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CarrolltonTownship
Parks&RecreationMasterPlan
2014–2018
CarrolltonTownship
Parks&RecreationMasterPlan2014‐2018
Township Board – Adopted on February 24, 2014
Supervisor: Marvin Kozara
Trustee: Richard Dudek
Clerk: Jerry Fritz
Trustee: Joe Loperena
Treasurer: Timothy Riley
Staff
Craig Oatten and Megan Weaver
Pre
Prepared by:
Carrollton Township
1645 Mapleridge Road
Saginaw, MI 48604
www.carrolltontwp.com
With assistance by:
Spicer Group, Inc.
230 South Washington Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48607
(989) 754.4717
Robert R. Eggers, AICP
www.spicergroup.com
120282SG2013
TableofContents
CarrolltonTownshipRecreationPlan
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
Community Description ................................................................................................... 3
Administrative Structure ................................................................................................... 5
Recreation Inventory ....................................................................................................... 7
Community Input .......................................................................................................... 17
Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................... 24
Action Plan .................................................................................................................. 27
Summary and Adoption................................................................................................. 29
Appendix A ........................................................ Aerial Images of Carrollton Township Parks
Appendix B ....................................................................................... Online Survey Results
Appendix C .............................................................................. Public Input Documentation
Appendix D .............................................................................................. Funding Sources
Appendix E .................................................................................. Adoption Documentation
Appendix F .................................................. Map of the Tri-County Trail Regional Path Study
CarrolltonTownshipParksandRecreationMasterPlan,2014‐2018
Introduction
APlanforanEstablishedandStable
Community
The 2014-2018 Carrollton Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan was prepared by the
Carrollton Township Board to serve as a guide and decision making document. The Plan will serve as
a guide for the improvement of recreation facilities and the development of new recreational
programs in the future.
Despite being a small community, Carrollton Township takes great pride in its services and facilities
and seeks to improve recreational opportunities for its residents. Carrollton residents place a high
value on recreation and open space. Community officials have taken a proactive lead in developing a
Recreation Plan to ensure the long-term use of these resources. This Plan will serve to develop and
improve the community’s recreational assets. The Carrollton Township Parks and Recreation Master
Plan has been developed to provide a guide for achieving these aims over the next five years.
The foundation for the development of the Carrollton Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan was
based on the following process:
 Involve the community in the process to develop a five-year Recreation Plan,
 Inventory and map existing Carrollton Township recreational facilities,
 Build common ground among Carrollton Township area stakeholders in addressing the
future recreational needs and priorities of the community,
 Enable Carrollton Township to be eligible for financial assistance based upon the
Recreation Plan,
 Facilitate interagency collaboration in establishing recreation goals, objectives, and
actions,
 Continue to support and implement improvements for barrier-free, Universal Access for
Carrollton Township area parks, and
 Expansion upon goals and objectives set forth in existing planning documents that deal
partially or wholly with recreation.
In accordance with the policies of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), this first
five-year Plan covers the period from 2014-2018. The content and process follow MDNR
requirements for a community Recreation Plan.
Page1
This document is intended to serve as a guide in the planning for future park and recreation
opportunities, services and implementation. Recommendations including land acquisition and facility
expansions and construction will require additional study. This Plan creates a structure from which
these activities can grow.
Implementation strategies are identified over the next five years, at which time the Plan will again
require updating. The delineation of these improvements will aid Carrollton Township in grant
solicitation from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and long-range capital
improvement budgeting. Additionally, during the next five years, it is important for the community to
reference the Plan and make appropriate priority adjustments as conditions change and funding
opportunities arise. As this is the first Parks and Recreation Master Plan undertaken by Carrollton
Township, it will be important for strong feedback to be established between residents and planning
officials so that improvements in the next Plan can be further refined by the vision of the community.
ShermanParkinCarrolltonTownship,fromadistance.
