Plain-language summaries of Leelanau Parks & Recreation meeting minutes in Leelanau County, Michigan. Every summary links back to the official source document.
Official Leelanau Parks & Recreation minutes page: leelanautownshipmi.gov
AI summaries may be incomplete and contain errors. See Disclaimers and Limitations for additional details.
Committee reviewed draft Youth and Adult survey instruments covering five township parks to gather resident input on usage, priorities, and improvements. Action item: finalize and implement surveys digitally with page breaks, skip logic, and under 10-minute completion time; no owner or deadline specified. No votes, decisions, or public comments recorded.
Committee approved minutes, welcomed Dan Tompkins, and advanced the five-year parks survey (Elizabeth Schwind drafting; Dan Toole on postcards; QR code assigned) for Aug 1–mid-October. Braman Hill trail flagging meeting planned; Christmas Cove grant denied. Airport ordinance passed as-is (Dan Toole opposed), to be reassessed in October; $300,000–$400,000 still needed for roof phases two/three.
Committee approved amending the ordinance to allow public recreation on Woolsey's 120 non-airport acres and voted to apply for a $100,000 statewide playground grant, likely at Buster Dame. Action items: Dan pursuing Woolsey repairs (~$275,000 needed); Court, Ian, and Eli preparing Braman Hill skatepark; bylaws clarified (seven voting members). No public comments made.
Committee approved prior minutes, reviewed multi-park budget items (Woolsey Airport, Braman Hill, Christmas Cove, Omena Beach, Buster Dame), and voted to cancel the March 2026 meeting. A $5,000 five-year plan addition remains undecided. No public comments were made; an unresolved question about a missing payphone had no assigned owner. Next meeting: April 15, 2026.
Committee approved prior minutes, elected 2026 officers (Tom-Chair, Jon-Vice Chair, Julie-Secretary), and reviewed park updates. Eric Potes now opposes a permanent Buster Dame windscreen, favoring snow-clearing instead; building's future use remains undecided. Ian must continue budgeting Omena Beach improvements; Township continues investigating Braman Hill cell tower. No public comments made.
Committee approved prior minutes; reviewed Woolsey Airport Phase 2 bidding, Braman Hill/Christmas Cove updates, and proposed VZW cell tower lease needing more info before recommendation. Action items: bid Woolsey roof repair, address Buster Dame wind screen and building repairs, select new chair in January. No public comments made; resident Nancy S. requested dog park shelter improvements.
Committee approved prior minutes, supported historically accurate Woolsey Airport roof pending funding, and advanced Braman Hill, Christmas Cove, and Buster Dame projects. Jon Thatcher/Ian Dawkins to fix dog park gate; DNR input sought on Verizon's proposed Braman Hill cell tower. Resident Nancy Shuman requested wind break/spigot for dog park. Next meeting: December 17, 2025.
Committee voted unanimously to pursue an EGLE resiliency grant (~$40,000) for Christmas Cove, with GEI as engineering consultant. Jon continues skatepark work; Braman Hill needs more volunteers/equipment for cleanup after Youthwork's bench cuts. No public comments were made. Next meeting: November 19, 2025.
Committee approved ordinance revisions (park hours, permit timelines, animal leash rules, Braman Hill fire ring/shooting range exceptions) and its duties/responsibilities document unanimously. Action items: recruit Braman Hill volunteers, determine shade structure installation timeline, obtain new pickleball nets for Buster Dame, begin five-year plan spring 2026. No public comments made; next meeting October 15, 2025.
This document is a blank facilities rental agreement template, not meeting minutes—no discussions, decisions, votes, or public comments occurred. It outlines standard rental requirements: deposit within 10 days, fee due 30 days prior, insurance required, no alcohol, and refunds only with 15-day written cancellation notice, subject to Township Board approval.
This is a blank Leelanau Township Facility Rental Agreement template, not meeting minutes—no decisions, votes, or public comments are recorded. It outlines standard terms: deposit and fee deadlines, liability insurance requirements, cleanup obligations, cancellation notice policies, and a no food/drink/alcohol rule, requiring signatures from Applicant and Township Board.
The body reviewed a draft Parks Ordinance replacing Ordinance #87-9, covering park hours, permits, fees, conduct rules, and enforcement; no formal vote occurred. Open questions remain: park hours (sunrise-sunset vs. 10pm), star-gazing accommodations, aircraft landing restrictions' legality, and Woolsey Airfield's inclusion. Action items: finalize fee schedule, resolve open questions, and complete adoption vote (unassigned).
