Although the plan has been called ‘aggressive,? The Village of Lake Orion has a new Recreation Master Plan, which lays out changes for all Village parks.
The Village Council voted to adopt the plan at their March 13 meeting. A public hearing was held on Feb. 28, and the Village needed to have the plan adopted and submitted to the state by April 1, in order to be able to apply for grant funding.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has recommended the Village apply for a grant to re-do Green’s Park, including proposals in the new Recreation Master Plan for a pavilion, enlarged beach area, improved parking, and new landscaping.
Village Manager Jo Ann Van Tassel cautioned that the Recreation Master Plan is ‘simply a guide,? and noted that although the 2001-2005 plan called for planned spending of $1,222,590, the Village actually spent $109,053.
?(The Village) accomplished 75-80 percent of the planned improvements listed,? she said in a memo to Council, adding that the reason for this was some items in the plan were grant dependent, and therefore never accomplished; and many were purchased at far less than the cost estimated in the plan.
‘The same will be true of items and costs listed in the 2006-2011 plan,? she said. ‘Just because something is in the plan, doesn’t mean the Village is obligated to do it. The plan is simply a guide and a tool that allows the Village to qualify for grants.?
President Pro-Tem Ken Van Portfliet said he originally thought the plan was ‘too aggressive for our community.
‘But I thought about it more, and decided it needed to be aggressive,? he said.
Council member Douglas Dendel wanted it included in the minutes of the meeting that the Village did not have to do everything listed in the plan.
‘There are some big costs to this,? he said.
‘It’s all subject to approval,? Van Portfliet said.
The 2006-2001 Village Recreation Master Plan is available for perusal by the public at Lake Orion Village Hall.