Dan LaLone
Contributing Writer
(Courtesy photo – Parks like the Lincoln Brick Park in Grand Ledge are on the list of the Eaton County Park Department’s proposed master plan, now available for public comment.)
Eaton County residents have until Aug. 13 to review and comment on a draft master plan that will guide decisions on county parks, recreation facilities and outdoor opportunities over the next five years.
The draft 2026-2030 Eaton County Parks and Recreation Master Plan is available for public review as part of a required 30-day comment period before it is considered for adoption by the Eaton County Board of Commissioners.
Michigan communities are required to maintain an updated parks and recreation master plan to remain eligible for many recreation grant opportunities through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The plans are updated every five years and serve as long-range planning documents that evaluate existing parks and recreation resources, identify community needs and establish priorities for future improvements as funding becomes available.
According to the draft plan, Eaton County’s priorities include maintaining existing park facilities, improving accessibility, protecting natural resources, expanding recreational opportunities where appropriate and strengthening connections between parks, trails and surrounding communities. The document also includes an inventory of county park facilities, demographic information, recreation trends, public input gathered during the planning process and goals intended to guide future decisions.
While the master plan identifies priorities and potential projects, it does not authorize construction or commit funding for specific improvements. Instead, it serves as a roadmap for future planning and provides supporting documentation when the county applies for state recreation grants.
Residents may review the nearly 200-page draft plan online through the Eaton County Parks Department webpage (search for Parks Master Plan), or in person at the Eaton County Parks Department, 133 Fitzgerald Park Drive in Grand Ledge, during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Written comments may be submitted by email to parksdept@eatoncounty.org or delivered to the Parks Department through Aug. 13 for consideration before the plan is finalized.
The Eaton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed plan at 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Eaton County Courthouse, 1045 Independence Blvd. in Charlotte.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for residents to offer comments before commissioners consider adopting the plan and submitting it to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The meeting also will be live-streamed through the county, although remote viewers will not be able to provide public comment.
The master planning process gives residents an opportunity to review the county’s long-term vision for parks and recreation and provide feedback before the document is finalized.
Following the public hearing, commissioners are expected to consider adoption of the plan, completing the update required to maintain the county’s eligibility for state recreation grant programs over the next five years.
