2004
FESTIVAL PARK
UPDATE
The largest, most ambitious undertaking in our 40 year history remains FESTIVAL PARK. A 40 acre parcel of land was purchased in 1992 at a cost of $160,000. The sale of 13 lots, Bay Estates, removed 6 acres adjacent to the park and in turn generated money to help pay land development costs for the remaining 34 acre recreational facility. To date we have spent $620,000 on land development.
Three Phase Development
The park will be developed in three phases. The first phase included the aforementioned land development stages, the park entrance and the completion of St. Clair Drive which connected Washington Street and County Line Road. Also the building of Socia Drive, the park service road, and land clearing. In 2000 we purchased a tractor, blade and brush hog and in 2001 we added a two bottom plow and a hydraulic disc. In early spring 2002 we hired a company to bring in several pieces of heavy equipment and they did a superb job of land clearing, stump grinding and brush removal. In late 2002 we purchased a used Massey-Ferguson tractor with loader and a set of forks to aid in this process. The team of Larry Gingas and Bill McEachin continue to clear the land of dead trees, brush and spread and level donated fill dirt.
2003 saw Robert Clancy Contracting, Inc. complete a $107,000 underground storm sewer project that will drain the parking lots and the athletic fields. Also Mt. Clemens Tree Service completed a $4,000 land clearing project. The terrible Ash tree blight that has destroyed so many area Ash trees took its toll in the park. These diseased trees had to be removed, stumps ground and brush removed.
At present additional fill dirt is being hauled in by Ken Dupell Construction to fill and balance low areas.
Phase two and three will include baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts, sand volleyball and basketball courts, tot lot and youth area, picnic grove and exercise trail. The time frame for each phase depends totally on funding and volunteer man hours.
Hopefully you have noticed the completion of the stone signs at the entrance of the park thanks to generous donations from Oscar & Mary Socia, Charlene and Bill McEachin and Robert and Christine Clancy and Ed Buchman of J.C. Cornille Masonry Supplies. The stone work was done by Larry Gingas and Bill McEachin.
This entire recreational complex will be donated to our city, cost free, upon completion.