By Elizabeth Wehman, editor
“Shiawassee County Parks are the biggest secret in the county. We want that to change,” commented guest speaker Phil Hathaway from Town Plans, LLC., at the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce Networking at Noon luncheon on Tuesday, March 29. Maps handed out at the event showed the county having seven county-operated park properties including: Pine Grove, Henderson, Kerby Road, Lytle Road, Davis Roadside, and Geeck Road Parks. The county has seven golf courses, two state-operated park properties, and five campgrounds. Hathaway added, “We have a good system to believe in and fund.”
Hathaway’s motivation is to create great parks in the area. From clean-ups to restoring run down pavilions – there is value in these existing parks and possibilities of having some great parks which can revolve around the Shiawassee River. Currently, the county has 60 pavilions which Hathaway says, “Helps the outdoor spaces seem inviting.”
Despite this great news concerning recreational parks, the county is not well off, according to Hathaway. “The demographics are not conducive to creating great parks,” he noted. Yet Shiawassee County land is in good shape and is one of the driest
counties in the state of Michigan. “Per capita funding is difficult,” but Hathaway also added that the county has great friends with the many organizations and groups like the “Friends of Shiawassee River.”
Also discussed at the meeting is the existing and recently removed dam areas on the river. Changes are currently underway at the dam sites and areas surrounding to make them conducive to excellent recreational areas. Also, the dam changes will allow a better flow for area fish which could, according to Hathaway, “Create good fishing ponds.”
