Huntington Woods tables Parks and Recreation master plan after public concerns over Val Jones and stormwater

Huntington Woods — The City Commission on Dec. 16, 2025 opened a public hearing on the proposed five-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan and, after hearing detailed public testimony and commissioner concerns, voted to table final approval to a special meeting on Jan. 6, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Parks and Recreation Director Melissa Cross, who said this week was her second month on the job, presented the plan as a high-level, citywide roadmap that inventories parks, assesses accessibility and sets seven goals including modernizing infrastructure, expanding programming, pursuing grants and prioritizing environmental sustainability. "It's a high level overarching community wide plan," Cross said, noting the plan must be on record with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by Feb. 1 for grant eligibility.

The hearing drew dozens of public comments. Resident Susan Considine urged clearer site-plan markings and stronger enforcement around downspouts and stormwater, asked whether a city's failure to enforce becomes a continuing violation and recommended training for staff and planning commissioners. "Oversight reduces oversights," Considine said, pressing for annual reviews of the plan and clearer complaint procedures. Jessica Downey, who said she attended earlier advisory-board meetings, alleged a privately commissioned schematic for Vail/Val Jones Park presented in August had strongly influenced the revised plan without additional advisory-board discussion; she requested a clear explanation of how that shift occurred and asked that public feedback be accurately represented.

Several commissioners said they supported renovating the skate bowl at Val Jones Park but were uncomfortable committing to both a full reimagining and rink retention without further community input and feasibility study. A commissioner who introduced the motion to modify the Val Jones section favored removing the rink element and keeping a placeholder for an alternative use while prioritizing skate-bowl improvements; after follow-up discussion the commission instead moved to table the master plan so staff could return with a revised Val Jones section that reflects the concerns raised and still meet the DNR filing timeline. The motion to table was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Commissioners and staff also discussed technical follow-ups the plan needs before final approval: more precise irrigation and irrigation-function inventories, clearer signage recommendations, drainage and stormwater thresholds (including whether "first-flush" or square-footage thresholds should be defined), and potential coordination with the county Water Resources Commissioner. A commissioner noted a recent outreach from Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash offering to work with the city on drainage issues.

Cross and other staff said the plan identifies a grant timeline that would allow the city to apply for DNR funds in April 2027 and, if awarded and matched, begin construction in spring 2028. Cross said staff could return with the requested edits on a revised schedule; the commission scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 6, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. to take final action and to permit approved minutes required for DNR submission.

The hearing produced a mix of requests from residents: stronger enforcement and clearer documentation for site plans (Susan Considine); transparency about how advisory-board input was used (Jessica Downey); better management of community gardens and uniform park amenities (Claire Greco); and quieter, more accessible options and a permanent restroom at Val Jones Park (Elliot Luther). Commissioners emphasized that the master plan is a visionary document and that implementation will require subsequent feasibility studies, prioritization and funding decisions.

The special meeting is set to resolve the outstanding items and allow the commission to adopt the plan in time for staff to complete DNR submission requirements.