Kentwood parks - WKTV Journal

Members of the City of Kentwood’s community-based Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)

By City of Kentwood

The City of Kentwood has assembled a community-based Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee to plan for the City’s future.

“The City Commission has asked residents to perform a needed and exciting review process,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “This level of community input is paramount to ensure detailed visionary planning is performed today to preserve Kentwood’s excellent quality of life over the next 50 years.”

The advisory committee, which held its first meeting on Monday, June 3, with 21 members, was established to review and prioritize improvements to Kentwood’s parks, trails and recreational programming to align with the needs of the community.

The advisory committee provides broad community representation and is comprised of Parks and Recreation commissioners, City Commission’s AD HOC Strategic Planning Committee members, Planning commissioners, residents and business owners.

During the group’s first meeting, Ed Kape, who currently serves on Planning Commission and as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, was named chair of the new advisory committee. Dustin Moseley, a Parks and Recreation commissioner, was named vice chair.

“Kentwood’s park system is near and dear to my heart. Having been a part of the community for 28 years, I’ve seen how we have grown,” Kape said. “Now we need to plan for the next 50 years and determine how we can continue to provide quality parks amenities for our community. I’m excited to be involved in this process.”

Following are all advisory committee members:

Robert Coughlin, City commissioner (Strategic Planning Committee), Parks and Recreation commissioner
Jessica Dennis, Tiffin University, community member
Christopher Furner, Worksighted Inc., community member
Mark Giles, Steelcase, community member
Jill Gorkowski, Spectrum Health, community member
Maurice Groce, City commissioner (Strategic Planning Committee)
Olivia Jenison-Bailey, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Karmen Johnson, Fifth Third Bank, community member
Ed Kape, Parks and Recreation commissioner, Planning commissioner
Stephen Kepley, City of Kentwood mayor, Strategic Planning Committee member
Mimi Madden, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Wallace Massie, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Trent Meyer, Parks and Recreation commissioner
David Moore, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Dustin Moseley, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Darius Quinn, Planning commissioner
Laurie Sheldon, City of Kentwood treasurer
Adam Shilling, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, community member
Kevin Small, Parks and Recreation commissioner
Billy Smith, retired, community member
Travis Tate, Dan Vos Construction Company, community member

The committee will hold approximately nine meetings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month. Over the course of those meetings, the group will review the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan and Non-Motorized Trail Plan and recommend an implementation and sustainable funding plan to the City Commission by December 2019.

Please contact Deputy City Administrator Mark Rambo at 616-554-0770 or via email at rambom@kentwood.us for more information about the advisory committee.

By City of Kentwood

The Kentwood City Commission approved a resolution on Monday, April 8, to establish an advisory committee that will review and prioritize improvements to Kentwood’s parks, trails and recreational programming to align with the needs of the community.

The Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Committee will review improvements identified in the Parks and Recreation Business Plan, Parks Master Plan and Non-Motorized Trail Plan and recommend an implementation and sustainable funding plan to the City Commission by December 2019.

“To reach and sustain a rewarding quality of life, all aspects of a community, including businesses, schools and neighborhoods, need to achieve a level of exceptional value and significance,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “The ongoing ownership, maintenance and development of our public parks, trails and recreational programming is part of this equation and is important to nurture in order to create and maintain a thriving community benefiting all.”

The advisory committee will be a broad collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Commission, the City Commission’s AD HOC Strategic Planning Committee, the Planning Commission, residents and business owners to ensure the diverse needs of the Kentwood community are represented in the process.

“After celebrating the City’s 50th anniversary, we are heavily focused on planning for the next 50 years,” said Val Romeo, Parks and Recreation director. “We want to ensure we continue to provide high quality services that meet the needs of our diverse community.”

The Committee of the Whole also recommended approval to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with MCSA Group Inc. to assist with the advisory committee process and additional master planning.

Individuals interested in joining the committee may apply online at kentwood.us.

Please contact Deputy City Administrator Mark Rambo at 616-554-0770 or via email at rambom@kentwood.us for more information about the advisory committee. The proposed schedule for the advisory committee consists of approximately nine meetings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month beginning June 3.