Ferndale Explores Recreation Facility Options at Martin Road Park
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 9, 2024)
Ferndale, MI – The evolution of Martin Road Park in Ferndale continues with a unique opportunity – the creation of a recreation facility.
The city has been acquiring grant money towards the creation of a facility, though the grants have limitations on what they can be used for.
City leaders, along with consultants from Neumann Smith, held a community input session on June 4 at the city’s curling center to brainstorm ideas for the construction. Ferndale Parks and Recreation Director LeReina Wheeler started with the most clear limitation, saying “This is not a recreation center, just a support facility.” Because of the types of grants received, the building must exist to support the outdoor recreation taking place at the park. There may still be inside uses, but they must be tied to the outdoor amenities and activities.
Wheeler also outlined the time frame limitations of the grants, and noted that the grants are only a piece of the funding puzzle. A $704,669 HUD grant must be used by 2031. A Michigan DNR grant of $951,370 requires the city to have the funds obligated by Dec. 2024, with a project completion date of Oct. 2026, with the requirement of funds used towards outdoor recreation. The City also received a Michigan Enhancement Grant of $500,000.
Another factor is the requirement of the City to offer restroom facilities close to the existing splash pad. The state requires those to be built, but had a grace period of two years where portable toilets were able to be used. Without appropriate restrooms, the splash pad will have to close.
FACILITY NEEDS
City Councilmember Donnie Johnson had been a member of the Facilities Task Force before running for office. The Task Force looked at all city properties and came up with recommendations as far as the future of those places. He spoke at the session about the task force, and where recreation facilities fit into the picture.
Many Ferndalians remember the Kulick Center, which never re-opened after the pandemic due to building issues such as the roof and the HVAC system. That facility had a gym, a fitness center, meeting rooms, and a kitchen. The Martin Road facility cannot have those things, but it can meet some recreation needs.
“The highest priority should be replacement for the Kulick Center,” Johnson said. “A community center, and recreation spaces are important. A lot of people can fall into thinking these are not critical, but it’s at these places where you become a community.”
Recommendations from the Task Force also include the creation of one building for police and fire services, moving City Hall, rebuilding the salt barn at the Department of Public Works property as well as other improvements.
Johnson shared that “The thing that spurred me to run for city council was the Ferndale Facilities Task Force… I decided I wanted to make the results of that Task Force a reality, so I ran for city council. So let’s do it together.”
FUNDING
Programs, services, and buildings cost money. Those needs were considered by the Residents Finance Committee, who recently recommended that the City put a Headlee Override on the ballot. an override would raise taxes which would be used for current services as well as building projects. If the Headlee does not pass, it would leave the city with $4 million less in the budget and cuts would have to be made.
Quinn Zeagler was chair of the Committee, which presented the recommendation to City Council in March. Zeagler also spoke at the input meeting for the Martin Road Park facility, explaining that the override would raise taxes to be 4.3 mils higher, with 4 of those mills going to building needs.
“Those extra mills would be extra dollars, but the city would dedicate those mils to building these things,” she said.
MARTIN ROAD PARK FACILITY POSSIBILITIES
Posters around the room showed possibilities for the building. Participants were asked to use red and green stickers to mark ideas they liked (with green), and those they disliked (with red). Tallies will be shared at a future meeting. They were also able to put ideas on sticky notes.
Some of the potential features include youth programs, senior programs, a kitchen, rentable spaces, art, recycling, fire pit, cycling support, and natural landscaping. Several of the suggestions included accessibility as well as environmental considerations such as natural landscaping and sustainability.
Those who want to weigh in on uses for the facility will have more opportunities to do so. In early July there will be a second community engagement session to talk about initial design concepts. And in mid-August a third session will help to shape the final concept. Ultimately City Council will be asked to approve the plans. Dates for the next sessions have yet to be determined.
