Van Buren County to release parks master plan draft; public hearing to be set Dec. 9

Parks staff told the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 23 that a draft parks and greenway master plan is ready and that the next step is a 30‑day public release followed by a formal public hearing. "The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund requires communities to have an updated parks and master plan every 5 years," staff said when introducing the draft and the proposed schedule.

The commission was asked to place the item on its Dec. 9 agenda to formally set a public hearing and release the draft for public review. Staff recommended that the board hold the public hearing on Jan. 13 and consider the plan for approval at the commission's second meeting in January so the county can meet the Feb. 1 Trust Fund submittal deadline. Staff reported more than 300 responses to an outreach survey that emphasized trails, ADA access and expanded user activities.

Commissioners and staff discussed the timeline and public-notice mechanics. Staff said the draft will be posted on the county website and a notice will appear in the local paper; residents may comment online or contact parks staff directly. The board agreed to add the setting of the public hearing to the Dec. 9 agenda for formal action.

The next procedural steps are the 30‑day public comment period after the Dec. 9 posting, the Jan. 13 public hearing, and a subsequent vote by the board to adopt or revise the plan based on public input. If adopted, the plan will be used to support grant applications tied to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.