Ferndale unveils final design and full grant funding for Martin Road Park support facility

Parks and Recreation Director Lorena Wheeler presented the final site design for a Recreation Support Building at Martin Road Park, saying the project is funded entirely with grant awards and will add restrooms, concessions, storage and staff space near the splash pad and new pickleball courts.

“Today, I’ll be discussing the final site design for the Martin Road Park support facility that we’ve been working on for the last four years,” Wheeler said, describing public outreach and the facility program.

The facility is intended to increase restroom capacity and support higher use of the park’s splash pad and other amenities, Wheeler said. She told council the city secured approximately $2,156,000 in grants: a $704,000 federal community project funding award administered through HUD, a $500,000 Michigan Community Enhancement Grant, and a $951,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources SPARK grant for facilities. Wheeler said those awards match the current project estimate and, as proposed, no general-fund contribution is required at this time.

Wheeler showed a master site plan placing the building off the main pathway across from the splash pad, adjacent to the pickleball courts. The single-story floor plan includes a concessions window, separate men’s and women’s restrooms, a family restroom with changing bench, janitor closet, splash pad chemical storage, equipment rental/storage, and a small operations office with lines of sight into the park. The design retains mature trees on site and includes a covered patio and the capacity to host a future mural.

Wheeler said community engagement began during the city’s 2022 five-year parks and recreation master plan process and continued with four community design meetings led by the city and the architect, Newman Smith. Key community priorities that shaped the design included maintaining green space and mature trees, prioritizing function over building size, accessible public restrooms, and covered seating.

Next steps described by staff: the city will complete construction drawings and put the project out for request for proposals (RFP) this summer; the city will seek Michigan Department of Natural Resources approvals before bidding; contractor selection is planned this summer; site prep and demolition would begin after Labor Day to avoid disrupting splash pad season; and construction would continue into the following spring/early summer.

Council members thanked staff for securing the grants and for the public process. No formal action was taken at the meeting; Wheeler said the design was presented for feedback before finalizing bid documents.

Aside from the building itself, Wheeler noted the project could expand later—if additional funding is available—to add a pedestrian path, renovate a pavilion, or expand the playground.