Renaming Old Airport Property

City Council Agenda Item Report

FROM:

Scott Herbert – Public Works Superintendent

MEETING DATE:

April 14, 2025

SUBJECT:

Naming of the Airport Property

DESCRIPTION: City Council has asked the Parks & Public Works Committee (PPWC) for assistance developing a list of potential names for the “Old Airport Property”. The Council did note that community input was very important. A Survey Monkey link was shared on the City Facebook page as well as with Saugatuck Public Schools. The survey was active for 2 weeks which generated a total of 98 responses from March 11 to March 25. The Parks & Public Works Committee reviewed all responses and developed a list of 7 potential name candidates for the Council to consider. The list includes their top choice. Enclosed – Recommendation of potential names from the PPWC. Enclosed – Complete list of survey results. BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: N/A COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REVIEW: Parks & Public Works Committee LEGAL REVIEW: N/A SAMPLE MOTION: Workship Discussion.

Parks & Public Works Committee Name Recommendations for the Old Airport Property Saugatuck Wilds Nature Preserve (PPWC #1 Choice) Saugatuck Wilds Saugatuck Nature Preserve Saugatuck Flyway Preserve Saugatuck Whispering Woods Saugatuck Sanctuary Saugatuck Woods

Airport Property Names - Survey Results acorn grove 3/25/2025 08:29 AM Singapore park 3/24/2025 08:46 PM Saugatuck Animal-tastic park 3/24/2025 08:03 PM The flight path 3/24/2025 02:50 PM pure Michigan park 3/24/2025 02:23 PM Saugatuck Runways Silver Creek Paths 3/24/2025 02:14 PM Pleasant Park 3/24/2025 01:46 PM Pleasant Park 3/24/2025 01:46 PM Pleasant Park 3/24/2025 01:45 PM Silver Creek Preserve Kalamazoo River Haven 3/24/2025 12:29 PM Greenway Park 3/24/2025 11:59 AM Kidz Kingdom 3/24/2025 11:29 AM slurock 3/24/2025 11:15 AM Runway Park 3/24/2025 10:59 AM Park Park 3/24/2025 10:54 AM Saugatuck Cross Countrys New Course 3/24/2025 10:54 AM

I think we should continue to call it The Airport Property. 1. It has a nice ring to it 2. History ;) 3. The airport reference could connect back to the many bird species 4. I don't think a new name would stick very well... This one fits pretty perfectly 3/24/2025 10:48 AM Greenway Park 3/24/2025 10:27 AM Runway Park 3/24/2025 10:11 AM wingspan park 3/24/2025 08:47 AM wingspan park 3/24/2025 08:47 AM Yellow Park 3/24/2025 08:38 AM Greenway Park 3/24/2025 07:49 AM Pleasant Park 3/23/2025 07:26 PM The Park 3/23/2025 07:15 PM Whispering Pine 3/23/2025 07:03 PM Rustic River 3/23/2025 06:38 PM Bill McGee Park or McGee Park. I don’t think there is a living member of the community that is more beloved than Bill. 3/23/2025 12:50 PM Saugatuck Wilds 3/20/2025 03:23 PM Saugatuck wilds 3/20/2025 03:22 PM The Winged Trail Park (playing off of the airport property) Carson Park for Environmental Stewardship (named after Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and conservationist, who is widely considered the most famous environmentalist in US history, credited with launching the modern environmental movement through her 1962 book, "Silent Spring") The Trowbridge Forrest and Park (named after a flat bottom steamboat that was constructed to try and move lumber between Saugatuck and Allegan on the Kzoo river) 3/20/2025 02:23 PM

Saugatuck Wilds 3/19/2025 09:06 PM Saugatuck Wilds 3/19/2025 05:07 PM Baldwin Preserve Silver creek park 3/18/2025 07:51 PM Baldwin Park 3/18/2025 09:58 AM Silver Creek Park 3/17/2025 09:08 AM OLD AIRPORT PARK - preserves historical reference to the property and reflects what the locals have referred to it for many, many years and generations. BEKKEN PARK - honors the longest serving native resident on City Council (30 yrs, 2 time Mayor), Board member of KLSWA (30+ yrs, Chairman 20 yrs), long time SHS football coach, and a lifetime of other positions of service to Saugatuck. 3/16/2025 03:45 PM The Otter Limits Park, Otter Space, Fawndemonium Forest, Plane and Simple Park, Silver Lining Forest. 3/13/2025 10:11 PM Lumberdog park 3/13/2025 04:02 PM Jellyfish Fields 3/13/2025 03:06 PM Saugatuck Wilds 3/13/2025 11:26 AM Sandpiper Forest: Named after a bird that is commonly found in the area, especially near Lake Michigan. It serves as a tie to the nearby "sand" dunes and coastal aspect of our beautiful town. It's also an ode to the original "aviation" intent of the park. Sandpipers hang out near water, which is fitting with the Vernal Pools and Silver Creek running through the woods. Sandpiper Park would be a good alternate, but given the old-growth trees and completely wooded aspect of it, I think Sandpiper Forest would be more accurately descriptive. Both would be awesome options! - Jon Charron 3/13/2025 10:06 AM Helen Baldwin Park 3/13/2025 01:33 AM Wild Saugatuck 3/12/2025 11:29 PM potawatomi trails 3/12/2025 09:33 PM Silver creek trails 😎 3/12/2025 08:10 PM

