Harper Woods

County grant helps city make park improvements

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

HARPER WOODS — The city will be able to make some upgrades to Salter and Johnston parks with a $70,000 grant allocation through the Wayne County Parks Millage Fund.

The city council approved the grant agreement during its Nov. 5 meeting. The grant will fund a number of improvements to the parks, according to city information.

“All of the improvements are necessary,” City Manager Randolph Skotarczyk said. “We’ve had these grants before to help keep the infrastructure up.”

The grant funding will be used for items like new grills for the parks, replacing shingles on the shelter at Johnston Park and putting in new woodchips for the playscapes at both parks.

Johnston Park is located on Beaconsfield adjacent to the Harper Woods Secondary School campus, and Salter Park is on Harper, off of I-94.

“These improvements will help us keep our parks looking new and fresh,” Harper Woods Recreation Director John Bobak stated in a memo about the grant. “The grant will also be used to upgrade our bathrooms at Johnston Park to make them handicap accessible and compliant.”

With cities such as Harper Woods struggling with budget constraints, grant funding helps with needed improvement projects.

This funding allocation brings more needed money into the city, which was positive news for city officials.

The bathroom upgrades are the most expensive component of the grant proposal, at an estimated cost of $42,000, according to city information.

Replacing fencing at Salter Park is the next highest amount, at $10,000. New fencing in a section of Johnson Park will cost about $8,600. The remaining projects come in at $3,000 or less each.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.