By Lisa Carolin
A project creating a section of the Border to Border Trail from McKinley Road to Main Street near North Creek Elementary School has been awarded a $110,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources.
Chelsea City Manager John Hanifan shared the news at the April 17 Parks Commission meeting.
Hanifan said getting the grant helps to build the City of Chelsea’s case for future funding. He said the engineering and study are due to be done this fall, and construction could take place a year from now.
The commission planned out what the Wednesday, May 16, public input session at Pierce Park will look like. The first stop will be at the gazebo where the plan will be available for viewing from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
There will be another station with conceptual drawings of proposals for the park, along with a new play element, a bathroom station, a new small gazebo, and a proposed location for the rock, which is both visible and accessible, with the goal to possibly elevate the rock and allow it to spin.
The idea includes creating an enhanced garden area where the rock is currently located.
The proposed plan for Pierce Park will also include a pathway connecting it to St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea’s pathway. The total cost of the project is estimated at $250,000.
Parks Commission member Jon Van Hoek expressed concern over the sidewalk that borders Pierce Park by M-52, which he said is less than three feet from the road. Hanifan explained that there is a steep grade on the other side of the sidewalk, which would complicate any undertaking to move the sidewalk.
The topic of the ship in Veterans Park was also discussed. Members plan to visit that location when the weather improves with the hope of finding a better location for the ship where it’s both an enhancement to the park and not so close to the road.
Hanifan stressed that it’s not too early to look ahead at one of the Park Commission’s biggest challenges for 2019 – green space. Because the city owns limited green space, Hanifan suggested that if there’s land that’s for sale, it’s something the city should look at.
The city’s parks Spring Clean-up date will be on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m.-noon.
The Parks Commission meets at 9 a.m. the first and third Mondays of the month in either the City Council chambers or if there’s a conflict, the basement of the city offices. The next meeting is May 1 and will tentatively be held at Pierce Park.
