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CITY OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN
LEISURE SERVICES DIVISION
DIVISION SUMMARY
The division also works closely with the
Leisure Service Police Department to improve community
safety. Programs are jointly sponsored to
Division Description provide information on drugs and other
The Leisure Services Division is made up of the harmful substances, as well as fun
following departments: Parks, L.C. Walker recreational activities for Muskegon's youth.
Arena, Cemeteries, Parking Operations,
Forestry, Farmer's/Flea Market, Recreation,
and Hartshorn Marina. The division is Promote Economic Stability, Diverse
responsible for managing all City park land and Economic Growth and Redevelopment.
other City properties with responsibilities The development of the Lakeshore Trail and
including grass cutting, litter removal, irrigation, the sports complex will help to promote the
preparation of ball diamonds and athletic fields, economic stability of the community and
set up for special events, maintenance of the encourage growth. We continue to promote
L.C. Walker Arena, care and maintenance of and encourage special events, which help
the cemeteries, maintaining City trees, to bring people to the community and helps
management of the Farmer's Market, providing area businesses. The national recognition
recreational activities, and administration of the obtained for Pere Marquette Park beach
marina and launch ramps. through the Healthy Beaches Campaign
and Clean Beaches also helps to promote
Divisional Relationship to City the benefits of living in Muskegon.
Commission Goals Sustain the Natural, Cultural and
Recreational Resources of the
Take Leadership Responsibility for Community.
Improving Race Relations and Diversity. The City provides a lot of resources to keep
The Department of Leisure Services works the parks and public grounds green during
to improve race relations primarily through the summer months and free of snow during
its recreation programs. The recreation the winter. Most of the parks have had a
staff develops activities within the programs major renovation within the last ten to fifteen
that bring youth from various ethnic years, providing accessible facilities
backgrounds into contact with each other in throughout the City. In 2003, the city
positive activities. Some of these activities completed a major renovation to Hartshorn
include field trips, sports programs, and the Marina including the replacement of the
winter sports day at the State Park. electrical system to the docks and repairs to
the steel sheet piling. Charter Parks were
Foster Opportunities for City Youth. created to ensure that no parkland could be
Through the Recreation budget, the City sold without a vote of the people.
offers opportunities for youth to participate
in a variety of programs including Foster Strong Ties Among Governments
swimming, basketball, and playgrounds. and Community Agencies.
We also work with various community The City works with Muskegon Township for
groups, organizations, and youth sports the use of Softball World to run various
programs to provide facilities and funding adult softball leagues. City staff schedules
for youth programs. The new Heart's N the lifeguards for Norton Shores at Ross
Park's program promotes healthy lifestyles. Park during the summer. Leisure Services
works with Volunteer Muskegon on various
projects including painting of several CITY OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN
murals, including the new one at McGraft
Park. Volunteer Muskegon also coordinates 2004 Budget Highlights
the planting and weeding of the flowers Parks Department: The department will
along Muskegon Ave. The Day of Caring at eliminate one LSM III in 2004. The
Marsh Field in 2000 and at Reese Field in department will contract out much of the
2001 has been a great partnership with equipment maintenance. There are no
United Way and helped improve the quality scheduled capital replacement projects
of life for people living in those planned. Priorities for the Parks budget will
neighborhoods. We continue to partner with be to increase maintenance on City
Hackley Hospital for the construction of the buildings in 2004. The City will no longer
Lakeshore Trail along Laketon. The fertilize all properties. The flowers on
partnership with the Community Foundation Muskegon Ave. will be discontinued due to
and the master gardeners to create Monet budget cuts.
Gardens added a great deal of beauty to the
downtown and historic district. Cemetery Department: No staffing changes
are proposed. No capital replacement
Develop and Maintain City Infrastructure purchases are planned. Fertilization will be
and Facilities. eliminated as will a couple of seasonal
The City continues to improve and enhance employees.
existing recreational facilities. Campbell
Field was completed in 2002. Renovations Recreation Department: Much of the youth
to Beachwood Park will be completed in recreation programs will be continued.
2003. The Reese Playfield restroom However the Youth Recreation Coordinator
building was replaced in 2003. Phases II of position will be eliminated. All the
the Laketon Trail was completed in 2003. playgrounds, the grade school basketball
Phase IV of the trail will be started in 2003 program, and the winter recreation
after the railroad tracks are moved for programs will continue, as will the adult
Shoreline Drive. The Kearney Park Fountain sports programs where income covers the
has been renovated and restored to its expenses.
original condition in the spring of 2003. The
Skatepark at Seyferth's Park was totally Forestry Department: One forester has
renovated in 2002, and a new surface been eliminated in the 2004.
added to the in-line rink at Seyferth was
completed in the spring of 2003, with the
help of the Seyferth Fund of the Community Farmer's/Flea Market: No changes are
Foundation for Muskegon County. proposed for the Farmer's Market.
Maintain and Enhance the Marina Department: No major changes are
Neighborhoods of the City. planned for the 2004 season. Plans for
By maintaining a high level of maintenance future renovation of the seawall and an
on our public properties, we help to updated master plan will be completed.
enhance the residential neighborhoods of
our community. Improvements to parks like Parking Ramp: Most of the parking ramp will
Beachwood help to improve the appearance be closed in 2004 to reduce operating costs.
of neighborhood parks that help maintain or
improve the neighborhood. We continue to L.C. Walker Arena: Emphasis is being
remove dead trees within the right-of-ways placed on bringing in new events to the
to clean up the neighborhoods. facility and for reducing the general fund
subsidy to the facility.
Future Outlook
The City of Muskegon has one of the finest CITY OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN
Park systems in all of Michigan. The City is
committed to continuing maintenance and
improvement of this valuable resource. Through
working with the neighborhood associations,
private businesses, other governmental units,
and local organizations the Leisure Services
Division will continue to improve the quality of
life for all residents.