The Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees formally adopted a five-year master plan Wednesday for the Parks and Recreation Department that emphasizes improved accessibility and connectivity between communities, officials said.

The plans are required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for communities to receive federal and state grants that are critical for maintenance and programming, said Parks and Recreation Director Dan Cooperrider.

Lillie Park in Pittsfield Township is shown in this file photo.

The department’s previous master plan expired this year. The new version was previously endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and passed unanimously Wednesday. Clerk Alan Israel and Trustee Stephanie Hunt were absent.

For the first time, residents were allowed to view and submit feedback to the plan via the township website during a formal 30-day review process that ended last month. Many residents also received an opinion survey that sought feedback on department priorities.

“It’s been one of the most open processes we’ve had since I’ve been involved,” said Cooperrider, who has worked on six master plans in his career with the township.

Some citizens still had concerns. Resident Sabrina Gross asked the board to table the vote and address the topic at an upcoming work session. She said the plan lacked a concise and accurate inventory of available open space, and didn't offer a blueprint for how the department should proceed in the next five years.

Cooperrider said details, including capital improvement schedules, are not required by the DNR. Plans are generally vague so municipalities can remain eligible for as many grant opportunities as possible, he added.

The plan focuses on improving accessibility at the parks and centers, including upgrades to facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also commits the department to improving greenways and connections between neighborhoods and local destinations, such as parks, schools or shopping centers.