By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
The future vision for Green’s Park may include swimming at your own risk, for free.
Although Lake Orion’s Village Council was requested to discontinue the Green’s Park pass and swim lesson/lifeguard program at the meeting’Monday’night, Village Manager Darwin McClary recommended to table the item.
The idea will be referred to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for the opportunity to provide a recommendation before council takes action.???
‘Our net operating costs exceed revenues at the park by about $6,000 based on the most recent numbers we have as a result of having the lifeguards,? McClary said, citing a report from Stan Ford, the swim lessons director. ‘Those costs don’t include administrative costs or other operating expenses. But after giving it a little more thought I’m changing my recommendation a little bit.?
The same report cited at least 13 incidents where lifeguards assisted swimmers in 2013.
‘All we need is one for a tragedy,? Village President Ken Van Portfliet said. ‘There are a number of questions still unanswered in my mind. I’m not quite sure I agree with the elimination of the lifeguards, but I’m here to promote what the public as a majority would like. We need more input,? he said, in favor of setting a public hearing for the matter.
President pro-term John Ranville agreed.
‘If we don’t have lifeguards I say close the park totally, and it’s a shame because it’s a jewel,? he said. ‘Most communities don’t have lake front access, and for $6,000 I’m sure there’s a way to generate that money.?
Green’s Park is Lake Orion’s only park on Lake Orion, with about 560 feet of frontage. The park offers a sandy beach, restrooms and changing facility, playground area, picnic tables, grills, benches, bike racks and water fountains. Lifeguards are only on duty during the summer season.
Passes are required the day after Labor day through the third’Sunday’of October.
Single day passes are $5 for 2014, and fees for a season family park pass are $25 for village residents, $50 for township residents, $75 for non-residents, $20 for village senior residents and $40 for Orion Township senior residents. About 114 day passes were purchased in 2013, according to Ford’s report. Numbers are still being tallied for the 2014 season.??
About 3,000 people utilized the park this summer, and an additional 2,000 came down for other special, non-fee events such as Dragon on the Lake, the lighted boat parade and the fireworks. The village dropped the pass fees for events such as the fireworks just this summer.
Ranville is in favor of keeping the park pass system unlike Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Suzanne Perrault who believes the pass system makes the park less attractive to bring people downtown.
‘We want more people to be here and we want to give them a reason to be here,? she told council members. ‘There’s a tremendous opportunity in marketing the park by making it less cumbersome to get park passes. They are inconvenient to purchase not to mention the cost.?
Perrault said if the village is willing to open up the park to the entire public the DDA would be willing to hop on board to chip in for improvements, including a potential docking system to bring more boaters into town.
‘That is not something we are going to look at essentially if only a small number of people are available to utilize it.?
She recommended the board look at the Green’s Park ordinance and open the park up to the public without a pass system, and left the lifeguard issue to the council.
‘Those lifeguards are there all the time. It helps the Department of Public Works out quite a bit. I’m still for the lifeguard program, and a re-evaluation from our park and rec. committee,? Ranville said.
The motion passed unanimously to refer the issue back to the Parks and Rec. Committee for re-evaluation, and the council invites resident’s to share opinions at248-693-8391.