Residents press Mount Clemens for clearer plan and amenities at Shadyside Park

Multiple Mount Clemens residents used public participation time on Sept. 5 to press the city for more details about planned work at Shadyside Park, a project listed under community development block grant (flood‑plain) activity.

Jean Hamilton Dixon, a lifelong resident and secretary of River Acres Community Organization, told commissioners she has a "heart for Shadyside" and asked for regular updates and resident involvement as the city moves forward with amenities. "I would like to see a bigger baseball/basketball court" and urged the city to address restroom access and safety, saying current equipment is old and in need of replacement.

Ruthie Stevenson raised a separate neighborhood parking concern and suggested the city meet with postal‑service management to resolve employee parking that she said makes streets unusable at times. Michael Zubis said he is organizing cleanup events for Shadyside Park (Sept. 23) and MacArthur Park (Sept. 10) and suggested repurposing a closed Main Street storefront for employee parking.

Residents asked whether the commission would form a committee to guide Shadyside improvements and how grant money would be spent. City officials said funding steps remain to be completed before forming committees and that the Mount Clemens Foundation may be able to assist with fundraising; staff also said another public hearing would be scheduled.

Commissioners acknowledged vandalism history at Shadyside and noted limited city resources, encouraging residents to participate in fundraising and volunteer efforts to supplement available funds. City staff committed to follow up with residents and to notify the community about upcoming meetings once funding details are finalized.

The city did not take formal action on the park at this meeting; officials described the item as ongoing and said additional public hearings and steps will follow.