Big Rapids staff outline master plan update, community engagement and winter-activity ideas including refrigerated rink and pool roof

The Big Rapids Parks and Recreation Commission received an update on the city’s master plan process and community engagement plans at its October meeting, and commissioners and residents discussed possible priority projects including a farmers market pavilion that could double as a refrigerated ice rink, roofing the community pool, and improved trail and downtown connections.

Grant, identified in the meeting as the city’s planning and zoning intern, told commissioners the master plan update process had begun and outlined outreach the city plans to use, saying, “we're planning on doing some, like, community workshops, surveys. We're planning on going to the … the holiday shop. Hopefully, some farmers markets.” He said staff would also use surveys and QR codes at parks and the pool to collect resident input and that he would do the statistical work and charts for the plan.

Why it matters: staff said the existing plan will expire at the end of next year and that an updated planning document is required for some Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant applications, making the update necessary for future grant eligibility as well as shaping parks and recreation priorities.

Staff described a multi-month engagement and…