Page2
CommunityDescription
AboutCarrolltonTownship
Carrollton Township is located in northern Saginaw County on the east side of Michigan’s Lower
Peninsula. Originally settled in the mid-19th century as the Village of Florence, the Township of
Carrollton was organized in 1866. In the late 1800s, the Township had extensive manufacturing
interests including housing numerous saw and shingle mills and salt works and had strong community
institutions in its schools and churches. The Township today is approximately 3.4 square miles in area.
It is bordered by Kochville Township to the north, the City of Zilwaukee to the east, Saginaw Charter
Township to the west and the City of Saginaw to the south. The Township also lies in a favorable
environment. It is adjacent to the Saginaw River and only a short distance from the Saginaw Bay and
the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
PopulationoftheServiceArea
According to the 2010 census, the population of Carrollton Township was 6,103. July 2012 estimates
show a slight decrease in the Township population to 6,021.
According to the 2010 Census, there were 2,457 occupied housing units in Carrollton Township, with
1,744 (71.0%) of these being owner-occupied and 713 (29.0%) of these being renter-occupied.
These numbers are very representative of the state of Michigan as a whole. Only 10 (0.4%) of the
community’s homes are for seasonal, recreational or occasional use, so the vast majority of
Carrollton Township’s housing is occupied by year-round residents. It is important to consider yearround recreational opportunities for the Township’s residents. According to the 2011 American
Community Survey (ACS), the largest source of employment for Carrollton residents is in educational
services, health care, and social assistance, with 25.8% of the community’s labor force working in
these fields.
According to the community dashboard for Carrollton Township, an online portal of data about
various municipalities, general expenditures per capita were $145 in 2011. The percentage of the
general fund committed to arts, culture, and recreation was about 2%. This Recreation Plan was
developed by the Carrollton Township Board. It focuses on all aspects of recreation for Carrollton
Township.
Page3
Schools
Carrollton Township residents are served by a variety of public schools. These include Carrollton
Elementary School, Carrollton Middle School, and Carrollton High School. The Township also has an
OMNI Adult and Alternative Education institute, a Kindergarten / Preschool Roundup Facility, an
OMNI Early College High School, and a Post-Secondary / PALS facility.
Transportation
Carrollton Township is lined on its western border by Highway I-675, the Saginaw area local
extension of Interstate I-75, which is a major expressway and truck route that carries traffic from
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Florida. One exit carries traffic eastward into Carrollton Township
from I-675. This exit is located on the northwest corner of the Township, at Tittabawassee Road near
North Michigan Avenue. Major arterial roadways in Carrollton Township include the north-south
routes of Carrollton Road and Michigan Avenue and the east-west routes of Shattuck, McCarty, and
Tittabawassee Roads.
Figure1.LocationofCarrolltonTownshipwithinSaginawCounty.
Page4
AdministrativeStructure
HowParksFunctioninCarrolltonTownship
HistoricalBackground
The Township of Carrollton was founded on January 4, 1866, which resulted in the formation of the
Township Board. The Board was given the authority to acquire by gift or devise tracts of land for the
purpose of public parks and recreational spaces in accordance with the Michigan Township Park Act
of 1905. The Township Supervisor
serves as the Chief Administrative
Officer of the Township and Chair
of the Township Board. The Board
oversees assessing, building
inspection, recreation and public
works in the Township.
The Board is responsible for the
administration of parks and
CarrolltonTownshipOffice.
recreation in Carrollton Township.
The Township Board is composed of the Township Supervisor, the Clerk, the Treasurer, and two
Trustees, each elected for 4-year terms. The Board appoints a 7-member recreation committee which
mostly addresses recreation programming. The Recreation Committee members serve as volunteers
who assist with the programming of youth baseball and basketball leagues in the Township. They
serve as coaches of basketball and baseball teams, and help to maintain baseball fields. The
Department of Public Works employs four full-time and one seasonal staff member to operate and
maintain the parks in Carrollton Township.
Carrollton Township administers recreation programming which includes youth baseball and youth
basketball. The Township youth baseball and basketball teams utilize the baseball fields and the
indoor gyms of the Carrollton Public Schools for their operations.
Page5
Figure2.CarrolltonParksandRecreation
OrganizationChart.
FundingandBudgets
The Carrollton Township Parks are funded partially as a line item in the general operating fund. Parks
are allocated a percentage of general fund revenues each year. However, operation and
maintenance is largely performed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). Recreation programming
is largely funded through fees and donations. This includes registrations, concession sales, fundraiser
sales, and donations. The remaining portion of parks programming funds come from the Township
