DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac City Council is taking steps to update its five-year park and open space plan, which will include the development of a trail along Dowagiac Creek to link existing trail systems.

At Monday night’s meeting, the council sought public input from citizens about the future of the city’s parks.

City Manager Kevin Anderson explained that park and open space plans have a five-year shelf life, and the city is required by law to renew the plans every five years.

Anderson reiterated the document’s importance, as it puts the city in the cycle for grants offered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Currently, the community is provided with 16 parks of various size and type. In addition to parks maintained by the city, Dowagiac Union Schools and Southwestern Michigan College also have recreation spaces for residents.

Rozanne Scherr, the city of Dowagiac’s park and open space coordinator, said public comment must remain open for a minimum of 30 days and that city council would like to have the plan available for final approval in late December or for the first council meeting in January. Scherr said both dates would allow the city of Dowagiac to be in the next grant cycle through the DNR.

Scherr outlined conversations city council had in workshops about the next five-year plan, including the development of Linear Park on the west side of E. Railroad Street, the development of Mill Pond Park between the Dowagiac Creek and Dowagiac Elks Golf Course, the development of Elks Trail, a cleanup of the Dowagiac Creek floodplain and Witco ponds, and listing the site of the old ICG Building as a public purpose acquisition development.

The plan to develop Rudy Park was moved to a more than five-year plan category. Rudy Park would provide safe access to the existing drive-by sculpture park with a parking area, Americans with Disabilities Act accessible overlook, landscaping and to a fishing platform on the water.

The Elks trail development would provide a pathway along the Dowagiac Creek from downtown to trails leading to the Southwestern Michigan College’s trail system and the Rudolphi trail system, according to the city of Dowagiac’s park and open space plan document.

Scherr said the plan is available for public viewing at Dowagiac City Hall and the Dowagiac District Library. The plan is also available on the city of Dowagiac’s website and Facebook page.

“Any comments from the public will be reviewed and possibly included in the plan, and it will come before you for final approval,” Scherr said.

Two community members spoke during the public hearing, including Lady Corinne Anne, who thanked the council for taking care of the parks during the months of June, July and August.

“September came, and now our park is like a full community for us,” Anne said. “It just doesn’t get any better until tomorrow.”

A second community member brought up vandalism occurring at Riverside Park and questioned if the city council added additional security or monitoring at the park.

“We’ve cleaned out some of the area in front again to make sure it’s more visible,” Anderson said. “We’ve had more police patrols in that area. We have not been experiencing that same level of vandalism anymore at this time.”

Also passed by city council on Monday night:

• A resolution adopting the changes to the land division application, policies and procedures document, and the fee associated with land divisions.

• A resolution authorizing the city manager to start the process of abandoning Poplar Street, located on the south of the corner of Adams and Poplar for Dowagiac Union School District’s land use.