The Township Board approved a tiered fee schedule for Leelanau Parks & Recreation rentals on May 13, 2025, referenced at the September 17, 2025 meeting. Fees range from $10 (1 hour) to $90 (4-8 hours), with deposits from $50 to $400. No action items or public comments noted.
No meeting content, decisions, or action items were provided—only a roster of committee members and their terms: Dawkins, Schwind, Thatcher (Chair), Mayhew (Vice Chair), Toole, Wengreen, Preneta, and Potes, with respective term dates.
Committee approved pickleball nets' return to Buster Dame and advanced Woolsey Airport funding ($100K township cash plus ~$50K donations) for roof work. Bylaw review postponed to September; five-year Parks plan initiated, with Julie contacting county's Ty Wessel. Eric to research Braman Hill security cameras; no public comments made.
Committee approved minutes and set June 18 meeting to discuss five-year Parks & Rec plan. Key actions: Tom Mayhew coordinating Braman Hill bike trail with Chad Jordan/YouthWork; Court Wengreen to pull pickleball pergola permits ($2,500 approved); Woolsey Airport donation account established with $20 suggested fee. Public comment: Nate Drier proposed calisthenics equipment, no committee response recorded.
Committee approved $10,000 for Braman Hill bike trail, opposed a DNR land swap on Buster Dame property, and recommended against removing historical pilings at Omena Beach. Elizabeth to follow up on delayed shade structure; Tom coordinates bike trail with Youthwork. Nate Drier's calisthenics park query deferred to August meeting's 5-year plan discussion.
Minutes approved; no formal votes recorded on new spending. Action items: Court Wengreen to contact Chad Jordan/Nick (SB Bikes) on mountain bike trails; Court, Jon, and Ian to reposition skatepark; McMillan's pergola funding increase ($2,000 to $2,500) pending future approval. Buster Dame housing development plans dropped; DNR designation unchanged. Next meeting May 21, 2025.
No board decisions were made; this is resident correspondence for committee consideration. Betsy Mallek opposes swapping Buster Dame Park for a 7th Street Village parcel, citing park value, budgeted improvements, wetland/traffic concerns, and blight. She requests the Parks and Rec Committee review Village documents and pursue park enhancements instead of elimination.
No board decisions recorded; this is a public comment letter. Barbara Gilmore Weber opposes swapping Buster Dame Park for the 7th Street property, urging both boards to withdraw it. She proposes partial housing development on 7th Street with separate green space, retaining Buster Dame Park with senior-friendly improvements, and considering Co-Housing options.
Committee rejected the Gosling proposal for Braman Hill, keeping Sportsman Club activities after EPA compliance review. Approved 2025 meeting dates and funding pursuit for single-track trail (~$10,000) and skatepark half-pipe ($6,000). Woolsey Airport's prior $100,000 funding was rescinded; Dan Toole to explore donations/grants. Public questioned club property responsibility and lead bullet policies.
Committee approved prior minutes; key updates covered Braman Hill trail feasibility study, NSC excavation permitting, and skatepark closure signage. Action items: Kristi Holmstrom (Zoom access, tree species inquiry, NSC site visit postings), Jon Thatcher (skatepark sign). Public comment from Matt Barolli urged cooperation between township, committee, and NSC; asked about tree species used.
Committee decided against chemical bee treatment at Buster Dame and dropped a Mudd Lake kayak launch due to unstable terrain. They'll draft a township budget proposal, since parks funding is currently $0. Action items: Mike (QR code, pickleball shade proposal), Kristi (tree research), Denise (Caudill contact), Ian (striping quotes, signage during May tour). No public comments.
Committee continued following the existing five-year park plan, prioritizing Woolsey Airport fundraising, park upgrades, and a new half-pipe. Dan will contact Gina/Mike on grants and funding; Jon will prep the half-pipe site with Ian and draft a funding proposal; Court will get an asphalt quote and research bike trails. No public comments were made.
Committee reviewed Five Year Plan priorities, opting to focus on immediate actions rather than drafting park master plans. Board gave initial approval for up to $100,000 toward Woolsey Airport/Mud Lake preservation; $300,000 needed by June. Mike McMillan will check aligning P&R Plan with Township Master Plan. Residents proposed a broader Capital Investment Plan during Board comment.