Improvements for Saline's Mill Pond Park scaled back
The Saline City Council voted unanimously to reduce the scope of proposed improvements to Mill Pond Park Monday night.
Removed from the project of about $200,000 was a rain garden and 800 feet of paved paths because the preliminary engineering estimates greatly exceeded money the city is receiving from a grant, said Jeff Fordice, the city’s engineer.
The changes reduced the total cost to about $146,300, but the project is still over budget and further changes might become necessary, he said.
Nick Nowatzke, Saline, reads a book next to the river at Mill Pond Park downtown Saline last spring. An improvement project will install paved paths along the river.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
“Staff and our consultant are working on design solutions that may further reduce that cost,” Fordice said.
The original Mill Pond Park grant application included 2,000 feet of 6-foot-wide paved paths along the Saline River and Mill Pond; the revised plan will have 1,200 feet of 10-foot paths. The change in width complies with the city’s recently adopted non-motorized transportation plan.
Still a part of the plan is the construction of approach ramps from the public parking lot to the waterfront and native plantings near the parking lot access ramp.
The Bowley Bridge, which crosses over the Wood Outlet drain, will be stabilized and an observation pier is planned along the water’s edge. Also planned is a ramp leading into the water in the dog park area and the installation of native species landscaping to help control runoff and stabilize the river banks.
The city has also asked for a year’s extension for the completion of the project from Jan. 27, 2011 to Jan. 27, 2012.
Lisa Allmendinger is a reporter with AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.
Comments
Michael
Sat, Jan 8, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
Tracyann: Federal guidelines define a "pathway" as a minimum of 8 feet wide, so as to accomodate two-way non-motorized traffic. Pathways that are 10 feet wide receive priority when applying for federal, state and county level grants, however. As such, the 10ft width pathway could actually cost the city less money to construct than the 6ft trail.
tracyann
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
I don't think paving is a good idea. And why would the paths be 10 feet wide as opposed to six? You're shortening the length but expanding the width. Doesn't make sense to me. Besides, if you've ever walked along Mill Pond you know it's like walking through a goose poop mine field. Who will be responsible for cleaning that off the pavement?
th eknife
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 9:50 a.m.
Natural beauty is an asset to any City, and rather than it being skillfully tended here, it is being chopped and paved out of existence. I go to the park to walk on grass and see trees. This may come as a shock to some, but I WANT to wander on the grass down to the river's edge. A park is meant to function as an escape and break from the urban. This project is just another attempt to generate work for the Saline DPW, who will not be satisfied until all the parks are turned into barren, paved lots for their personal truck rallies that already go on daily. I have witnessed the big production of bolts being tightened on park benches in mid January that were clearly not loose, and a lot of plants and trees randomly hacked at that shouldn't have been touched. And this work is "created" so such real labor as plowing, salting, and maintaining the neighborhood streets can be avoided (both physically and financially). If tended properly, Millpond Park and the Saline River would still be adorned with graceful old willow trees. The former foot paths in the woods behind Curtis Park that have been widened to "truck-size" and filled with industrial gravel too large to be intended for pedestrian feet to comfortably traverse are a prime example of the sort of "maintenance" that goes on in the parks. Maybe it's time to start questioning the number of City employees if they have to MAKE work for themselves.
squeaker
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 8:55 a.m.
What about the numerous other parks in the city that have been neglected for years? I know my kids are really enjoying the mud pit at Brecon park where the tennis court once was, but I think some new playground equipment might be a nice addition to it.
michiganexpats.com
Wed, Jan 5, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.
What about an updated bathroom? Hope that's in the budget! Mill Pond Park rocks, so I hope Salians appreciate the updates.