Region 2 Planning

Jackson Metro Park Study

In response to identified recreation needs, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and the Jackson City Council decided to cooperate in the development of the City of Jackson and Jackson County Joint Recreation Plan and to commission City of Jackson and Jackson County Joint Operations Study. Adoption of the joint recreation plan maintains the eligibility of the County and City to apply for state and federal funding for capital projects. The joint operations study will investigate opportunities for the joint provision of parks and recreation services.

The Oversight Committee

The County Board and City Council formed a Joint Oversight Committee to develop the documents with the assistance of Region 2 staff. The following members comprise the Joint Oversight Committee:

The Chair of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and the Director of the County‘s Parks Department;
The Mayor of the City of Jackson and the Director of the City Department of Parks, Recreation, and Grounds; and
The Vice-Chair of the Township Supervisors Association.

Jackson’s City Manager, the Jackson County Administrator/Controller and the Chairs of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Commission and the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Commission also participate in the discussions of the Joint Oversight Committee. The official from the local Township Supervisor’s Association represents the views and concerns of the townships. Region 2 Planning Commission staff assists and advises the Joint Oversight Committee.

White Papers

It is important to have a complete understanding of the similarities and differences between the park systems of Jackson County and the City of Jackson in order to complete the Joint Recreation Plan and the Joint Operations Study currently under development for the two jurisdictions. Accordingly, a series of white papers will explore those similarities and differences. Downtown Riverfront Park

White Paper #1 provides descriptions of the park systems provided by each jurisdiction; inventories of the recreation facilities located in each park; and a listing of the recreation programs provided by each jurisdiction.
White Paper #2 provides the composition of the commissions established by each jurisdiction; descriptions of the recreation departments in both jurisdictions; and special relationships with other recreation providers; and the funding structures behind both park systems.
White Paper #3 provides a listing of the state enabling acts which allow for a combined city and county park system; a summary of each act; and some preliminary analysis.

Working Memorandums
A number of working memos will also be generated throughout the development of the Joint Recreation Plan and the Joint Operations Study. They are included below as part of the public record:

Memorandum #1 lists the "General Benefits Attributed to the Provision of Parks," including local examples
Memorandum #2 lists the "Benefits of a Metro Park System," outlining the potential for park and recreation improvements
Memorandum #3 lists recommended "Public Involvement Strategies"
Memorandum #4 summarizes the formation of the Jackson District Library, a potential model for the formation of a metro park system
Memorandum #5 is an informational memo entitled "Joint Recreation Plan and Metro Park Study Update"
Memorandum #6 is an informational memo entitled "Citizen Opinion Survey Responses and the Joint Recreation Plan"

Joint Recreation Plan
Jackson County and the City of Jackson are also in the process of developing a Joint Recreation Plan. The plan will identify potential parks and recreation projects the City and County wish to undertake in the near future. Adoption of a plan also maintains the eligibility of the City and County to apply for state and federal funding for the projects identified in the document. Draft plan chapters and associated appendices will be posted here for public review as they become available.

Chapters

Appendices

Other Resources
The following list provides links to documents and websites discovered while researching the issue of metropolitan park systems:

Michigan State University’s Land Policy Institute published Support by Michigan Residents for Eight Common Strategies for Confronting Fiscal Stress in Municipal Governments, which was summarized in one of the memorandums listed above.
The 1995 joint recreation survey conducted by the City and County conducted is summarized in City of Jackson and Jackson County Parks and Recreation Survey Report, January 1995.
The City Parks Forum of the American Planning Association published Briefing Papers on various benefits of park systems. They are summarized in one of the memorandums listed above.