general fund. Funds for capital improvements such as new playground equipment have been
allocated from the general fund in the past, but capital improvements are not reported by the
Township for 2013 or 2014.
Figure 3
CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGETS
2014
2013
Operation & Maintenance
$22,556
$11,255
Programming (leagues, special events, etc.)
$51,055
$50,760
$0
$0
$73,611
$62,015
Capital Expenditures
Total
Page6
RecreationInventory
ParkFacilitiesinCarrolltonTownship
KindsofParks
Classifying parks into categories helps define their role in the overall Plan, demonstrates their
relationship to each other, highlights deficiencies, helps to develop an action plan, and assists in
allocating funding. The classification system described below is adapted from the National Recreation
and Parks Association guide recommended by the MDNR for recreation standards. It describes park
types based on size, service area, facilities, and use groups.
A Mini-Park is less than one acre in size and is less than 1/4 mile from a residential setting. Access is
primarily pedestrian and by bicycle, with no on-site parking. It is used to address limited, isolated, or
unique recreational needs.
Neighborhood Parks serve as the recreational and social focus of a neighborhood. They are easily
accessible to neighborhood populations and geographically centered within safe walking distance
and have bike access. Their service area is generally 1/4 to 1/2 mile.
Schools can combine parks with school sites to help meet the recreational space needs for the
community. Mini-Parks, Neighborhood Parks, and School Parks all tend to be part of a smaller
municipal park system such as is found in a city.
Community Parks serve a broader purpose than Neighborhood Parks. They have more amenities and
usually serve the entire community. They are larger in size than Mini-Parks or Neighborhood Parks.
Access is primarily vehicular and parking is included on-site.
A Natural Resource Area is land set aside for preservation of significant natural resources, remnant
landscapes, open space, and visual aesthetics/buffering.
A Sports Complex consolidates heavily programmed athletic fields and associated facilities.
A Special Use Park generally covers a broad range of parks and recreation facilities oriented toward
single-purpose use.
Page7
Accessibility
Creating a park system that is safe, accessible and usable to all individuals, including those with
disabilities, is essential. A grading system has been developed by the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources (MDNR) to simply and effectively rate parks and facilities on their ease of use and
accessibility for handicapped residents, based on the American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The
accessibility grading system uses a five point system ranging from one (none of the facilities/park
areas meet accessibility guidelines), to five (the entire park was developed/renovated using the
principals of universal design). See Figure 4.
Figure 4
MDNR Accessibility Grading System
for Parks and Recreational Facilities
Accessibility Grade
Definition
1
None of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility
guidelines.
2
Some of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility
guidelines.
3
Most of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility guidelines.
4
The entire park meets accessibility guidelines.
5
The entire park was developed/renovated using the
principles of universal design.
An ADA compliance assessment of parks owned and operated by Carrollton Township was conducted
during the summer of 2013 by the planning consultant. The assessment consisted of a visual
inspection of each park in regards to access and circulation in relation to the park facilities.
Carrollton Township is dedicated to improving accessibility at each of its parks when improvements
are made. This includes accessible parking, paths, restrooms, activity areas, amenities and signage.
Page8
ParksinCarrolltonTownship
Carrollton Township owns three developed parks. These parks comprise 11 acres of park land. The
Carrollton Township parks inventory was conducted during the summer of 2013. A recreation
inventory for Carrollton Township has not been previously completed. The planning consultant
performed site visits in order to obtain information about Carrollton Township parks. He then
performed an inventory of existing parks, natural areas and recreation facilities in Carrollton Township
in accordance with the MDNR guidelines for Recreation Plans. A description of each park and its
amenities is given on the following pages. A park location map is included at the end of this section.
Individual aerial images of each park are contained in Appendix A.
Figure 5
CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP RECREATION INVENTORY
Hanchett Park
Sherman Park
Stoker Park
Neighborhood Park
Neighborhood Park
Neighborhood Park
3 acres
5 acres
3 acres
Accessibility
2
2
2
Service Area
Adjacent Neighborhood
No
Yes, 10’ Wide
No
Pavilion
1
1
1
Playground
1
1
1
Basketball
Court (Half-size)
2
2
1
Picnic Area
1
Restrooms
Portable
Portable
Portable
No
Yes
Yes
Park Type
Acreage
Multi-use Path
Playfield (open
space)
Other
1
Auxiliary play features,
jungle gyms
Auxiliary play features,
jungle gyms
Page9
Figure6.LocationofCarrolltonTownshipParkfacilities.
Page10
1.
ShermanPark
Type:
Neighborhood Park
Size:
5 acres
Service Area:
½-mile radius around park
Purpose:
space.
All-purpose park that meets community‐based recreational needs and provides open
Recreational Facilities:






