The public is invited to comment on a proposed Recreation Master Plan that will help determine the direction of recreational opportunities in Dearborn for the next five years during a meeting at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, September 14, at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue. The meeting, hosted by the Recreation Commission, will be inside Studio A.

The proposed plan helps determine the most effective and efficient methods of improving existing facilities, programs and properties. It also looks beyond the opportunities that currently exist.

While a Recreation Master Plan can assist the community in determining its long-rage goals and needs, it could also help qualify Dearborn for recreation grants administered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The proposed Recreation Master Plan includes a community description, an overview of the administrative structure of the Recreation Department, an inventory of existing recreational facilities, a needs assessment, an action plan taking into account today’s fiscal realities and recommended goals for the next five years.

An electronic copy of the proposed City of Dearborn Recreation Master Plan is available for review and download (16 megabyte Adobe PDF file) by clicking this link.

The draft plan is also available for review at the following locations during normal office hours at:

• City Hall, 13615 Michigan Avenue, in the City Plan Office, City Council Office and City Clerk’s Office
• Recreation Department, 15801 Michigan Avenue
• Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Avenue

If you are interested in submitting comments regarding the draft Recreation Master Plan, please send your written statements by Monday, September 13, 2010 to the Recreation Department, 15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126.

The survey is closed (March 8, 2010)

You can still submit comments via the form at the bottom of this page. All comments posted to the blog are first reviewed by the Administrator before they are posted and may be edited for clarity. Anonymous postings are permitted. If you prefer to submit a comment without it being posted to this blog, please say so and the Administrator will honor your request.

Your input will invigorate the recreation planning process with new ideas and considerations. The foundation of the goals in the Recreation Master Plan will be based on all input provided during the planning process.

If you live in Dearborn or love to play and be active in the City, we want your input!

To gather your ideas and suggestions about recreational programs, facilities, and parks in the City of Dearborn, an online survey has been developed. After you click the link, you will be taken to the survey page, which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

Note: If you have a friend that speaks Arabic, be sure to share this survey, written in Arabic. After it is filled out, please turn it in to the Recreation Department at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on Michigan Avenue.

You can also submit comments via the form at the bottom of each post or page on this blog. All comments posted to the blog are first reviewed by the Administrator before they are posted and may be edited for clarity. Anonymous postings are permitted. If you prefer to submit a comment without it being posted to this blog, please say so and the Administrator will honor your request.

Your input will invigorate the recreation planning process with new ideas and considerations. The foundation of the goals in the Recreation Master Plan will be based on the input you provide via the online survey and the blog comments.

The following summary is from the article, Top 10 Reasons Parks Are Important, by Richard J. Dolesh, Monica Hobbs Vinluan, and Michael Phillips:

1. Public parks provide millions of Americans with the opportunity to be physically active.
2. Parks have true economic benefits.
3. Parks provide vital green space in a fast-developing American landscape.
4. Parks preserve critical wildlife habitat.
5. Parks and recreation facilitate social interactions.
6. Leisure activities in parks improve moods, reduce stress and enhance a sense of wellness.
7. Recreational programs provide organized, structured, enjoyable activities.
8. Community recreation services provide a refuge of safety for at-risk youth.
9. Therapeutic recreation is an outlet that individuals with disabilities have.
10. Public parks embody the American tradition of preserving public lands.

More detail provided by the authors in the above link.

Indoor Activities

1. Treadmill (18.1%)
2. Free Weights – Hand Weights (15.8%)
3. Weight/Resistance Machines (14.2%)
4. Stretching (13.1%)
5. Free Weights – Dumbells (11.7%)

Team Ball Sports

1. Basketball (9.4%)
2. Baseball (5.8%)
3. Soccer – Outdoor (5.0%)
4. Football – Touch (4.7%)
5. Softball – Slow Pitch (3.4%)

Outdoor Activities

1. Fishing – Freshwater (15.8%)
2. Running/Jogging (14.8%)
3. Bicycling – Road/Paved Surface (14.1%)
4. Camping – RV (11.3%)
5. Hiking – Day (10.8%)

Source: Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, 2008, The Outdoor Foundation.

1. Parks provide sites for special events and festivals that attract tourists.
2. Parks provide sites for sports tournaments, which can be major sources of tourism and economic benefits, especially for smaller cities.
3. Large urban parks with zoos, memorials, museums, cultural and heritage artifacts, and historical sites can attract tourists.
4. Parks with landscape planting and design that are recognized as “living works of art” can be tourist attractions.

The article is short – and a worthwhile read – with some great ideas for Dearborn on how to use their parks to drive tourism in the City.