The goal of this project is to develop a Master Plan for a practical trailhead park from three adjoining parcels recently acquired from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and a private donation. This park will provide a naturalistic experience to nearby residents without compromising the habitat and natural systems within the parcels. Our team will base our design and programming recommendations on an analysis of ecological conditions and information gathered about the residents’ needs and desires for the park based on surveys and focus groups. We will conduct a literature review for best practices for survey and focus group development to get meaningful information to inform our design decisions.

Our Masterplan may ultimately include trails, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, interpretative signage, etc. We will draft a realistic budget for the development of the park in phases that could be used for seeking grants.