Draft of Stockbridge Area 5-year Parks and Recreation Plan now available for public review

By Matt Pegouskie

Local stakeholders in Stockbridge have been working since late summer 2017 to produce a five-year Parks and Recreation plan that the Village of Stockbridge and Stockbridge Township can use to help shape the future of open spaces within the local area. Pictured above: Eric Rasmussen and LD (Little Dog) enjoy a stroll along a local woodland trail. Photo credit: Patrice Johnson

Local stakeholders in Stockbridge have been working since late summer 2017 to produce a five-year Parks and Recreation plan that the Village of Stockbridge and Stockbridge Township can use to help shape the future of open spaces within the local area. A draft version of the plan will be available for public review and comment starting Wednesday, Jan.17^th through Feb. 17^th. The plan may be found at Stockbridge Library – Capital Area District Library, the Village of Stockbridge offices and Stockbridge Township offices. The plan will also be made available online through the Village, Township, and 5 Healthy Towns Foundation.

Following public input through surveys and feedback, the Stockbridge Parks and Recreation Plan Team drafted the plan. The plan does not commit the township or village to any projects, and the planning was not funded with public funds. Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition – through the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation – funded the project.

The creation and adoption of the 5-year Parks and Recreation plan will allow the Township and/or Village to partner with other local organizations like Stockbridge Community Schools and Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition to work on priority projects around Stockbridge. As importantly, having a plan will allow them to seek grant funds from the Department of Natural Resources to support different parks and recreation opportunities.

The edited plan will be brought before the Village and Township Planning Commissions on February 27^th before going to their respective councils for adoption. For more information, please email Matt Pegouskie, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation Community Investment Manager, at [email protected] or check out this link:

http://5healthytowns.org/?module=Files&event=Download&downloadID=4237&filename=draft_stockbridge_area_park_and_recreation_plan_for_public_review01172018.pdf