DOWAGIAC — In the next five years, new park and trail opportunities could come to Dowagiac.

On Monday, City Council unanimously adopted its 2020-2025 Parks and Open Spaces Plan. The parks and open space plan announced new developments, including the Elks Trail Development and a possible trailhead at 101 Poplar St. to expand the Russom Park Trail to connect Southwestern Michigan College to northwest areas of Dowagiac.

The parks plan has a five-year shelf life and, by law, must be renewed on a five-year basis. This ensures the city is in the cycle for grants offered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said City Manager Kevin Anderson.

Currently, the community is home to 16 parks, the newest being Schuur Park, which was unveiled in September 2019.  Phase two of Schuur Park included acquisition of a property easement along the Dowagiac Creek to provide the ability to place a natural trail or pathway link along the creek, through downtown, leading to the Southwestern Michigan College trail system and the city’s trail system, according to the park plan’s document.

Data collection for the plan came from focus groups hosted with youth sports organizations, the Russom Park board, officials from Dowagiac Union Schools and the Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac. Workshops were also hosted with the park board, Mayor Don Lyons, Anderson, City Council and department heads. A public hearing was hosted on Oct. 16, 2019.

Public comment was left open past the minimum 30 days, and the plan was left on file at city hall, the Dowagiac District Library and was accessible via the city’s website.

On Monday, prior to the adoption, a final public hearing was hosted available for public comment. 

Other projects in the park plan included maintaining current park systems to improve accessibility. A possible splash park was also listed as a goal and objective, as well as a community center, swimming pool and ice rink.

With the adoption of the plan, the next steps are figuring out funding and opportunities.

“As the parks committees get projects together, and money is put aside, and grants are received for those projects, that’s when they happen,” Assistant City Manager Natalie Dean said. “Now, the work comes in. How do we get this to happen?”

Overall, Dean said the community seemed supportive of the parks plan.

“We haven’t heard anybody be negative about the plan at all,” she said.

At Monday’s meeting, the plan also received praise from city council members, including Randy Gross Jr.

“After reading through the plan again, there is a great amount of information in the report,” he said. “Job well done.”

Council members also continued to show their support for Dowagiac’s newest park.

“I drove by Schuur Park, and the boys were working down there,” said Mayor-Pro Tem Leon Laylin. “It is looking good. Kudos to the guys doing work.”

Council member Bob Schuur said he was thankful for the people who have stopped in to tell him they have visited the park.

“It is an honor, and I appreciate all of you people for putting that trust in me,” Schuur said.