Pavilion with Grills
2 Basketball Courts
Playground
Swingset
Benches
Open space (grass field)
Support Facilities:


Gravel Parking
Portable Restroom
Accessibility:
2
Summary
This 5-acre park located at Sherman Street and Taylor Street is a small neighborhood park in a semirural setting. It is located adjacent to New Beginning Christian Church.
Page11
2.
StokerPark
Type:
Neighborhood Park
Size:
3 acres
Service Area:
Purpose:
All-purpose park that meets community‐based recreational needs.






1 Basketball Court
Playground
Swingset
Open space (grass field)
Benches
Support Facilities:


Gravel Parking
Portable Restroom
Accessibility:
2
Summary
This 3-acre park is located at the intersection of Stoker and Eddy Streets. The park includes a picnic
pavilion with four benches and two grills, an extensive playground, one youth basketball court and
various play structures. The park is across the street from A.B.O. Tent Events, a company specializing
in tent and equipment rentals for events.
Page12
3.
HanchettPark
Type:
Neighborhood Park
Size:
3 acres
Service Area:
Purpose:
All-purpose park that meets community‐based recreational needs.






2 Basketball Courts
Playground
Swingset
Auxiliary Play Structures
Benches
Support Facilities:


Gravel Parking with bollards
Portable Restroom
Accessibility:
2
Summary
This 3-acre park located at the intersection of Hanchett and Rustic Street is a small neighborhood
park. The park includes a picnic pavilion with four benches and two grills, an extensive playground,
one youth basketball court and various play structures. Carrollton Township received funding in 1976
through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for two basketball courts, two tennis courts,
and a LWCF sign. The enclosed area surrounding the former tennis courts has been converted for use
as a playground.
Page13
UndevelopedParcels
Carrollton Township is situated on the Northwest bank of the Saginaw River. BMT, Inc., a private
company, is the current landowner of an undeveloped island parcel in the Saginaw River named
Carrollton Bar. It is currently used in part for materials staging operations. This 21-acre wooded island
parcel has received recent interest for its open space value and has previously been considered for
acquisition as a passive recreation area by the Township.
OtherSignificantRecreationalFacilitiesinCarrolltonTownship
Carrollton Township is home to multiple public schools. These schools include Carrollton Elementary
School, Carrollton Middle School, Carrollton High School, and OMNI Adult and Alternative
Education. These schools each hold unique recreational opportunities for the students who attend
them. Carrollton High School, located at 1235 Mapleridge Road, includes a full-sized track, softball
fields, and a full-sized high school football field.
ComparisontoStandards
OpenSpace
Neighborhood Parks are generally 5 to 10 acres in size and are centrally located in neighborhoods as
to serve community members who can easily access them in a ¼ to ½-mile walking or biking radius.
Though two of the three formal parks in Carrollton Township are only 3 acres in size, all three of these
parks can be classified as neighborhood parks because of their community amenities and their evident
importance to their surrounding neighborhoods.
Carrollton Township has approximately 11 acres of neighborhood park space for its 2010 population
of 6,103 residents. General industry standards would suggest 2 acres of neighborhood park space
per 1000 citizens, or approximately 12.2 acres of neighborhood park land for Carrollton Township.
This would mean that Carrollton Township nearly satisfies the industry standard for neighborhood park
land for its citizens. However, opportunities exist for improving upon available park quality as well as
acquiring additional park land. The acquisition of Carrollton Bar as a 21-acre passive recreation site
may aid in increasing park land available to Carrollton Township residents.
Accessibility
As noted in the inventory listing, Carrollton Township Parks do not meet all criteria for accessibility to
the disabled. Notable deficiencies include the lack of multi-use paths at Hanchett and Stoker parks,
turf grass as a primary walking path at all parks, and the use of woodchips as the primary surface
material in all playground areas. Carrollton Township is committed to improving the accessibility of its
Page14
facilities and is considering options including resurfacing its playground and court areas and providing
