Portage Public Schools posted a new flyover, showing construction progress at both campuses:
• Video Link
Also, Portage's large park system will be getting some more love, per the five-year Recreation & Open Space Master Plan update for 2018-22, which is currently available for public comment. Here's the
direct link to the 209-page draft document. The Action Plan, which begins on Pg 52, calls out 7 specific targeted goals:
- Action A: Expansion of non-motorized trails, bike lanes, and greenways
- Action B: Improvements to existing facilities
- Action C: Reduce or minimize operating costs
- Action D: Conserve, preserve, and enhance natural features and environmentally sensitive areas
- Action E: Planning for future parks and recreational needs
- Action F: Develop diverse, balanced, and innovative park facilities
- Action G: Continue to provide a diverse slate of programs for all ages and seasons
Quote:
Updated Portage 5-year parks plan up for public comments
By Tom Haroldson | Special to MLive
January 10, 2018
PORTAGE, MI - With a successful past building its park system, Portage now turns to the future to map out the next five years. A draft of the five-year Recreation & Open Space Master Plan update for 2018-22 is available for public review and comment until Jan. 27, and will be the subject of two hearings 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 and 7 p.m. Feb. 22...
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The biggest item on the plan is the possible purchase of 377 acres of the Gourdneck State Game Area to convert it into a city Park for $4 million, estimated cost. This makes a lot of sense to me. As this area (sub)urbanizes, it is becoming less popular / safe for hunters to use it. Turning it into park land it will help protect it from future house / condo encroachment, and it serves as a good buffer to US-131. There is a strong potential for great passive recreation use in the area, and it could easily link up to other parts of the trail network. Some other big-ticket items ($1 million-plus) include:
- A trail tunnel under US-131, linking to the west side of the city (2025 - $2.1 million)
- A new trail around the north and east sides of Austin Lake (2019 - $2.1 million)
- A Sprinkle Road bypass from Center Ave to Romence Road (2020 - $1.1 million)
Also new for this year, Portage residents will be granted free admission to Ramona Park, which includes a popular beach / lake. Numerous other improvements related to expansion of trails, bike lanes, and greenways is included. Pgs 57 - 58 of the document contain a list of all of the planned projects for the next five years:
Source:
Portage Parks & Recreation Department
Some of those updates have already begun, like the new restrooms under construction at the recently completed trail head for Eliason Nature Preserve, which I walked past yesterday: