Island Recreation Plan Adopted
By Karen Gould

An update of short- and longrange goals are the only changes made to Mackinac Island's five year Recreation Master Plan, which was adopted by the city council Wednesday, February 27, following a hearing.

Topping the short-range goal list is the need to build a recreational facility. Recreational programs now are held where space and facilities are available on the Island, often at the school or at Community Hall.

Projects at Great Turtle Park are the focus of the many of the recreation department's shortrange goals. A new outdoor lighting system is needed, as replacement parts are no longer available for the park's current lights. Adding sand to the horse riding arena would improve the riding surface. To help teach new riders, more training aids are needed, including jumps and cavaletties, which are used to teach a rider and horse timing, striding, and balance. The volleyball court requires a second layer of sand. Landscaping, including contouring the sledding hill and removing weeds, is another goal of the city.

Long-range goals of the recreation board include connecting the trail around Great Turtle Park, erecting a roof over the ice skating rink, and developing city owned land known as East End Cove near Mission Point Resort. The board also would like to construct restrooms near the playground at the school, build an indoor horseback riding arena, and establish a golf driving range.

The recreation plan is necessary for the community to receive grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It must be updated every five years, and Mackinac Island's plan expired in December 2006.

Since the plan is past the revision deadline, said city Recreation Director Leanne Brodeur, the state now will review the entire master plan as if it were new. The plan is expected to be submitted to the DNR this month.

Revisions were done by the recreation board, which includes Chairman Mike Hart, Armand "Smi" Horn, Paul Wandrie, Mike Gamble, and Barb Fisher.

During the public hearing, Mrs. Brodeur also gave report on 2007 recreational activities. Through the spring and summer last year, sports camps were offered to youth, in soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Youth softball and archery were offered.

Some fall and winter programs, she reported, were canceled. Halloween events will be changed this year, although no plans are finalized.

The ice rink was not built as inconsistent cold weather at the onset of winter brought difficulties for creating ice. Extreme cold weather during the Christmas tree lighting halted planned hay rides.

Under consideration are an adult computer class and an adult archery program.

Two spring-action playground horses now at the school will be moved to Great Turtle Park. Often broken at the school site by adults, the horses will be placed near similar ones at the park, where they are not damaged, said Mrs. Brodeur.

The city is also scheduling summer sports camps for youth.