Bayberry - WKTV Journal

Now open: 56th Street reconstruction between Ivanrest and Byron Center avenues opened on Oct. 31.

By Catherine Kooyers

Community Contributor

In November, many gave thanks and many in the Bayberry Farms/UM-Metro Hospital corridor in Wyoming, who gave thanks for significant upgrades and changes that have happened to make a great community even better. And a special thanks goes out to those who worked hard in all weather conditions to make those changes, especially to the detention pond and 56th Street. It has taken years to identify issues accurately, get necessary approvals and funds, contracting, and much more to make all this happen. But, it was with total elation that we received the message from the City of Wyoming advising the work would be finished on Oct. 31, 2018 — and it was.

You see, a few years back, the area had a Master Plan. Over the years though, a change here and a change there added up. Collectively, those small changes resulted in the need for big changes and redirection. We recognized that development of the corridor east of Byron Center Avenue meant more buildings and parking lots. That in turn, changed absorptive rain catching fields into nonporous, concrete/asphalt patches. In turn, that resulted in massive water runoff crossing Byron Center Avenue into the Bayberry area. That all came home when the Gezon Fire Station was shuttered and falling into disrepair resulting in response times being high. Also around that time, we started noticing problems with the area’s detention pond…it simply was too small for the new growth.

The project included a new traffic signal at the intersection of Ivanrest Avenue and 56th Street.

Then, on Sept. 9, 2013, disaster did hit HARD. The area was hit with a measured 5.5 inches of rain in a very short, record-breaking time. The pond could not hold that much water and disaster was inevitable. The Bayberry Farms Village senior apartments were surrounded by deep waters…looking like an island as seniors were moved to higher floors. Several cars were flooded and lost as they tried to navigate deep waters on 56th Street. Runoff from 56th Street into the senior village was so intense it looked like flowing rivers and waterfalls. The Bayberry Farms condos and family homes were hit hardest. For example, the force of the rushing water knocked out slider doors and pushed heavy furniture across lower levels. Another home, had more than six feet of standing water in its finished basement.

Fortunately, no one was sleeping in those areas at that time or some fear they would not have made it out — it all happened so fast. Trails of debris from construction of the Veterans’ Clinic, garden mulch and Metro complex traveled quite a distance towards Ivanrest Avenue, clogging drains. And, as we tried to open drains, in addition to removing normal clogging materials, we were stunned when an albino boa constrictor came out of a drain!

A new widen sidewalk was added to the north side of 56th Street.

But there was little time for self-pity, this could not continue. So, the residents, businesses and City began working together for positive changes. We learned a valued lesson: No one wins by fighting City Hall, but we all win when we put differences aside and work together for a greater common good. The City not only listened, the City worked hard to make the needed changes not only happen, but that they were done correctly. It took millions of dollars and a few years, but Oct. 31 was the closing date of a special chapter in the Metro/Bayberry history books:

The small detention pond was dramatically increased in size and surrounded by protective fencing. After a few storms knocked down the new fencing, a different material was used that allowed for more air flow and has worked beautifully this year. This should meet the storm water needs of the area for quite some time.

The big changes came to 56th Street between Byron Center and Ivanrest avenues. The area was widened with more drain catchers and basins added to hold and collect runoff and rain. The old street materials, which were failing, left potholes and sinkholes. That entire stretch of 56th Street was totally torn up and replaced. Turning lanes were created. Residents endured months of construction and noise, but say the finished product is safer, better, and worth every bit of it.

Also included were much requested sidewalks and more connections to the Kent Trail system. Before, without sidewalks, the bikers, walkers, seniors, families crossing to the daycare center or stores had to walk against fast moving traffic, in traffic lanes. We knew that had to change as the area grew. Now, it is safer and easier for bikers, walkers and disabled in motorized scooters to get to and from the trails, shops, and restaurants. This is a vibrant, active community.

In the interim, new business entities came in or upgraded – like the U of M/Metro partnership and ReMax. The UM/Metro Foundation had generously provided significant monies and support for our Gezon Fire Station — like the heliport — training and equipment.

Working with Wyoming Public Works Director Bill Dooley and his team as well as ReMax, a much needed shortcut sidewalk was finished by the pond. This allows seniors with walkers and scooters as well as residents in the apartments, cottages, homes and condos more independence and access to local businesses.

