen. We appreciate working with Rose Township.”
“Thinking ahead, (the interlocal agreement) is a potential selling point if development ever gets under way,” Trout said.
The agreement is one of a number of cooperative efforts between Springfield and neighboring townships, also including cable-TV information networking, infrastructure improvements, and environmental surveys of shared sewer pipelines.
“Cooperation sells well with Lansing when it comes to grant opportunities,” Trout said.
Parks and Rec offers a range of programs, Richmond said.
“Participation is great,” she said. “In Bronco Basketball, we have eight teams in grades 5-6, six teams in grades 3-4. We have 42 participating in Wally Hoops.”
Upcoming events include Lots-N-Lots Of Spaghetti fundraiser, 5-7 p.m., Jan. 25, at Hart Community Center, $6 for those 9 years old and older, $3 for children 5-8, free for children 4 and under; and Sap To Syrup For Pancakes, 9-10 a.m., March 6, at Shiawassee Basin Preserve Pavilion and Hart Community Center, $7/residents, $8/non-residents.
“Spanish is also a big hit,” she said. “And about 300 attended last year’s March Mom Sale.”
Sponsorships are available, she said.
For more information, call 248-846-6558.