MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe County Parks Commission wants the public's input on the county's parks, trails and outdoor recreation areas.
A 12-question survey is available now through June 28 at surveymonkey.com/r/ParksSurveyMonroeCounty. Paper copies are available at the Monroe County Community Planning and Engagement Department, 963 S. Raisinville Road in Monroe.
Questions ask about current park amenities. Other questions ask survey takers their opinions on acquiring more land and adding new amenities. Several questions allow survey takers to type their own comments.
"We need your input to ensure the parks, trails and facilities meet your needs and desires," the county said in a news release. "We want to understand how you currently use the parks and your suggestions for future park and trail improvements. This input will help set priorities and identify areas for future improvements."
"The results of the survey will be presented to the Monroe County Parks Commission in July or August of this year," said Jeff McBee, director of the human resources department for Monroe County.
The commission will use the results when creating its updated County of Monroe Parks, Trails and Recreation Plan, which should be finished in January 2025.
"This project is intended to help plan for future improvements over the next five years," McBee said. "Any new ideas that are received through the public input process (will be reviewed and assessed). The potential for new parks and recreation areas will also be evaluated as part of the planning process."
Monroe County's parks and trails include Nike Park, Heck Park, Waterloo Park, Vienna Park, West County Park, the Raisin River Access off Ida-Maybee Road, the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post at River Raisin Territorial Park and the Cornerstone 100 Bicycle Route. Other attractions include walking paths, bike routes, water access, picnic shelters, playgrounds, disc golf sites, sport fields and passive areas, such as nature walking paths and places to watch wildlife.
The county's previous park plan was developed in 2019.
"There was quite a bit of work accomplished across the county parks from the 2019 plan," McBee said. "Heck Park had its walking path surface repaired and seal coated, and shade trees were added. The on-site Veterans Memorial Museum has been staffed with volunteers. Nike Park's parking lot was paved, drainage was improved and shade trees were added there, as well. Vienna Park's shelter was painted and the roof was repaired. At Waterloo Park, electricity has been provided to one of the shelters, and fishing stations were added along the river. West County Park had a controlled burn to remove invasive species and help maintain native species."
Some parts of the 2019 plan still need to be done.
"Including the addition of sand volleyball courts, accessible kayak/canoe launches and upgrading of playground equipment," McBee said. "These items will be reviewed and reassessed in the process of creating the updated plan."
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“The Parks and Recreation Department and Commission are dedicated to maintaining and upgrading the county parks as much as possible utilizing creative ways to tap into other available resources. We have beautiful parksoffering recreation and reflection areas,” said Josh Thomas, county operations coordinator.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
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