Brandon Twp.- Let the games begin.
In 2007, that is.
The ball is beginning to roll on a proposed township recreation park at the corner of Hadley and Oakwood roads.
A presentation on development of the 47-acre property as a park site was given at the township board meeting Aug. 15. Tom Stowell, park development committee chairperson, gave the presentation in which he discussed working assumptions, recommendations, projected costs and sources of revenue for a three-phase development.
‘Some things might be done this fall,? said Stowell. ‘We will continue to work on it… We’re going to try and move this along as fast as we can.?
The first phase of development will include four youth soccer fields and two larger multi-purpose fields which may be used for flag football and senior soccer. Stowell hopes these fields will be started next spring so they will have the recommended time of one year to grow and be established before play begins in the spring of 2007.
Other key points in the first phase which could be added after the fields are begun are: an entrance from Hadley Road; circular drive with parking accomodations for 300 cars; a small children’s play area; pre-fabricated bathroom unit; two picnic pavilions; fencing to protect fields; a berm to shield the adjacent property owner; and a retention pond.
Estimated cost of the first phase is $500,000.
‘At the next township meeting we will have a more specific work plan for phase one and estimated costs for each individual item in phase one,? said Stowell. ?$500,000 is a ballpark estimate, but we want to get down to brass tacks and price specifically.?
One of the working assumptions presented at the last township meeting was that development of the park will take place in stages as resources become available.
The park development committee, which besides Stowell includes recreation director Fred Waybrant, and township trustees Charlene Carolson and Bob DeWitt, hopes to reduce the cost of park development through volunteer labor and donations.
Proposed sources of revenue for the park include park account revenue (estimated to be about $75,000); park development funds set aside by Waybrant; and designated soccer development funds (around $40,000).
Another potential source would be funds from the sale of a cell tower lease. The township has not yet made a decision on whether to sell the rights to the tower that they retained after selling property on Seymour Lake Road. The tower lease garnered the township $52,393 this year and the amount of profit increases five percent every year.
Money from the sale of the Seymour Lake property is used by the township to pay for the proposed park land. The township purchased the property from the Vantine family on a land contract for $808,000 last fall.
Although the first phase of development is considered the most urgent, the park committee also gave plans for the future, including in phase two: four baseball/softball fields in the ‘clover-leaf? design; a large concession/bathroom building; two T-ball size fields; site electricity; a basketball court; maintenance/storage building; and possible additional picnic pavilions. Phase three would include a sledding hill, trails and tree library.
‘It’s important to provide good, safe facilities for our kids,? said Stowell, who is determined to make it happen as quickly as possible. ‘There has been a lack up until this time. This park will help alleviate that. In general, our children deserve the same park and recreation opportunities as any other community around us.?