Phase One Of Greenway Moves Slowly Ahead
By Stacey Creasy
PLYMOUTH � City park officials believe they will break ground on Phase One of the Greenway Trail project in 2003 even though, on the surface, there appears to be little public support.
In more than a year there has been only one private donation . . . for $50.
The Plymouth Park Department received a $1 million grant more than a year ago for Phase One. The park department needs to raise $250,000 in matching funds for the project.
To date, about $145,000 has been raised.
The city put up $100,000 from a development fund, the Marshall County Community Foundation donated $10,000 and the Plymouth Park Board transferred $35,000 of non-reverting funds to the Greenway account.
No local tax dollars have yet been used on the project.
Phase One would begin east of Menominee Elementary, outside city limits, run along the Yellow River and work its way to East Jefferson Street in the area of the Marshall County Boys and Girls Club. The phase calls for three bridges to cross the river.
Steve Benczik, who serves on the city�s sanitary board and works for Troyer architects, is the Greenway project manager.
Park board president Jim Causey believes there is ample public support for the Greenway. The project simply needs more publicity. He is convinced the Greenway will be an asset the community will appreciate once it is completed.
The plan is to move ahead with the Greenway and collect the rest of the match along the way.
�Most of our public meetings on it have been held after the regular park board meeting,� Causey said. �That doesn�t help. After the first of the year we will schedule a public meeting separate from the park board and let people know where we are.�
The basic design for phase one is done. The survey for phase one has been completed. Causey said an environmental study will be next.
With additional awareness and a project update, Causey is confident more public support will come rolling in.
�I�m hoping we actually break ground on this in the fall with a targeted completion date of spring, 2004,� Causey added.
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