Volunteers Clean Up Crystal Lake in Pontiac
(C. Proxmire, Oct. 24, 2016)
Pontiac, MI – Over 50 volunteers came out on a chilly Saturday morning to clean up Crystal Lake and the surrounding vacant land.  The shores of Crystal Lake once boasted a large housing project that has since been torn down.  All that remains are the crumbling streets weaving through patches of wild grasses and vegetation that have become an illegal dumping ground.  Neighbors use the area as a place to walk dogs, but there are issues with drug use, drinking, and people parking there for romantic encounters.
“I’ve been wanting the city to fix this up for years.  It’s a beautiful place. Look at this lake, these trails.  People should be able to use this,” said Laurie Bishop who lives near the lake.  “I contacted [County Commissioner] David Bowman and lit a fire under him.  As soon as he knew about it, he ran with it and organized this cleanup.”
The City of Pontiac and the Pontiac Housing Commission each own some of the property around the lake, and they are actively looking for a developer to purchase the land and turn it into housing – either homes or apartments.  Part of the property is parkland that Bowman and others are looking to see fixed up and maintained.
Within the past two years a dilapidated pavilion and basketball court have been removed, and the City has started to mow the grass.  However the area is still blocked off by concrete barriers and neighbors say it is not yet safe enough for kids.
Volunteers wearing waterproof waders pulled debris from the lake including mattresses, shopping carts, electronics, decorations, tires and many bottles.  Others went through the woods and grassy areas picking up debris.
Melissa Williams was among the volunteers.  “It’s important for the community.  It’s too easy for people to sit and complain, but if you want to change things you need to get up and take action,” she said.
Commissioner Bowman organized the cleanup effort, saying “Residents came to me wanting this done.  And it should be.  It’s exciting to see so many people come together to fix up their park.”  He talked about the plans for the property to be developed and said that “Mayor Waterman and the city are finally able to work on areas of the city that make a difference to the people.  I’m excited to see what happens here, and proud of everyone that came to help.”
The property was featured at the Oakland County Community Showcase just a couple days before.  For more information on the development potential of the lots, check out http://oaklandcounty115.com/2016/10/21/several-cities-showcase-one-stop-ready-properties-in-oakland-county/.