Civil and Municipal - Jan 22

77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 The project really started to develop a strong footing when the Board of Trustees approved a Feasibility Study to be completed. A powerhouse team of consultants, including Plante Moran Cresa, Neumann Smith, EPIC MRA, and Russell Design, were hired to bring the feasibility study to fruition. The Project was developed and molded through an extensive public outreach and community engagement process. Multiple “Town Halls” and public comment periods were held during public meetings to assess the community’s senior and recreational needs. A community telephone survey showed some very positive results. Over 83% of respondents were in favor of building a new Community Center in the Township, and over 66% of respondents noted that the new center should be located at the existing Township Hall site. “The support for that location was great for several reasons: construction costs would be much VAN BUREN TOWNSHI P , MI CHIGAN lower than working off a site with no existing infrastructure, and it created a centralized hub or “one-stop shop” for community members,” stated Kevin McNamara, Township Supervisor. “Residents will be able to pay their water bill, register to vote, and jump it to group Zumba class all within the same facility” The Township’s existing recreation and senior space is very limited, as is the programming potential. After COVID-19, the challenges only grew because of the need for social distancing. The demand for recreational activities for youth, adults, and seniors is ever growing. “This Community Center will truly revitalize and transform the current Van Buren Township Parks & Rec program space and Senior Center into a new, exclusive, and accessible community hub for all ages!” expressed Renaud. The project is a partial renovation of existing spaces, as well as expanding the footprint of the current structure to allow for the construction