expanded walking paths.
StatusReportforGrant‐AssistedParksandRecreationalFacilities
Recreation Grant History
Carrollton Township received and completed one development grant through the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) in 1976 for improvements to Hanchett Park, which included the
installation of two tennis courts and two basketball courts. As documented by the State of Michigan
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this grant is reported below:
CarrolltonTownship
ProjectNumber:
ProjectTitle: ProjectYear: ProjectStatus: GrantAmount:
ProjectDescription:
26‐00718
HanchettStreetPark
1976
Closed
$20,576.62
2tenniscourts,2basketballcourts,andaLandandWaterConservationFund
(LWCF)sign.
NaturalFeaturesInventory
A resource inventory can be used to identify open space areas that may be desirable for protection
and/or public access through acquisition or other means. Carrollton Township is rich in natural
resources. Figure 7, on the following page, shows some key natural features in and around Carrollton
Township. The Township itself is home to some woodland patches. The Saginaw River borders the
Township to the east. To the west, Haithco Lake, a man-made lake in Saginaw Township, holds
various recreational opportunities and is home to some fish species. Carrollton Township is also about
1.5 miles southwest of Crow Island State Game Area, a 3,638-acre woodland and wetland site which
is home to a variety of bird and waterfowl species. The Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge is about 11 miles
to Carrollton’s southwest. Carrollton Township is also about 17 miles southwest of Saginaw Bay, an
important link in the Great Lakes migratory route for many bird species.
Page15
Figure7.NaturalFeaturesinandaroundCarrolltonTownship.
Page16
PublicInput
GatheringCommunityInput
aboutGapsandOpportunities
Carrollton Township gathered public input regarding parks and recreational facilities and
programming through the use of a 10-question survey about parks and recreation facilities in
Carrollton Township. The survey ran from September 18th to October 25th, 2013. Notices were
placed in the Carrollton Township newsletter, in a newsletter sent in a mailing with water/sewer bill
inserts, on the Township website, and on the Carrollton Recreation Department Facebook page.
Postcards and flyers were also printed for residents with a QR-code, linking mobile device users
directly to the survey URL. This wide variety of survey announcement methods was employed to
encourage participation by a broad and diverse group of respondents. Copies of notices announcing
the survey can be found in Appendix C.
SurveyStructure
To provide public input, residents accessed a 10-question survey about the gaps and opportunities of
Parks and Recreation facilities in Carrollton Township by navigating to the website domain,
CarrolltonRecreation.com. The residents answered questions on one page of the Web Survey Creatorbased survey website. These questions included some bi-variate response options, some value options
for which a matrix of value scales for different proposed features; some unrestricted multiple choice
questions, and some simple demographic questions. Survey questions can be found in Appendix B.
SurveyResultsandAnalysis
A total of 155 residents completed the public input survey, with the majority of these respondents
coming from Carrollton Township. The following sections outline their answers to specific questions.
Page17
Question1:WhichoftheCarrolltonParkshave
youvisitedinthepastyear?
The most commonly visited Township Park in Carrollton in
the past year has been Hanchett Park, which 92
respondents have visited in the past year. Sixty-one
respondents have visited Stoker Park, while only 38 have
visited Sherman Park; the Township’s largest park.
Question2:Howmanytimesperyeardo
youandyourfamilyvisitpublicparksin
thearea?
While more than one in four respondents (26.6%)
had visited Carrollton Township Parks in the past
year more than 10 times, the largest proportion of
respondents (37.7%) had visited Carrollton
Township Parks between one and three times.
Question3:Whydoesyourfamilyvisittheparks?
The largest proportion of Carrollton Township respondents (85) visits area parks for the purpose of
using playgrounds. A smaller number of respondents (43) visits parks for picnics or family gatherings,
while 23 participate in or watch basketball or other sports. This may be indicative of the availability of
