Ferndale to Vote on Garbutt Park Safety Town Installation, Bike Month
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 10, 2017)
Ferndale, MI – Ferndale City Council is expected to vote tonight on the installation of a “Safety Town” at Garbutt Park.
Plans included on the consent agenda call for the former hockey rink area that’s been coated with an asphalt overlay to be “painted so that it creates a mock town with roads, sings, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings etc.”
“This allows kids to learn how to safely get through town,” states the project description. The installation also includes miscellaneous items such as three benches, two bike corrals, a bicycle repair station, and a waste receptacle.
This project was originally included in the city’s Parks Master Plan with a budget of $50,000. The bid came in lower than expected, with a cost of $39,921.05 from WCI Contractors.
Councilperson Greg Pawlica also served on the Parks and Recreation Commission during the planning phase. “I’m really excited about the implementation of Safety Town as a new program in the city’s Parks and Rec Department,” Pawlica said. “As government continues to support various new modes of mobility, new rules and regulations are created to support them to keep the community safe. It’s government’s equal responsibility to provide training to its residents on how to maneuver these new modes of mobility throughout the city. Safety Town is a tool that allows our youngest residents the ability to learn traffic laws before using actual sidewalks and streets. It’s a program I have been pushing for over years, and the approval of the $2 million parks bond has made this a reality.”
If approved the painting is expected to take place in mid-summer according to DPW Director Loyd Cureton.
The city is also considering a resolution to name May 2017 as “Bike Month” in the city of Ferndale. The resolution states:
“The bicycle is a viable and environmentally sound form of transportation and an excellent form of recreation; and Millions of Michiganders will experience the joys of bicycling during the month of May through educational programs, races, commuting events, trail work days, helmet promotion, charity events, or just getting out and going for a ride;
and Michigan’s road and trail system attracts hundreds of thousands of bicyclists each year from all 50 states and from across the globe, providing economic, health, and scenic benefits to citizens of Michigan and the world;
and These bicycling activities and attractions have great potential to have a positive impact on Michigan’s economy and tourism industry and to stimulate economic development by making the state attractive to businesses and citizens who enjoy the out of doors and healthy lifestyles;
and Creating bicycle -friendly communities has been shown to improve citizens’ health, well- being, and quality of life, to boost community spirit, to improve traffic safety, and to reduce pollution and congestion; and May has been declared National Bike Month for each of the last 61 years, and is so again in 2017;
and The League of American Bicyclists, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, bicycle clubs, schools, parks and recreation departments, police departments, hospitals, companies and civic groups throughout Michigan will be promoting bicycling as a leisure activity as well as an environmentally-friendly alternative to the automobile during the month of May 2017; and The education of bicyclists and motorists as to the proper and safe operation of bicycles is important to ensure the safety and comfort of all users; and N ow, therefore, be it resolved that the Ferndale City Council, hereby recognizes the month of May 2017 as National Bike Month and Bicycle Safety Month, and the week of May 15 -19, 2017, as Bike to Work Week;
and Be it further resolved that the Ferndale City Council urges all who support bicycling to participate in the events planned and urges all road users to share the road safely with bicyclists.”
There are also bike-friendly events in the works, including a bike rodeo and community rides. The dates are:
Education Events at Ferndale Area District Library at 6pm
–May 3rd: Bike Law Class
–May 9th: Smart Cycling Class
–May 23rd: Bicyclist Town Hall
May 18th: Downtown Bike Rodeo at Schiffer Park
May 19th: Bike To Work Day
More details will released later this week and all event will be included on the Oakland County Times Event Page.
More info can be found in the Council Packet.
Information about complete streets, bike lanes and other transportation topics can be found at the City’s website www.ferndalemoves.com.
The council meeting takes place tonight, Monday April 10, 2017 at 7pm at Ferndale City Hall.