Laketown Parks Commission approves five-year goals

LAKETOWN TWP. — The future of parks in Laketown Township is coming into focus, with the approval of a five-year master plan.

Laketown’s Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the plan Wednesday, May 15. It will now go before the Board of Trustees for final approval. The board next meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 12.

According to a release from the township, three people spoke during a public hearing before the vote. One submitted written comments.

Some small changes were made to the plan following the hearing, including adding the group’s mission statement, correcting spelling errors and adjusting completion dates for a project at Township Hall.

Commission Chairperson Brad Laninga called the plan “an impressive document” built with public input.

The plan will guide the commission in making future decisions, and assists in securing state grants. It outlines planned projects for coming years, including timelines and funding sources.

“There’s some stuff in here that’s pretty big dreaming, but if you don’t put it down, you’ll never get it,” said Commissioner Tom Hoekman.

Project highlights include $2 million for beach access and development, $1 million for restroom facilities, and $750,000 for ADA accessibility. The plan also includes $500,000 each for improvements to parking at Shore Acres Park, a playground at Township Hall, and a new boardwalk and bridges at Farview Park.

To view the full plan, visit laketowntwp.org .

Laninga also provided an update on the demolition of the Huyser House on Wednesday. He told fellow commissioners asbestos abatement work at the site has been completed and the township is waiting for the demolition company to set a date for the structure to be torn down.

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The parks commission voted unanimously in November to demolish the home. A bid to perform the work was accepted in March .

Huyser House was donated to Laketown Township, along with 102 acres of land, in 2001.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com .

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Laketown Parks Commission approves five-year goals