Manistee County-Wide Park & Recreation Plan Update

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Introduction

Networks Northwest is pleased to announce that it will be working with Manistee County and each of the jurisdictions therein to update the 2016 Manistee County-Wide Park & Recreation Plan. This update will serve two key purposes. First, it will promote county-wide collaboration in recreation planning. This document will help guide the community in its prioritization of parks and recreation projects in the near and long-term. It is important to remember that trails, waterways and natural areas often do not end at municipal boundaries, highlighting the need for cross-jurisdictional planning efforts. In addition, recreation sites throughout Manistee County are visited by patrons from various locations: residents from Manistee County, people from different parts of the state, as well as out-of-state visitors. A cohesive planning effort ensures that Manistee County is a quality place for people to live, work and recreate.

Second, the State of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources requires municipalities to have a 5-year recreation plan on file with the state to be eligible for various funding opportunities. These include funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and Waterways grants. 

The Planning Process

Networks Northwest will work with Manistee County, the City of Manistee and each of the townships and villages to develop planning content specific to local context, keeping in mind the need to plan as a collaborative county. A representative from Networks Northwest will meet with each jurisdiction twice during 2021. These planning events will occur as part of a regularly scheduled commission, board or council meeting. The first meeting will focus on updating site-specific information required by the DNR (past funding for recreation from the DNR, site amenities, etc.). The second meeting will seek further public input to update the community's goals and objectives for the next five years. 

View the Plan

2022-2026 Manistee County-Wide Park & Recreation Plan – Final (all)

Instructions for Submitting Your Plan to the DNR

Michigan DNR's instructions - For Manistee County officials wanting to upload their recreation plan documents

5-Year Recreation Plan

Early public input before the plan is drafted

Copy of the Notice of the Availability of the Draft Plan for Public Review and Comment

Copy of the Notice for the Public Meeting Held after the One Month Public Review Period and Before the Plan's Adoption by the Governing Body(ies)

Certified minutes from the public hearing - Local municipilaties will have

Certified minutes from the meeting to pass a resolution of adoption (if different than public hearing) - Local municipalities will have

Certified resolution of adoption by the highest governing body - Local municipalities will have

Copy of the letter transmitting the adopted plan to the County Planning Agency

Copy of the letter transmitting the adopted plan to the Regional Planning Agency

Post-Completion Self-Certification Report(s) - Municipalities with an active DNR grant need to upload their Post-Completion Self-Certification Report(s)

 

Frequently Asked Questions

For a list of frequently asked questions with answers, click here (PDF)

Project Timeline

To view the timeline to complete this plan update, click here (PDF)

Questions, Comments or Concerns

Contact Rob Carson (rob.carson@networksnorthwest.org) or Zach Vega (zach.vega@networksnorthwest.org)