Contact: Sue Wagner
231-723-6041
Or
Betsy Keson
231-723-4325
For Immediate Release
WANTED:
INPUT ABOUT RECREATION IN MANISTEE COUNTY
Manistee, Michigan – At the risk of stating the obvious, recreation is significant to the economic well-being and quality of life in Manistee County.
A five-year plan for recreation in Manistee County is now being prepared. Two Recreation Plan Open Houses are scheduled to gather ideas and information about what all interests would like to see included in a plan that is set to be submitted to the State Department of Natural Resources for approval in early summer. With funds provided by the Manistee County Community Foundation through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Manistee County Planning Commission is contracting with the Spicer Group to develop the Recreation Plan for Manistee County with the support of a Steering Committee.
The two Open Houses will be held at the following times and locations:
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Brethren High School
4400 North High Bridge Road, Brethren, MI
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Faith Covenant Church
475 Eighth Street, City of Manistee
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The plan will be used to guide the future development of recreational facilities, opportunities and programs in Manistee County. It will also be used to seek funding, including funds earmarked for implementing Recreation Plans approved by the Department of Natural Resources.
“This process offers all of our communities the opportunity to join together in shaping the future of recreation in Manistee County,” said Sue Wagner, Manistee County Planner. “The plan will be an important gateway to financial support to achieve our recreation goals. Without this plan, we will simply miss out on the opportunity to compete for funds from several sources that require a recreation plan to be in place.”
“We hope that everyone with a recreational interest will stop in at one of the Open Houses to share their advice and information about recreational opportunities,” said Betsy Keson of the Alliance for Economic Success. “The Open House format will be casual and flexible, with recreational planners and community leaders on hand to talk about ideas and suggestions.”
Members of the Recreation Plan for Manistee County Steering Committee include: Christ Sullivan, Grand Traverse Land Conservancy; Judy Ball, Convention & Visitor’s Bureau; Vince Hancock, Arts & Culture Alliance of Manistee; Dursa Marshall, West Shore Health Connection; Mark Coe, Lutz Farms; Clara Kraus Saari, Manistee County Planning Commission; Bill Pettis, Manistee County Planning Commission; Karl Waitner, Manistee County Planning Commission Chair; Sandy Saylor, Manistee Recreation Association; Corey VanFleet, United Way of Manistee County; Max Coalter, Vision Bear Lake; Matt McCauley, NWMCOG; Elli Newell, WSCC Recreation Center; Elaine Bush, MSU Extension; John Hojnowski, US Forest Service; Tim Ervin, Manistee County Community Foundation; Renee’ Ihlenfeldt, Alliance for Economic Success; Betsy Keson, Alliance for Economic Success; Rob Eggers & Alan Bean, Spicer Group; Richard Knechtges, Accessible Recreation Expert; Kyle Mosher, The Outpost; Beth McCarthy, Manistee County Community Foundation; Dace Bachman, Manistee City Police and Marina; Scott Heintzelman, MDNR; Ray Schmidt, Schmidt Outfitters; Fred Alkire, Michigan Townships Association; Dan Shepard, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians; Char Myers, Intermediate District; Laura Heintzleman, Access to Freshwater; Brook Shafer, Norman Township Supervisor.