Saugatuck Hollow 3/12/2025 06:58 PM I hope that this park could someday incorporate disc golf into the its plan. I would name the park Saugatuck Airport 3/12/2025 03:08 PM Silver Creek Natural Area. Patricia Birkholz Recreational Park. 3/12/2025 02:55 PM Peter’s Park 3/12/2025 01:37 PM Parky McParkerface 3/12/2025 01:36 PM Peter Parker 3/12/2025 01:34 PM Deerport Birdway Migration Runway Outdoor Silver Creek Aviary (OSCA) 3/12/2025 12:02 PM Major J. Brooke Paulger Memorial Park - USMC harrier pilot, war veteran (see obituary in Commercial Record February 2021. For military record). 3/12/2025 11:12 AM Saugatuck Nature Preserve 3/12/2025 11:01 AM Saugatuck Greenway Trails 3/12/2025 09:56 AM Flyway Preserve 3/12/2025 09:51 AM Rivers Bend Park 3/12/2025 09:11 AM Silver creek park 3/12/2025 08:53 AM

The Wilds or Saugatuck Wilds! 3/12/2025 08:09 AM The Backwoods 3/12/2025 07:40 AM - Saugatuck Landings - Camaraderie Park - Jewel of Silver Creek - The Wilds - Saugatuck Wilds Togetherness Trails - Flyer's Forest - The Backwoods of Saugatuck - Forest Friends or Friends of the Forest 3/12/2025 06:50 AM

Wasteland waking trail The big give away Free for all park No habitat for humanity Who greased the council park City screws the public park Another Sex in the Shitty park 3/11/2025 11:09 PM Silver Creek Ravines 3/11/2025 10:29 PM Green Flight Park 3/11/2025 09:40 PM The Park That Wasted Taxpayer Money Instead of Creating Affordable Housing 3/11/2025 09:02 PM Here are ideas from Eve McKeown: Herons Haven Aviator's Landing Aviator's Haven Osprey Ridge Silvercreek Sanctuary 3/11/2025 08:51 PM Saugatuck Sanctuary 3/11/2025 08:26 PM Whispering Woods 3/11/2025 07:31 PM Saugatuck Airport Nature Preserve 3/11/2025 07:17 PM Saugatuck Greenway Retreat 3/11/2025 07:14 PM Saugatuck Landings Park 3/11/2025 06:49 PM River Haven Trails 3/11/2025 06:49 PM Silver Creek Nature Reserve 3/11/2025 06:38 PM Wings & Waters Children’s Park 3/11/2025 06:31 PM Flight Paths 3/11/2025 06:11 PM Boondoggle Acres 3/11/2025 06:03 PM Silver creek park 3/11/2025 06:00 PM Lumberdogs Park 3/11/2025 05:51 PM

Flyway Park 3/11/2025 05:27 PM Silver Creek Park 3/11/2025 05:27 PM Towering Oaks 3/11/2025 05:17 PM Silver Creek Park 3/11/2025 05:11 PM Silver Creek Landing ("landing" being a droll reference to original plan for the park to be an airport) 3/11/2025 05:09 PM The Airport Park 3/11/2025 05:08 PM Silver Creek Park 3/11/2025 05:00 PM FauxPort Trail 3/11/2025 04:57 PM Anishinaabe Park Anishinaabe culture: • Anishinaabe culture is centered around a deep connection to nature • Plants like sweetgrass, tobacco, sage, and cedar are used for medicinal purposes • Anishinaabe culture survives through songs, dances, ceremonies, and stories • The Seven Grandfather Teachings of wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth 3/11/2025 04:54 PM Silver Creek Park 3/11/2025 04:53 PM Ravine Run Park Silver Ravines Towering Oaks River Run Flyaway Ravines Upwind Ravines Hope these ideas help! <3 The Art Coast Properties Team 3/11/2025 04:53 PM Mistake 3/11/2025 04:47 PM Baldwin Park 3/11/2025 04:42 PM Serenity Park 3/11/2025 04:37 PM Saugatuck Sanctuary 3/11/2025 04:33 PM Aviation Park 3/11/2025 04:29 PM

Flyway Park (nod to the original intent of an airport and the current and future use as an avian flyway) 3/11/2025 04:26 PM Future Public Housing Site 3/11/2025 04:26 PM