local park facilities, as all Township Parks have playground equipment but are limited in courts,
athletic fields, and other recreational facilities. Only seven respondents visit parks for fishing, for which
there are limited facilities in and near Carrollton Township.
Page18
Question4:Howdoyouvaluedifferentaspectsof
CarrolltonParksandRecreation?
This question provided respondents an opportunity to rate
their value of recreational opportunities on the Saginaw
River, athletic facilities, non-motorized pathways, and
natural areas in the context of Carrollton Township Parks
and Recreation. Responses were strongly supportive of all of
these aspects, with over 70 percent of residents agreeing
with statements about the importance of the River, athletic
facilities, non-motorized pathways, and natural areas. Of
these features, respondents supported recreational
opportunities on the Saginaw River most strongly, with
87.6% saying they support enhancing these opportunities.
Non-motorized paths and trails received the least relative
amount of support, with 19% of respondents saying they
disagree with the assertion that it is important that the
Carrollton Township Parks have non-motorized paths and
trails. However, with 73.9% of respondents agreeing with
the statement, there is still strong support for these path and
trail features.
Page19
Question5:Whatadditionalfacilitiesoramenitieswouldyouliketoseeaddedto
CarrolltonTownship’sParks?
Given the chance to express interest in multiple facilities, respondents enthusiastically supported
numerous options. Over half of all respondents supported recreation pathways (120) and more public
access to the Saginaw River (81). Additionally, respondents supported more restrooms (64), wooded
nature areas (61), dog parks (54), baseball / softball diamonds (39), a teen center (29), and a skate
park (28).
Page20
Question6:HowwouldyouprioritizevariousactivitiesforCarrolltonTownshipover
thenextfiveyears?
Respondents favored most proposed ideas for improving parks and recreation in Carrollton Township
to some degree. The most enthusiastically received option was maintaining existing parks, which
41.5% of respondents say is a top priority and 40.1% of respondents say is very important. Upgrading
or adding amenities to existing parks was also enthusiastically received, with 31.6% of respondents
believing this is a top priority and 31.6% of respondents saying this is very important. Acquiring
additional park land received less enthusiastic support, with 22.9% of respondents saying this idea is
somewhat important and 30.7% of respondents saying this is not important. Many respondents say
that maintaining existing recreational programs is a top priority (32.9%), while many also say that
adding new recreational programs is a top priority (29.3%). A high value was also placed on
maintaining existing programs, with 37.6 percent of respondents saying that this is very important.
Slightly lower but still high support was measured for adding new programs, with 29.0 percent of
respondents saying that this is very important.
Page21
Question7:Howstronglydoyouagreeordisagreewithaproposedmulti‐usepath?
The suggestion of a multi-use path in
Carrollton Township along Venoy Road that
would connect with a broader regional multiuse path received strong support among
respondents. Over half of respondents
(50.3%) say they agree strongly with this
proposed idea, and 31.6% of respondents
say they agree with it. Only 2.6% of
respondents disagree with this proposed
idea.
Questions8and9:GettingtoKnowtheRespondents
Question 8 asked respondents where they reside, with options for living in Carrollton Township, living
in Saginaw County but not in Carrollton Township, and living elsewhere. Ninety-one percent of
respondents live in Carrollton Township, while 7.8 percent live elsewhere in Saginaw County. Only
1.3 percent of respondents do not live in either the Township or the County.
Question 9 divided respondents into five age groups. Residents between the ages of 50 and 64
provided the largest share of responses (43.1%) and residents between 35 and 49 also provided a
large share at 28.8 percent. Only one response came from a resident under 18 years of age.
Page22
Question10:Doyouhaveanyotherquestionsorcommentsregardingparksand
recreationinCarrolltonTownship?
Individual comments appear in Appendix B of this report. Residents provided comments about a
variety of topics, including the following:










