'Plymouths' Consider Teaming Up For Recreation

PLYMOUTH, MI — Plymouth Township and the city of Plymouth are exploring the possibility of joining forces to create better recreational opportunities for residents. The first step in that process will come in the form of a survey starting on Sept. 7.

The idea of the survey, which will be conducted by phone by EPIC-MRA of Lansing, is to gather feedback that will become part of a joint Recreation Master Plan. The state of Michigan requires a master plan for grant funding eligibility.

Township Supervisor Kurt Heise said the survey will ask residents about current recreation offerings, in terms of facilities and programming. The recreation master plan requires public input and detailed infrastructure descriptions, comparisons to national recreation standards, community facility inventories, as well as management structure, staffing and budgeting.

Besides the survey, the public will have several chances to make their opinions known via meetings. Direct interviews with the leaders of various community-based organizations will also be completed.

EPIC-MRA will be making calls during the following times:

• Thursday, Sept. 7: 4:00pm - 9:00pm
• Friday, Sept. 8: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
• Saturday, Sept. 9: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
• Sunday, Sept. 10: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
• Monday, Sept. 11:5:00pm - 9:00pm (if needed).

Heise said the phone survey is the most accurate way to gather information.

“Random phone surveys reach out to all demographics of the Plymouth community,” he said. “Most importantly, these calls will include residents that may not otherwise go out of their way to fill out a paper questionnaire or log into a municipally-sponsored web page.”

Calls will be made until 325 fully completed surveys are gathered, Heise said. Calls will be made to both landlines and cell phones.

Photo courtesy of Plymouth Township