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Committee adopts recreation plan for board consideration; Cascades restoration fundraising continues
Summary
Committee approved forwarding the five-year Jackson County recreation plan to the full board and received a parks report outlining projects, fundraising for the Cascades ($3.5 million goal, $1.7 million raised) and other park metrics; the committee also approved a three-year fireworks agreement.
Jackson County staff presented the county’s five-year recreation plan and the parks annual report, and the committee voted unanimously to forward adoption of the recreation plan to the full board.
Parks staff said the county worked with Region 2 Planning Commission and collected more than 500 community surveys — roughly double the prior outreach — to inform the plan. The plan must be adopted by the county’s governing body to preserve eligibility for Department of Natural Resources trust fund grants.
Parks presenter Kyle said the Cascades restoration remains a priority: the fundraising goal is $3,500,000 and the effort has raised about $1.7 million so far. Kyle said, if fundraising finishes in the next 12 to 18 months, structural and mechanical renovations would follow, including moving pumps above ground and completing remaining electrical, structural and mechanical work.
Staff also reported a successful DNR trust fund grant for Minor Mills County Park; the county has leveraged roughly $8 million in grants and private donations since the park millage began. Parks staff provided operational figures: 16 picnic shelters (357 reservations), two campgrounds (Pleasant Lake 595 reservations, Swains Lake 629 reservations), Cascades and splash pad attendance of about 23,000 paid admissions last year, and Cascades fireworks nights drawing as many as 22,000 people into the park.
The committee also approved a three-year agreement with Wolverine Fireworks to continue holiday fireworks shows at the Cascades; the events are funded by sponsors and the vendor fit the schedule and budget.
Commissioners asked about the parks millage maturity; staff said the millage remains in place and staff did not see an imminent funding cliff that would halt projects. Commissioner Snow moved to adopt the recreation plan recommendation; the motion was supported and passed unanimously. The committee also received the parks semi-annual/year-end report.
Ending: The recreation plan and parks report will go to the full board for final action; staff will return with any grant acceptance resolutions and project schedules as fundraising and grant funds allow.
