Residents of the Benton Heights area have had a chance to weigh in on the development of a new park planned along Euclid Avenue near Laurel Avenue.
Benton Township has secured a $1 million Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark grant for the new Euclid Park, behind the former Martindale Elementary School building. A public workshop for planners to get input on the park’s playground design was held Tuesday at the First Church of Benton Heights with a dinner hosted by New Heights CCDA.
Chris Britton with New Heights told us he’s been excited to get residents involved in developing the first public park in Benton Heights.
“This isn’t just a park, which is, that’s huge and important, a huge benefit for the community,” Britton said. “But I think the thing that really makes this special is how the implementation of this park is going to happen, right? I think this is our third kind of community session where the community has gotten to come together and to weigh in on like what kind of things they want to see in the park, what kind of elements.”
There were two playground options: A Modern theme and a Nature theme. Kids in attendance seemed quite interested in that question.
Melinda Whitten with MCS Group, the township’s consultant on the project, told us the $1 million grant ought to cover everything planned.
“The playground, the shelter, the parking lot, and some landscaping,” Whitten said.
Whitten said construction on the new park could start this fall.
Also on hand Tuesday were representatives of Sarett Nature Center, because a trail could connect the park and the center, and the Berrien Community Foundation, because the BCF identified the grant opportunity in the first place.
There’s an online survey being taken on the playground as well. You can find it right here.