Safety suggestions or concerns - 12 comments
Fiscal concerns - 9 comments
General encouragement - 8 comments
River connectivity - 7 comments
Trail connectivity - 6 comments
Maintenance concerns - 5 comments
Dog facilities - 4 comments
School connectivity - 3 comments
Sports and recreation - 3 comments
Education programs - 1 comment
FlowersalongthefenceatStokerPark.
Page23
GoalsandObjectives
IdeasforFutureRecreationPlanning
Developing goals and objectives is an important part of the recreation planning process. The overall
goal of a parks and recreation department is to provide recreation opportunities for the community
and/or region it serves. More specific goals must be based on the demographic characteristics of the
population served, the physical and environmental characteristics of the area, and the input of the
community.
Goals provide overarching and general ideas of the desires and needs of community members in
relation to their parks. Objectives carry out the purpose of these goals. The action plan is the most
specific level of planning and it identifies specific projects and programs. The action plan can include
organizational, staffing, programming, public information, and operation and maintenance actions.
Carrollton Township officials formulated the following goals and objectives based upon the
characteristics of the overall community and the input received from the community input survey.
GOAL1
Provide safe broad community-based recreation opportunities that improve the overall quality of life
for all residents of Carrollton Township.
Objective
1. Continue to ensure well-maintained and safe
conditions at Hanchett, Stoker, and Sherman
Township Parks.
PlaygroundtiresatHanchettPark.
Page24
GOAL2
Improve access to the Saginaw River through recreational facilities and open space.
Objective
1. Utilize land along the Saginaw River that can be used for boating, kayaking, canoeing or
passive use.
GOAL3
Provide recreational opportunities for Carrollton Township residents of all ages and abilities.
Objectives
1. Update park equipment as needed.
2. Develop programs for special needs population.
3. Ensure that improvements and upgrades to parks are handicap accessible.
GOAL4
Improve walking and pedestrian opportunities throughout
Carrollton Township.
Carrollton Township has the opportunity to connect with a
county-wide trail network by linking to the non-motorized path
between Zilwaukee and Tittabawassee Roads. Based on
community input, the Township would like to expand its trail
system and develop a network of trails for residents and
visitors.
Objectives
Saginaw Valley Rail Trail.
1. Improve pedestrian access in Township parks.
2. Develop a multi-use path that is accessible to Carrollton Township residents and links to a
broader path network.
Page25
GOAL5
Improve communication about existing recreational programs in Carrollton Township.
Objectives
1. Continue to utilize the Township’s Parks and Recreation web site and Facebook page to
communicate with residents regarding park and recreation.
2. Develop a brochure that describes the parks in Carrollton Township.
GOAL6
Investigate opportunities to acquire new properties for park land and open space as they become
available.
Carrollton Township is poised to acquire additional park land in various open spaces in the Township
including parcels with access to the Saginaw River.
GOAL7
Investigate opportunities to develop an indoor recreational facility.
PlaygroundatShermanPark.
Page26
ActionPlan
PrescriptionsforMeetingtheGoalsand
ObjectivesofthePlan
With goals and objectives in place, Carrollton Township was able to develop a 5-year Action Plan to
work toward accomplishing the goals and objectives. The Action Plan details the direction the
community wishes to take over the next five years in order to maintain and improve the quality and
diversity of area park and recreation opportunities.
Projects were assigned a priority of one through five with one being most important and 5 being least
important. Each action item relates to one or more of the numbered goals from the previous section.
Potential capital improvements described in this Plan have been established to provide a framework
for decision makers and to enable the Township to apply for grant funding for the proposed projects.
See Figure 8 on the next page for the full Carrollton Township Parks and Recreation Action Plan.
PavilionatHanchettPark.
Page27
Figure 8
ACTION PLAN FOR CARROLLTON PARKS AND RECREATION
Project / Action Item
Relates to Goal
Hanchett Park
Improve security and curfew enforcement.
Add handicap-accessible features and surfacing when appropriate.
1
1, 3
Stoker Park
Improve security and curfew enforcement.
Add handicap-accessible features and surfacing when appropriate.
Investigate potential dog park opportunities.
1
1, 3
1, 2, 3
Sherman Park
Add handicap-Accessible features and surfacing at the park when
appropriate.
1, 3
Township-wide Projects / Action Items
Develop a non-motorized trail to connect with the existing nonmotorized path network outside of the Township.
1, 3, 4
Provide walking paths in existing parks when appropriate.
1, 3, 4
Investigate parcels for acquisition including land along the Saginaw
River.
1, 2, 6
Investigate a specific building for development as a recreational
facility.
1, 3
Upgrade basketball and other court facilities at parks when
appropriate.
1, 3
Provide new play structures at Township parks when appropriate.
1, 3
Page28
SummaryandAdoption
MakinganActionablePlan
In its continuing effort to provide quality recreational opportunities for its citizens, Carrollton Township
has developed its first Parks and Recreation Master Plan as a tool to guide the development of
community park and recreational facilities and locations over the next five years. This Plan is a key
effort by Carrollton Township to establish recreational goals and objectives for the community. The
Plan will also provide the Township eligibility for grants from the MDNR to assist the community in
reaching its recreational goals. Carrollton Township contracted with Spicer Group of Saginaw,
Michigan, to assist them with completion of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The consultant met
with the Township Director and Deputy Treasurer during the development of the Plan.
Data was collected about the participating community including maps, demographics, park
information and an inventory of existing facilities. This data was collected from Township staff
members as well as various web sites and through field observations.
Community input was collected via a community input survey held between October and November
2013. Based on inventoried information and the community input, the Township developed goals and
objectives for parks and recreation in Carrollton Township. The Township finally developed and
prioritized an action plan to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Plan.
The consultant completed the draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan document and it was made
available for review at the Township Hall for at least one month beginning on January 13, 2014. This
reviewing opportunity was advertised in the local newspaper. The final opportunity for community
input occurred at the advertised public hearing held prior to adoption of the Plan. This hearing was
held as a special meeting prior to the Township Board meeting on February 24, 2014. The Township
Board adopted the Recreation Plan by resolution at its regular board meeting on February 24, 2014.
A copy of the advertisement for the public hearing is located in Appendix C. Copies of meeting
minutes for both the public hearing and the regular board meetings, as well as the resolution of
adoption of the Plan by the Township Board, are included in Appendix E.
Page29
AppendixA
Aerial Images of Carrollton Township Parks
N
Hanchett Park
N
Sherman Park
N
Stoker Park
Page29
AppendixB
Online Survey Results
Page29
Page30
Page31
Page32
Page33
Page34
Page35
Page36
Page37
Page38
Page39
AppendixC
Public Input Documentation
AppendixD
Funding Sources
SOURCES OF RECREATION GRANT FUNDING IN MICHIGAN


Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF)
Match requirement – minimum of 25%
Development grants
Minimum Grant Request $15,000
Maximum Grant Request $300,000
Acquisition grants
No minimum or maximum
Goals of MNRTF Board
Resource Protection – very important
Water Access
Community Recreation
Urban Recreation
Economic Development
Due annually on April 1
www.michigan.gov/dnr







Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
Administered by MNRTF
50% match required
Minimum grant request $30,000 ($60,000 project total)
Maximum grant request $100,000 ($200,000 project total)
Funds a wide variety of outdoor recreation projects
Applications due annually on April 1






Michigan Recreation Passport Grant
Administered by MNRTF
Focus is on improving and renovating existing parks
Minimum Grant Request - $7,500, Maximum $45,000
Applications due on April 1
For outdoor and indoor recreation projects






Michigan Department of Transportation - Transportation Alternatives Program
For non-motorized transportation (paths) and rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation
buildings, structures, or facilities (bridges, railroad depot, etc.)
20% minimum match required, 40% recommended
Eligible applicants include county road commissions, cities, and villages. Other organizations may sponsor
applications (i.e. County Road Commission or local MDOT office sponsors a township application)
Rolling on-line application process
www.michigan.gov/mdot Go to “Projects and Programs”.






Great Lakes Fisheries Trust (GLFT)
Objective – improve or create shore-based Great Lakes recreational access.
Must be located on the Great lakes or lower portions of major tributaries
Matching funds not required but projects with local funding will be favored.
Relatively simple application form and requirements
Due in August/September
www.glft.org



Michigan Coastal Management Grants






Objectives
- Protect, manage and restore coastal communities and habitats
- Restore historic structures
- Revitalize urban waterfronts
- Increase recreational opportunities along Michigan’s Great Lakes coast
Applicant must be a coastal unit of government
Maximium grant request - $50,000
Match requirements – 50% (some flexibility in match for non-construction projects that result in changes to
local master plans or zoning ordinances, regional greenways, or include conservation planning)
Eligible projects
o Studies, Designs and Land Use Plans – must have a direct connection to coastal planning and/or
resource protection.
o Construction – boardwalks, trails, lighthouse preservation, habitat restoration, scenic overlook,
etc.
Due annually on May 1
www.michigan.gov/deqcoastal
Other grant programs to consider:











Coastal Program – Great Lakes – US Fish and Wildlife Service
Grants to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitats and to support healthy coastal ecosystems
Rolling application process
www.fws.gov/midwest/greatlakes/apply.htm
Specific sports and sports foundations
United States Tennis Association (USTA)
- funding for tennis courts and programs
- www.usta.com
Major League Baseball
- Baseball Tomorrow Fund
- www.baseballtomorrow.com
United States Soccer
- www.ussoccerfoundation.org
Safe Routes to School
For projects near elementary and middle schools:
- Sidewalks
- Traffic calming and speed reduction
- Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements
- On-street and off-street bicycle facilities
- Off-street pedestrian facilities
- Traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools
Need to complete the safe routes planning process to apply
www.saferoutesmichigan.org
Trust for Public Land (TPL)
Conservation Transactions
TPL helps structure, negotiate, and complete land transactions that create parks, playgrounds, and protected
natural areas. TPL serves as an independent agent, buying land from willing landowners and then
transferring it to public agencies, land trusts, or other groups for protection. In some instances, TPL will
protect land through conservation easements, which restrict development but permit traditional uses such as
farming and ranching.
www.tpl.org




Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Grants
Must be part of a watershed management plan
Projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution (streambank and shoreline stabilization, rain gardens,
erosion control, conservation easements)
25% match required
www.michigan.gov/deq - Go to”Water”, then “Surface Water” and then to “Non-point Source Pollution”.
Community Foundations
Private Foundations and Endowments
Wickes Foundation
Strosacker Foundation
Gerstacker Foundations
Consumers Energy





KEEP IN MIND…
Match requirements can usually be in-kind services, donations, or cash,
Most grants are provided on a reimbursable basis.
Barrier free accessibility is usually required for improvement projects,
Multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions can be viewed favorably – think “regional” projects.
Grant applications can be complicated, detailed and competitive. Make sure your grant writer is familiar
with the grant and funding source. Learn as much as possible ahead of time to know if your project has
potential for funding.
AppendixE
Adoption Documentation
AppendixF
Map of the Tri-County Trail Regional Path Study

to view the plan! - Carrollton Township

Transcription

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