Tri-County Citizen

Blueberry Park project generating support




CITY OF MONTROSE – During the Thursday, March 21 meeting of the Montrose City Council, a public hearing was held concerning the plans for improving Blueberry Park at the corner of Saginaw Street/Nichols Road and Coke Drive.

City Manager Neil Rankin informed the council that the Jennings Memorial Foundation donated $20,000 for the Blueberry Park project. That’s in addition to the $38,000 received in Community Development Block Grant funds.

One of the key aspects of the Blueberry Park plan is to convert the well house into a handicap accessible restroom. New playground equipment is also figured into the long-term plans for the park. Having a handicap accessible restroom improves the city’s opportunity to gain additional grant funding.

In related news, also during the March 21 meeting, Gary Smith told the council he will be trading homes with his daughter in Montrose. His daugher’s house is on Washington Street, adjacent to Blueberry Park. He learned that the city council is interested in acquiring the additional lawn on one side of the house to create a neighborhood walkway between Blueberry Park and Washington Street. Once Smith owns the property on Washington, he is willing to donate the land for the walkway. Smith’s offer was made during the same meeting that the city held a public hearing for the proposed designs for Blueberry Park improvements.