Consultants for Cascade Charter Township presented a schematic design for Tassel Park (Village Park) that would expand the park by incorporating the adjacent Tuffy and Burberg properties and emphasize riverfront access, programming flexibility and safety.

Key design elements shown to the DDA included a lowered, or "sunken," plaza to buffer street noise and create a visual gateway; an upper promenade and a lower boardwalk to bring visitors closer to the river; kayak launches and informal and formal fishing access; a proposed 'cottage' building at the former doctor's office site for concessions and rentals; and reconfigured parking that keeps most vehicles out of the park core while adding capacity along Thornapple River Drive.

Consultants said the Vurberg/Burberg parcel has a completed baseline assessment with the state; they described a remediation approach that caps certain contaminated areas with a 12-inch barrier rather than large-scale removal, and said the project’s design will accommodate that remediation and an ongoing maintenance plan.

Board members pressed for strategic electrical capacity and lighting to allow evening activation and improve safety; consultants said lighting and the utility plan are part of the schematic scope. Members also discussed connectivity with regional trails and nearby village parking to serve events without dominating park land with a large parking lot.

Staff and consultants tentatively scheduled a public work session with the DDA and board for early December (tentatively Dec. 8 at 5:00 p.m.), to be followed by a public open house and display boards so residents and business owners can review plans and provide feedback.

Action items identified in the presentation included finalizing utility and lighting plans, refining aquatic-feature design with an aquatics consultant (to determine recirculation and sanitation needs), and producing cost and maintenance projections as part of further design development.