Naming of the Airport Property

Parks & Public Works Committee Agenda Item Report

FROM:

Scott Herbert – Public Works Superintendent

MEETING DATE:

March 25, 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. As of 1:30pm on Saturday, March 22nd, we’ve received a total of 71 responses to the survey. A list of survey responses is enclosed. Please review and be prepared to present your top choices for Council to consider. BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: N/A COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REVIEW: N/A LEGAL REVIEW: N/A SAMPLE MOTION: N/A

Survey Monkey Results for Naming Suggestions for the Airport Property as of 3.21.25 at 11am. 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3/18/2025 07:51 PM Baldwin Park 3/18/2025 09:58 AM Silver Creek Park 3/17/2025 09:08 AM OLD AIRPORT PARK - preserves historical reference to the property and reflects what the locals have referred to it for many, many years and generations.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 Cassey’s Cove Nature Park 3/12/2025 09:46 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 01:37 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 11:13 AM Saugatuck Nature Preserve 3/12/2025 11:02 AM Saugatuck Greenway Trails 3/12/2025 09:56 AM Flyway Preserve 3/12/2025 09:52 AM Rivers Bend Park 3/12/2025 09:11 AM Silver creek park 3/12/2025 08:53 AM Camaraderie Park 3/12/2025 08:46 AM The Wilds or Saugatuck Wilds! 3/12/2025 08:09 AM The Backwoods 3/12/2025 07:41 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 06:51 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 10:30 PM Green Flight Park 3/11/2025 09:41 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 08:52 PM Saugatuck Sanctuary

3/11/2025 08:27 PM Whispering Woods 3/11/2025 07:32 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 06:12 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

PPW Input for City Council Consideration – 1/21/2025 Park Improvements Mount Baldy Village Square Airport Property Cook Park Wicks Park Oval Beach Peterson Preserve Saugatuck Natural Area Comprehensive Park Review Environmental

Status Active

Category Large

Active Active Active Inactive Inactive Inactive

Small Small Medium Large Small Large

Active

Small

Inactive

Small/Medium

Comment Restrooms and step repair planned/underway. What about invasives, parking lot, and radar building? Basketball Court Resurfacing: can the surface include art? Naming project - involve students? PPW take the lead? Willow tree removal – what’s next? Restroom improvements Playground Spinner needs placement – Oval Beach possible? Need to address infrastructure and invasives Ryan is finishing updates to the Management Document. PPW involvement? Inventory parks – what’s good and what could be improved The focus is on community education. Website development is underway. Kalamazoo River invasives and wooly adelgid have been past focus but there are many more. Encourage “Pocket Prairie” development in parks and by homeowners; first planting at Peterson Preserve. Review mowing regulations Spearheaded by OTC; need to determine status. Catalog current usage in city of herbicides and pesticides; assess waterway impact

Invasive Species Program

Active

Small

Native Plants

Active

Small

Kalamazoo River Greenway

Inactive

Large

Large

Engage with MI Green Communities Initiative

Inactive

Large

Assess streetlights. Start with Lights Out - like Douglas?

Active

Extra Large

Inactive

Large

Reaffirm commitment Improve sidewalk, landscaping, and signage uniformity. Butler Street consideration with lead water line replacement

Sustainable Community Dark Sky Initiative Infrastructure Blue Star Trail Streetscaping

PPW Input for City Council Consideration – 1/21/2025 Saugatuck Sign on Holland Street Maple Street Park Street Bicycle Racks and Fix-It Station(s) Kayak Launches

Active

Small

Artistic Involvement?

Active Active

Extra Large Extra Large

Pedestrian/cyclist safety PPW had this as a focus; still need us?

Inactive

Small

Friends of the Blue Star Trail involvement possible

Inactive

Medium

Identify areas for public kayak launch (canoes and paddleboards too)

Extra Large

Is there a desire for a community rec center?

Extra Large

Can we acquire the Peterson Mill Property when available? Encourage more art in public spaces, some could be rotating. Partner with SCA? Key Component of the Tri-Community 5-Year Parks Plan (parks, trails, waterways, schools, etc.)

Long-Term (Dream Big) Projects Community Rec Inactive Center Property Acquisitions Inactive Public Art Inactive Partnership Tri-Community Connectivity Funding Develop Gifting Active Process Miscellaneous Add Staff to Support Parks and Park Inactive Projects

Large Large Large

Develop donation policies; create 501c3 foundation for gifts to City? Create Friends of the Parks?

-----Original Message----From: Ken Morris <446griffith@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 11:39 AM To: Jamie Wolters <Jwolters@saugatuckcity.com> Subject: Village square courts

Caution: This email originated from outside of the organization. DO NOT click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

> > Hi Jamie, > > I read a recent city council report. It had an estimate for redoing the basketball and tennis courts. One of the line items on the estimate was for 530 or 540 feet of 4 foot fencing around the courts. In my humble opinion I don’t think they are needed and we could possibly save some money by not installing them. > > Since 1978 I lived just around the corner on Griffith St. Coming down the Main Street side walk there is a nice open view. I often walk across either court when going to the post office or downtown. During the summer months I often notice people loitering around the area, enjoying the open space, maybe picnicking under the tree line watching freind’s play pickle ball, or just relaxing. Art shows often use these spaces also, limiting access with fencing would just seem to crowd an already busy spot and bog down the flow of people. Parades also bring down a lot of people again fencing would just seem to chop the area up. > > Can’t say that I have ever seen a full on basketball game, lots of pick up game 6 or 7 people, usually less, often just half court. Nobody ever really watching the game, a couple of benches wound probably surface, not sure bleachers are needed, again they might even detract from the natural beauty of the tree line as it works it way up the hill side, is there really a need for more built infrastructure ( probably aluminum, not very historic) that would probably not see much use. > > Just my point of view from walking through there the past 46 years. > > If you can share this note with city council as a communication and possibly the park committee it would be appreciated. > > Respectful > > Kam > 446 Griffith > >