The Bingham Township Board is looking to revise its plans for Boughey Park off West Bay Shore Drive/M-22.
At their Monday regular meeting, the board approved a contract with Gosling Czubak Engineering Services Inc. to provide a revised preliminary site plan and cost estimate for the township board, in the amount of $1,680.
Special emphasis was placed on the parking area. Parking at Boughey Park has been a sticking point for at least one member of the township parks and recreation committee in the past. One of the township’s “park stewards” told park visitors to leave after sunset.
This led to a police report, and the township amending its parks and recreation bylaws to clarify that stewards are not township employees and do not have the authority to remove people from its parks.
Now, Township Trustee Todd Stone said the county road commission wants them to expand the parking lot at Boughey Park to keep visitors from parking on Bingham Road. Stone, who is the township’s representative on the parks and recreation committee, said that one member was “somewhat opposed” to this, feeling a larger lot would exacerbate parking on the side of the road.
This prompted a brief discussion on whether the township can ticket park visitors for parking on the road. Zoning Administrator Steve Patmore said that only the county sheriff can issue tickets, with township Supervisor Midge Werner adding that it’s legal to park on the side of the road, provided that the parked vehicles aren’t impeding traffic.
As part of the contract, Gosling Czubak agreed to meet with township representatives to discuss potential layout options for a reduced gravel parking area, which would accommodate about 10 vehicles. They also agreed to discuss walkways from the parking lot to pavilion/park area. The township board appointed Stone as their representative for this meeting.
The township board may pursue the parking project after they receive the site plan and cost estimates. According to the contract included in the township board packet, the township’s next steps may include the development of final construction drawings and bidding of the project.
The board also appointed township resident Mike Brown to its planning commission for a three-year term backdated from July 1, 2024, through July 1, 2027. Brown also serves as chairperson on the township election commission.
