FeedsEconomy derails Frontier Park proposal
The proposed $42 million Frontier Park recreation complex was rejected by Westland City Council members Monday evening during a study session.
Citing economic concerns, council members questioned the advisability of moving forward with the project which has been in the planning stages for about 18 months.
The proposed Frontier Park complex, which was designed to be constructed on the currently undeveloped county-owned land located just west of the Westland Police Department, would have included a new ice arena with additional ice surfaces and recreation center with amenities including an indoor family pool and additional gym space, new soccer fields, four Little League baseball diamonds with a concession stand and rest room facilities, a Pony league baseball diamond, Colt league baseball diamond, a Miracle baseball diamond for special needs players, and two new pavilions with rest room facilities. It has been developed over the years by volunteers, many of whom are also active in the Westland Youth Athletic Association, known collectively as the Citizens for Frontier Park.
Those amenities come at a price, though. Several members of the council agreed that they would like to see upgrades to the city recreation facilities, but the general consensus was that the council wasn’t ready to commit the estimated $42 million needed to make the complex a reality at a time when Westland residents are feeling the pinch of a tight economy.
“Timing, in a lot of cases, is everything,” said Councilman James Godbout. “Right now, with the current economic climate, this in my opinion is not the right time to put a 2.5 mill ballot proposal out for a tax increase.” It was a sentiment that was echoed, in various forms, during the meeting by most of the council members.
According to figures compiled by the Westland Finance Department, residents would need to approve a 1.84-millage increase to pay for the bond needed to construct the facility as well as a 1.0 tax millage to cover operating costs for the facility. The estimated combined millage rate of 2.84 would cost homeowners with property with a taxable value of $50,000 about $142 and homeowners with a taxable value of $75,000 about $213 in the first year. The cost, which would fluctuate from year to year, would be levied for the next 20 years.
Mark Rodriguez, chairman of the Citizens For Frontier Park committee, questioned those figures, however, and said that although the initial cost of creating the complex would be significant, he believes that both the construction and operating costs would be significantly lower than the city realizes. He suggested that low-maintenance facilities, such as synthetic turf soccer fields, and geo-thermal heating of the ice arena, combined with the expanded use that could increase revenue, would have a major impact on the long-term cost effectiveness.
According to Rodriguez, the project hinges on whether or not the community would receive the needed land from Wayne County to create the new facility and the county does not normally approve requests of that sort unless the municipality is committed to the proposed use. Without the backing of the council, he said that options for getting the project started would be severely limited.
“Unless we can get the land, there’s not much further we can go,” said Rodriguez.
Although the board was not inclined to support the proposal, citizens were invited to continue to work with the city on the creation of a new five-year plan for the parks and recreation department. The plan essentially provides a ‘wish list’ of items the department hopes to achieve.
“They really worked hard and put a lot of effort into it,” said Council President Bill Wild.
Barring that, the citizens were also invited to either wait for a more financially secure time or to initiate a grassroots ballot petition drive. Those options left Rodriguez and Citizens for Frontier Park Vice Chairman Todd Kangas frustrated, however. The duo questioned whether a petition drive was even an option, given that without city support they have no hope of obtaining the necessary land, and opposed the delay as unnecessary and detrimental to the children currently in the community.
“If it goes on the ballot and it loses, who’s hurt,” asked Kangas.
Despite the setback, Rodriguez said that the group would continue to fight for the new facilities.
“It’s just going to make it a little more challenging,” he said.
