The Plymouth Park Board approved the rough draft of the 2022-2026 5-Year Plan.

Having this plan in place allows the park board to submit for Department of Natural Resources grants and helps the Park Board keep an eye on the various projects they would like to see happen in the next several years.

The rough draft needed to be approved and sent down to the state although the park has until April 15, 2022 to make any revision to the plan and get their final draft on file with the state.

Park Superintendent Mike Hite told members the DNR requires everyone to submit a rough draft of their 5-year plan by January.  While the DNR is reviewing the plan, it will be available in the Park Office, the City Office and they are hoping to have a copy of it in the Plymouth Public Library for citizens to review.  This will give the general public a check to look it over and make any suggestions.  The DNR will also have the chance to make suggested changes to the 5-year plan.

Hite said he anticipates the park board voting on the final 5-year plan during their February meeting. 

The park’s 5-year plan is 23 pages long and includes information about the Park Board and its membership, the Plymouth Park Department and its staff, volunteers and facility inventory including details of each of the 10 parks in the system and program offered.   

The 5-year plan also discusses the public meetings to seek input from the community and spells out a needs analysis.  Major issues from the public included extending the Greenway Tail, expanding the disc golf course, renovations to the Kiddie Kingdom in Centennial Park, a new pool facility, more activities for teens, more outdoor seating throughout the parks and more pickleball courts.  The Plymouth Park Board and staff would also like to see a replacement and expansion of the “chicken coop” storage facility, removal and replacement of outdated play equipment, a new office space to include a Recreation Director’s office and meeting area, continued work to make areas of the parks ADA accessible, improvements to the basketball courts by the pool and a plan for a new recreation center that can handle large events.