Summary
The Leelanau Township Parks and Recreation Committee met on January 21, 2026, with members Jon Thatcher, TJ Mayhew, Elizabeth Schwind, Julie Preneta, Dan Toole, and Eric Potes present; Court Wengreen was absent. The committee approved prior minutes, reviewed park conditions across several township properties, discussed new budget items, and elected officers for 2026.
Public Comments
No public comments were made at either the opening or closing comment periods.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Updates were given on multiple parks. At Woolsey Airport, the Dune Bird fundraiser (planned for early summer) is still in progress, and the Woolsey Red product relaunch will direct a portion of sales to SWAT; the Township applied for an America 250 grant. It was clarified that Woolsey Airfield remains a park but operates under its own separate ordinance. At Buster Dame, Eric Potes reported a plastic windscreen is currently installed but said he now opposes a permanent screen, noting it is less effective in extreme cold; he suggested keeping snow cleared to the main picnic table instead, since the current temporary option is already deteriorating. Only half of the Buster Dame building is organized, and the committee raised questions about other potential uses for the field and whether the building is worth preserving. At Omena Beach, Ian has been contacted regarding budgeting for site improvements. Braman Hill and Peterson Park projects are on hold for the winter. Christmas Cove had no winter updates.
Infrastructure Projects
At Braman Hill, the Township is still investigating cell tower updates; no decisions have been made yet.
Other Business
The committee elected 2026 officers: Tom offered to serve as Chair (nominated by Eric, seconded by Dan); Jon offered to serve as Vice Chair (nominated by Dan, seconded by Eric); Julie offered to remain Secretary (nominated by Dan, seconded by Jon). The committee approved all officer changes unanimously.
Financial Summary
New budget items discussed include up to $5,000 for five-year plan consulting fees to support mailings and surveys, with $50,000 still allocated in the capital improvement plan for Woolsey. The committee also raised a question about whether a matching grant for Christmas Cove is included in the budget, though no resolution was recorded.
Action Items
Ian is to continue budgeting for improvements at Omena Beach. The Township will continue investigating the cell tower situation at Braman Hill, with no timeline given. The committee is to further consider the future use and condition of the Buster Dame building, only half of which is currently organized. The next meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2026, at 5:30pm.