MyWHaT

I don’t have time to go through this today, however, the complied comments raised at last week’s West Boardman Lake Development/Avenue input session were released by the City and are embedded below. You can also watch the proceedings at UpNorthMedia for at least the next 2-weeks which I recommend, because at first glance there are some questions about what was labeled an “opportunity” and what was labeled an “issue.” For now, I’ll just mention those concerns are there, but refrain being specific because there is a good chance I’m not reading it correctly. The next meeting is March 22.

You can still make comments by sending them directly to the City and ask that your comments be added to the record. At the least, email the City Manager, Ben Bifoss, the city planner, Russ Soyring, as well as the assistant to the city manager and the consultant at Otwell-Mawby at these emails:  bbifoss@traversecitymi.gov, rsoyring@ci.traverse-city.mi.us, mvitous@ci.traverse-city.mi.us, mac@otwellmawby.com

Clancy Park

(Click for larger view)

Last spring the Traverse City parks and Recreation department listened to a presentation by two mothers from  what I’ll call, Orchard Hills/Sheridan St. Orchard Heights neighborhood at the base of Old Mission peninsula. Without an official neighborhood association, they were able to organize a group of neighbors and explore how to improve the quality of life in their ‘hood. They took a survey, they held meetings, they organized.

The result was a focus on traffic calming and an update to Clancy Park. Since most of their traffic concerns are cut-throughs along Sheridan Rd. next to the park, a park improvement may actually help slow traffic that is racing between the stops signs between Eastern Ave. and Center Rd. (Think 17 year old boys leaving school.)

To start, parks and recreation suggested that they meet with the planning department to develop a conceptual plan for the park. The result of that on-site discussion was the above plan.

Currently, the park is an open field on some very wetland. The result is that ruts develop and a lot of the park sits there basically to give the City something to mow. The playground equipment is out of date and falling apart. The plan, as you can see, improves the character of the park by creating more reasons to visit and for more age-groups. Key features from the plan: walkways, benches, sidewalks along the edges, the pavilion as a meeting place, improved playground equipment and natural playscape area.

It’s been a year. It’s time to move forward on this work. Tonight at the parks and recreation meeting Clancy Park is on the agenda for a basic update and for us to discuss the opportunities for what can be done this year. The park didn’t make the capital improvement budget, which is put together by city staff, but a lot of the base work needn’t take a lot of money and could be done through a TC•DIY work party by citizens.

If you’re interested, come see us at the meeting tonight. We meet on the 2nd floor of the Governmental Center at 6:30.

You can view or download tonight’s agenda below, but here is a quick view:

PRESENTATIONS

• The Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition regarding phase two of the Veteran’s Memorial
• Recreation Concession Proposal for Hickory Hills

OLD BUSINESS

• Bayfront Implementation Action Steps  & other Bayfront Discussion
• Verbal report on Park Use Policy revision
• Verbal update on Grand Traverse Stewardship Initiative projects at Hannah Park
• Discussion of Draft City Commission Naming Policy
• Update on Clancy Park proposed park modifications

NEW BUSINESS

• Request from City Manager Bifoss to create an ad hoc committee to work with City Staff on the Bayfront Revitalization process
• Timeline of 2011 – 2012 General Fund Budget preparation
• Discussion of Earth Day Beach / Park Clean-up
• Report and Discussion on NEA Hickory Hills Workshop Grant Request – Nate Elkins