The Marshall County Parks and Recreation Board members, along with members of a steering committee, met with MACOG officials Thursday night to begin the process of putting together a five-year plan for the Marshall County Parks.
The group of about 20 members went over existing conditions in the county, aspirations, strengths, and barriers. They also reviewed common themes to incorporate into a vision statement.
The aspirations included connectivity of trails and all park systems within the county, the planning of more walking/biking trails, promoting healthy families and a sustainable environment, accessibility of all parks, creating a friends group, promote local tourism, the establishment of arts and programs within all parks, and developing a quality of life.
The existing parks and county-owned properties are strengths that the county has. Chain of Lakes, the Yellow River and Chief Menominee were listed along with the Mill Pond and Memorial Forest. The variety of IDNR properties, the cooperation through the Stellar Communities process were also counted as strengths.
Several barriers were noted including funding, public buy-in, accessibility, government regulations in the development of facilities, staffing and maintenance, and distance between communities.
Those insights will go back with MACOG officials Donny Ritsema and Brett Roberts to assemble more of the plan including needs, gaps and strategies before it is submitted to the IDNR on April 15. Several other aspects will be mapped into the plan that deal with socio-economic conditions, natural surroundings, history and culture, properties, and more. There will be public engagements will be conducted in the next couple of months by survey or open house.
