Parks & Recreation Committee: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5:30pm (Correspondence)

**Executive Summary**

This document addresses a proposed land swap between Leelanau Township and the Village of Northport, specifically concerning Buster Dame Park and the 7th Street property. The author, Barbara Gilmore Weber, argues against the swap, citing its lack of practicality and potential negative impacts on the community. The central issue revolves around the belief that the village can achieve its goals of housing development and green space creation without relinquishing Buster Dame Park.

Weber advocates for maintaining Buster Dame Park as a park, proposing enhancements like safe walking paths, fitness equipment tailored for senior citizens, and the addition of solar panels to increase property value. These improvements align with Northport’s demographic of active, retired seniors. The author views the 7th Street property as ideal for housing development due to its proximity to road end bay access, making it attractive to potential homebuyers.

The main recommendation is for the boards to reject the land swap proposal and instead focus on developing the 7th Street property for attainable and sustainable housing, including options like co-housing. The core of the argument rests on the idea that the land swap is unnecessary and would ultimately undermine the community’s interests by removing parkland.