By Lisa Carolin
The Chelsea Parks and Recreation Commission is hoping that work will begin on improvements in Pierce Park in the spring of 2019.
The Commission met on Oct. 2 to talk about play structures and swings and the associated costs.
Members agreed that the priority is to maintain open spaces and to offer benches and possibly other types of seating in the park.
Mayor Melissa Johnson, a member of the Parks Commission, addressed ideas for a front garden at Pierce Park, and suggested creating a half circle of landscaping bushes behind The Rock.
“The garden would become a feature item of the park and might discourage painting the trees near The Rock,” said Johnson.
City Manager John Hanifan said that he would ask landscaper Meg Gowen, who created the initial conceptual drawing of improvements for Pierce Park, to incorporate some of the new ideas into her drawings.
Hanifan also talked about funding for a non-motorized trail along Letts Creek that would connect the city’s west boarder to Westchester Farms in Sylvan Township. He and Johnson along with Sylvan Township Supervisor Tom McKernan will meet with members of the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Department Thursday, Oct. 4, to review a grant submission to fund the construction.
Parks Commission members set their yearly meeting schedule, which will be the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in City Council Chambers.
The next meeting is on Nov. 6.
