Bike paths, rowing facility, new Independence Lake water feature on the way to Washtenaw County
Summer isn’t exactly just around the corner, but plans for recreational improvements are under way all over Washtenaw County.
Here are three new amenities county residents can look forward to as Michigan thaws in the upcoming months.
1. A new "spray and play" feature at Independence Lake County Park is on the way. The existing water feature is 10 years old and in bad shape, say Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation officials. The feature approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission earlier this month will have more shade options, better features and a more central location at the lakeshore.
Saline varsity rowers compete in a fall 2007 regata against Huron and Pioneer on Ford Lake. Planned improvements for 2011 on Ford Lake include a community boathouse.
AnnArbor.com file
2. Plans for more than $1 million of improvements are developing in Ypsilanti Township, with an eye on bettering rowing opportunities on Ford Lake. A $450,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, combined with support from the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, Eastern Michigan University, the township, and the rowing program at Saline Area Schools, means a vacant field adjacent to Lakeside Park will be remade with an outdoor classroom, overlooks, docks, play areas and improved parking, as well as paths that hook up with an existing county trail system.
The plans hinge on an appropriation from the state that has been approved, township officials said. The new amenities will be located on the north side of Textile Road, west of Bridge Road, at the southeast corner of Ford Lake. The improvements have found a lot of support from rowers.
3. New bike paths will be built in Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township, Northfield Township, the city of Chelsea and in Hudson Mills Metro Park in Dexter.
Check AnnArbor.com for future coverage.
Will you use the new amenities? Which feature are you the most excited about? Take our poll and leave a comment below.
Comments
RedBaron
Fri, Mar 4, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
Park amenities and a boathouse for rowing on Ford Lake would be a great addition to the area. Very excited to hear that it has support to make it a reality!
Flalaw97
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 : 6:20 a.m.
The boathouse is going to be paid largely by money from the rowing teams that use it, i.e. EMU and Saline High School. As a parent of two rowers, I can tell you it is a great sport that uses the lake during the "off" seasons - Spring and Fall. Also the comment about the scholarship opportunities is very true - my daughter is at college on a partial rowing scholarship due to her accomplishments rowing in high school. Nearby Ypsilanti schools would do well to take advantage of that opportunity for their residents. I totally agree with the Kayak comments - my understanding is that there is a bay of the boathouse dedicated to community rowing and could include kayaks. Also there are plans for an adaptive rowing program which would be unique to the area.
leaguebus
Mon, Feb 28, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
The state would not be totally broke if the governor would stop the mindless tax cutting.
zip the cat
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
Here we go again. The county is broke and laying people off. Yet the parks dept of washtenaw county has tons of money to blow on something people will use 2-3 months a yr. A real frigging farce.
Kristin Judge
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 : 1:23 a.m.
The Parks Millage has just been renewed by voters and that money can only be spent on parks and recreation by law. None of the money the Parks Commission has can be used to help the county general fund budget.
robert
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
it will be nice to see these improvements go thru - we have to because in a way our region is the economic beacon for the state - if we build it they will come
Nephilim
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 7:30 p.m.
Whose flipping the bill for this?????? Are we not all in dire financial times? Priorities!!!!!!
Nephilim
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
Yes...it is right next to the $3000.00 special assessment I pay for that great big high school in Dexter I'm so proud of. It sure is spectacular owning more than a "lot" in washtenaw county. Painful. Very painful.
Dilbert
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
Look on your winter tax bill: WASHTENAW PARKS 0.7129; this is a dedicated milage that can't be spent elsewhere.
pam
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 3:50 p.m.
If folks are interested in a peaceful and nearby place for outdoor recreation (established by but not just for Quakers...open to anyone abiding by guidelines) which has half a mile of lake front, good swimming, a small campground, a wood fired sauna available, canoes and kayaks and rowboats for use by members, a old-time rustic feeling and an underlying purpose to foster a sense of community, they should visit the website of Friends Lake Cooperative Community at <a href="http://www.friendslake.org" rel='nofollow'>www.friendslake.org</a>. This is a place sustained by intentional and loving use since founding in 1961 on a hundred acres just north of Chelsea.
havefun
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.
I have a young family, so I'm looking forward to the improvements at Independence Lake. I'm curious to know the specifics on the bike paths. With all the cell phone distractions, I'm a little leery of the bike paths that share the road. It would be awesome if we could connect with a rails to trails system.
Angela Barbash
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
I've said it at the meetings and will post here as well -- PLEASE add kayaking amenities to this Ford Lake Row House plan! Us Ypsilanti kayakers can only enjoy the Huron River in the west side of the county if we're renting kayaks. Only if we have our own kayaks can we port in on the east side of the County's access to the Huron, so we've never been able to enjoy Ford Lake or Heritage/Frog Island Parks. As for the rowing jns131, I wondered about the justification for that as well -- it turns out that the high schools are real into rowing and scholarships to nice universities exist for that sport. If the kids don't have a local row house then the likelihood of them being able to train well enough to qualify for a scholarship to college on that sport is dim.
Tony Livingston
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
I agree with the kayaking request. That is a really growing activity and many of us don't want to but and lug around our own kayak. A rental facility would be fantastic.
jns131
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.
The problem with Independence is the fact that they cater to Washtenaw county. If you are a county resident you pay a lower fee. Granted you are not you pay more. The other thing is that this water park sucks. I have seen better and been to better water parks.It is great for 3 year olds but my teenager has told me it it too lame to bring her friends to that one. Lower Huron Metro park has a really nice water park and so does Kensington. Skip Independence if you want a better water park. As for rowing? What is up with that? We do not need a rowing place in our area. We need better recreational facilities then a rowing thing. Come on people lets get with the program and attract people with something that will attract them with. Really need to rethink the recreational facility program.
jcj
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
Dah! Who would you expect them to cater to? Out of county residents get enough perks in Wastenaw county. If your county provided anything you would not have to come here! "I have seen better and been to better water parks" And how much does it cost to get into those? And how much are you willing to pay for this teenager friendly water park?
Epengar
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
It's a county park, paid for by county funds. Why shouldn't it "cater" to county residents? Also rowing is indeed popular in the area. The popularity of rowing is the main recreational use that has prevented the city of Ann Arbor from removing the otherwise useless Argo Dam.