Plans are moving forward to establish an 80-acre Lake George Nature Park in Addison Township, assuming a $428,000 grant is accepted by the Michigan Natural Features Trust Fund.
The township’s Parks and Recreation Committee and the Oakland Land Conservancy (OLC) have been discussing the possibility of such a park since fall of last year.
Joe Schnur, the chairman of the parks and rec. committee, and Donna Folland, Executive Director of the OLC, updated the Addison Twp. Board of Trustees on their progress at last Monday’s meeting.
The proposed park would be located north of Leonard Road and between Haven and Milstan roads, and would encompass almost all of Lake George.
According to the OLC, the total cost for the project is $678,000, to which they would contribute $250,000. The remaining amount would come from the grant so the township could acquire the land from the OLC. ‘The township should not incur any costs, except for a survey or something,? said Supervisor Bob Koski.
A majority of the property, including the lake and all the wetlands, will be permanently protected by a conservation easement held by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, while the natural resources within the area will be maintained by the OLC.
?(Addison Twp.) will have 11-acres down in the (southeast) corner that we can do what we want with,? Schnur told the board.
Although plans are preliminary, Schnur said he hopes the park will have a pier for fishing, boardwalks, trails, primitive camp sites, observation platforms, seating and picnic areas, controlled hunting and possible baseball fields.
There’s also a home, barn and garage on the premises that could be used for a nature center and park management. ‘It’s a really nice piece of land,? Schnur commented.
If the Lake George Nature Park were to come to fruition, the township would have two nature parks ? the other being the 229-acre Watershed Preserve just north of Leonard. ‘All we have to do is work with Donna Folland to get a grant written,? Schnur said. ‘In the event the grant is unsuccessful, nothing happens.?
Before Folland can begin writing the grant for the parks and rec. committee, the township will have to hold a public hearing to get input from residents before its Feb. 18 meeting.
At that meeting, they will then decide whether or not to approve submitting the grant. The grant must be submitted before April 1.