The first phase of installing a skate park at North Park in Dorr Township was approved Tuesday by the Dorr Township Board.
Chris Gesink, representing the Parks Commission, outlined plans and showed an artist’s sketch of what the park might look like and he mentioned efforts to secure state grants. Two grants, totaling $400,000 are being sought.
The board agreed to use $30,000 from the township’s public improvement fund to pay for laying the concrete slab and doing the grading for a skate park where the Graczyk house once stood on 142nd Avenue west of the community. Dorr Township in the fall of 2012 bought 25 acres from the Graczyk family to add to the recreation park.
The skate park project is expected to cost about $97,000.
The township each year sets aside $200,000 for the park and plans to upgrade it and bring in new equipment.
Gesink told the board the top priorities from the public seem to be restroom facilities, more ballfields and a concession stand. He added there is considerable interest in having a veterans memorial in a central area of the park and the commission is working with the Dorr American Legion on that possibility.
Though Dorr Township has committed $200,000 to the parks, Clerk Brian Boot said it is earmarked for a recreation grant application being written by Library Director Natalie Bazan, who has had great success in the past in getting state and federal support.
Gesink, in concluding his presentation to the board, said, “We want everybody to see that there is action at the park.”
PHOTO: Chris Gesink shows a sketch of plans for the park in Dorr Township.