MARINETTE — About 15 Marinette residents and city officials turned out Tuesday for an open house designed to obtain input on the city’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP).
Amanda Arnold of Ayres Associates took questions and then participants were able to view the maps of city parks that were set up in the council chambers. They were allowed to mingle and get one-on-one time with Arnold.
Ayres, an engineering consulting firm with 15 locations in the country, including Green Bay, is looking for further input from residents. People can fill out an on-line survey located on the city’s website (https://www.marinette.wi.us/). The deadline is Feb. 19.
“I’m going to take this (information) back, and my colleagues and I are going to draft a plan,” said Arnold, who is based out of the Ayres office in Fort Collins, Colorado. “What I’m looking for is things like ‘this is a great opportunity for a pickleball court’ or ‘this path drops off and doesn’t connect to anything.’ That’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for now because we will put that into a plan.”
She said some of her coworkers have already been to the city’s parks and trails, and have taken notes.
The Parks and Recreation Committee will review input from the survey at its meeting later this month. A public presentation is planned for March 6. The parks and rec panel will recommend a plan in March and then it will go to the Common Council for final approval.
A Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or CORP, is an analysis of all city-owned parks and trails. It is completed every five years and it is required for Department of Natural Resources grant applications. It also provides a forecast for the city’s capital improvement projects.
“What’s key about this plan...If you’re going to apply for Department of Natural Resource grants ... the DNR is going to want to know you have an adopted Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and they are going to want to see notes that these concepts have been discussed,” Arnold said. “From their point out of view, if we’re going to fund this, we want an idea that’s acted on by the council. It can still be very conceptual.”
Alderperson Liz Mikutowski asked if notes from Ayres personnel will be in the plan. Arnold said information on each park will be included in the draft report.
Mikutowski also talked about safe travel from one city park to another, while Alderman Doug Oitzinger brought up the condition of the outdoor skate park and the playground equipment.
An unidentified citizen also talked about the need for an improved skate park.
The 2019 CORP had six goals:
• Continue to maintain the city’s outdoor park and recreation facilities.
• Protect and enhance the unique natural resources within the city of Marinette.
• Use the city’s resources efficiently, and enhance funding opportunities for park and recreation needs of the city.
• Provide and improve public access to outdoor recreation land and water.
• Promote recreation as a means to better public health and wellness.
• Continue to maintain the city’s indoor park and recreation facilities.
The entire CORP update that was presented Tuesday is also available on the city’s website.
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