So this month, the Bayberry/Metro area has much to be thankful for in addition to the normal things: City officials, like Mayor Jack Poll and Dooley, who let us talk, who listened, who worked with us; the many dedicated people who did the planning and hard work, the road crews, the landscapers…; the residents who worked together for positive changes; our special partners and businesses who give and do so much for our community. And, it would not be Bayberry if we did not extend a special “thanks” and gratitude for all our area first responders, UPS drivers, FedEx drivers, U.S. Postal carriers — all those people who quietly support this special area daily. So, this week, we give special thanks for significant upgrades and changes that have happened to make a great community extraordinary.

Sgt. Brian Look (center) and Office Ben Durian (left) meet with Bayberry manager Shake Broukian and residents Joyce Driesens, and Sandra Moulds (Photo by Catherine Kooyers)

There was standing room only at the Coffee with a Cop held in the Bayberry Farms Village Community Room on Wed., Jan. 31, following a residents’ meeting. Wyoming police officers and residents gathered together in a friendly, sometimes serious, often jovial, respectful manner. Over coffee, cake and ice cream they discussed the roles of officers and citizens, current citywide concerns, neighborhood concerns as well as a question and answer session. Who knew we had so many secret comedians in Wyoming!?! The officers will be holding gatherings like these across the city on a regular basis.

As an officer said, with so much negativity in the news, many people see a cruiser and immediately think the worst or become fearful. We, at Bayberry, hope to soften that in our community. These coffees will allow residents to see the human side of officers, get to know who is covering their area, who to go to with concerns or compliments. Meanwhile, the coffee allows officers to meet the people they represent and protect while seeing that many in the community do appreciate and support law enforcement. July of 2016, Bayberry Farms Village suffered a serious fire that displaced many residents. Firefighters and officers were there to breakdown doors and help. So this also allowed many residents to reconnect with heroes they saw in action that day or have met at other times. I will add as a victim of that fire, seeing the firefighters and first responders I knew as we fought together to get residents to safety was comforting and welcomed. We hope to share that same sense of peace with those who see an officer pull up in a cruiser…not fear.

The issue of people with fall buttons (alarms that alert a company in an emergency) came up and some wondered how LEOs get in if their doors are locked. On a lighter note, it was made clear these LEOs do not hesitate or mind kicking down a door or breaking a window to save a life. The officers made it clear, if they know someone is in need of help — they WILL get in. That struck a chord with many. You see, after the Bayberry fire, there were dozens and dozens of damaged doors as firefighters and officers risked their lives knocking them down as the fire and smoke raged. In the end, they did a thorough search and rescue of trapped, hiding people and pets so all were accounted for.

With seniors, medications were a top concern. Of course one should be careful with what they order online. Many top drugs are made in areas that were hardest hit by hurricanes. Many drug production plants were damaged or destroyed, impacting the quality of items in their production system. That could mean some of those drugs entering Michigan are cheaper but it also means they may have been contaminated, exposed to extreme heat, spoiled or worse. So, it is wise to deal with a reputable company now more than ever.

One of the most discussed concerns was disposal of old or unneeded medications and prescriptions. The discussion started with the fact that a medicine is only to be used by the person it is prescribed for. It is not to be shared with family or friends, no matter how well-intended. In fact, some stories were shared about people who meant well, but those meds ended up harming the person they were meant to help. Clearly, prescriptions are not inherited by family when someone dies or does not need them any longer. Those must be disposed of.

So then, how does one dispose of meds in Wyoming if they do not go in the sewer system or the dumpster? Surprisingly, quite a few people did not know and thanked us afterwards for the information. The officers conscientiously advised of the hazards of dumping materials, like prescriptions, down the toilet…how those end impacting the water system. That requires extra testing and treatment to clean the water and keep it safe. Many residents were surprised to learn just how state-of-the-art water testing is in Wyoming, to the point they can track chemicals back to their sources. in most cases. Like one person dumped paint in the sewer system and that was traced back to the actual home. So, the officer discussed the preferred method of disposal is to removal all labels and identifiers, then take the meds to the Wyoming Police Department, Walgreens or Family Fare. Those places have programs in place to safely collect the meds and properly dispose of them. They are NOT accepted at the fire stations, despite rumors to the contrary.

There was also considerable discussion about registering all cell phones with the new Smart 911 system. This way assistance is faster during a crisis. From the meeting: bottom line, if not registered yet, do it!

Bottom line, this was a fantastic opportunity for the police and citizens to sit, chat, discuss mutual issues of concerns, express compliments and work together for a safer, calmer community. Bayberry residents thank the officers who visited and Chief James Carmody for helping to arrange for this to happen.