Recreation Master Plan Update 2022-2026 Final Draft - ci ty o f frank fort - Frankfort, MI
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ci t y o f f r a n k f o r t Recreation Master Plan Update 2022-2026 Final Draft
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Acknowledgements
City Council
Liz Dobrzynski, Mayor
Daniel Walenta, Mayor Pro-tem
JoAnn Holwerda
Paul Luedtke
Mary Ann Short
City Officials
Joshua Mills, City Superintendent
Christine Spence, City Clerk/Treasurer
Robert Lozowski, Police Chief
Planning Commission
Sam Baressi, Chair
Scott Harrison
Mary Link
Melina Penne
Leslie Roach
Jay White
Recreation Board
Brady Olsen, Chair
Myra Elias
Jared Lowry
Alma House
Mary Ann Short
Originally produced by: Updated with assistance from:
Contents Foundations Pg. 1 Planning Process Community Description Administrative Structure Previous Grant Assistance Previous Planning Recreation and Resources Pg. 10 Park Facility and Accessibility Inventory Other Facilities Trails Parks Service Area Resource Inventory Consulting Community Pg. 19 Process 2020 Survey Results 2014 Survey Results Community Visioning Workshops Restroom Facility Survey Cornerstones Pg. 26 Process Community Demographics Goals, Objectives, and Action Plan Building Consensus Appendix Pg. X
Figures Regional Location Pg. vi Existing Recreation Facilities Pg. 9 Resource Inventory Pg. 18 Demographic Dashboard Pg. 25 Tables Table 1: Parks and Recreation Budget and Expenditures Pg. 2 Table 2: 2014-2020 Recreation Plan Action Items Pg. 4 Table 3: City of Frankfort Parks Pg. 11 Table 4: Park Facility Inventory Pg. 12 Table 5: Beach Facility Survey Results Pg. 24
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CITY OF FRANKFORT Miles
Regional Location
County Boundary
Major Highway
State or National Park
Foundations
Planning Process
In the summer of 2020, after delays from the COVID-19 In April 2021, the Recreation Board was able to meet
pandemic, the City of Frankfort began updating their where it was decided to host a second Public Comment
existing Parks and Recreation Plan. Utilizing the existing period from June 9th, 2021 until July 12th, 2021 to cap-
framework created by Beckett and Raeder, Networks ture additional public comment. Following the second
Northwest was contracted to work with City Officials, public comment period at their August 2, 2021 meeting,
the Recreation Board, Planning Commission and City the Recreation Board approved and recommended ap-
Council to complete the update. proval of the Frankfort Parks and Recreation plan to City
Council.
Upon discussion with City Officials and the Recreation
Board, it was determined that continuing work towards This was followed by the August 10, 2021 Frankfort Plan-
the identified goal, objectives, and action items would ning Commission meeting where they gave approval and
be the focus of this update. Public input was collected recommendation to City Council to approve the plan.
through an Action Item Survey to help reaffirm and en- Finally on August 19, 2021, the City Council held a public
hance the action items. The survey was available for re- hearing during their regular meeting. With no significant
sponse from September 8, 2020 to October 9, 2020. changes resulting from the public hearing, the Frankfort
City Council approved the 2022-2026 Frankfort Parks
Using the results of the survey, input from City Officials, and Recreation Plan.
the Recreation Board, and the Parks and Recreation Plan
foundation created from previous years, an updated Community Description
draft was created. The initial draft was reviewed by the
Frankfort began as a lumbering town, capitalizing on the
Recreation Board on September 29, 2020 for comment.
direct connection via boat to Chicago and Wisconsin. Car
Once the survey period ended, comments from both the
ferries were used to haul freight and lumber across Lake
Recreation Board meeting and Survey were incorpo-
Michigan.
rated into a second draft for the Recreation Board in
October 2020. When the initial lumber trees were depleted, commerce
was driven by the fishing industry. Whitefish were
Once the draft had been reviewed it was sent to the
shipped to restaurants as far away as Detroit and Chica-
Planning Commission for review as well as released for
go. Farming began to stimulate the economy, with fami-
public comment from October 30, 2020 to December 4,
lies growing peaches, pears, cherries, and apples.
2020. Around this time, some additional COVID-19 re-
strictions were imposed. City Officials determined they Non-motorized flight, known in the area as “soaring,”
would not have the capacity to apply for any grants in brought national attention to the City of Frankfort in the
2021 and it was decided to postpone the approval pro- early 1930s. The high bluffs and steady Lake Michigan
cess.
winds made Frankfort an ideal place to ride the engine- gan 1917 PA 156, which states that “any city, village,
less planes. county or township may operate a system of public rec-
reation and playgrounds; acquire, equip and maintain
Today, visitors are attracted to the City because of its land, buildings or other recreational facilities; employ a
pristine beaches, fishing industry, and numerous public superintendent of recreation and assistants; vote and
parks. The City owns or controls fourteen (14) parks and expend funds for the operation of such sys-
recreation facilities, including a park located outside of tem” (www.legislature.mi.gov).
the City limits on nearby Crystal Lake. There are numer-
ous regional recreational assets, including the Arcadia The Parks and Recreation Board is made up of a com-
Dunes, Betsie Valley Trail, Green Point Landing, Sleeping mittee of volunteers who are appointed from within the
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Point Betsie Lighthouse, community. Volunteers are also sought through word of
Elberta Beach, and Empire Bluffs Trail. mouth, advertisements in the local newspaper, and on
the City of Frankfort website. Volunteers may be asked
This recreation master plan is prepared for the City of to assist with various events, including park improve-
Frankfort and encompasses all the parks and recreation ment projects.
areas owned by the City.
Administrative Structure Table 1: Parks and Recreation Budget and Expenditures
Parks and recreation programs in the City of Frankfort Current Fiscal Projected
are carried out by the City’s Department of Public Year July 2020 to July 2021 to
Works. The DPW is staffed with four full-time and three June 2021 June 2022
part- time employees. Administration of the City em-
(based on a 3%
Increase)
ployees overseeing the parks are performed by City
Council, the City Superintendent, and the DPW crew Expenditures
leader (foreman). Normal day-to-day maintenance of City Launch $35,343 $36,400
the parks, such as mowing and trash removal, is per- Ramp
formed by the Department of Public Works. Marina Fund $293,445 $302,250
Planning for the City’s parks is performed by the Recrea- Rec Board $5,500 $5,665
tion Board and the City Planning Commission. The Rec-
reation Board is an advisory group that provides support Parks & Recrea- $134,134 $138,160
to the Planning Commission and City Council on all park tion
and recreation projects. The mission of the board is “to Funding
advise the Frankfort City Council about the recreational Property Taxes $136,977 $141,086
needs of the City and to plan, promote and coordinate
the development of City recreational sites, equipment Marina Fund $370,157 $381,261
and programs for use and enjoyment by all City resi-
dents and visitors” (Frankfort Recreation Board Gift Cat- Parks/Rec and $38,000 $39,140
alog 2010). The board was established under the Michi- Launch Revenues
Funding for the Park and Recreation budget is provided
through taxation, State and Federal grant programs,
budget control, and community donations. Nine percent
of the general fund budget is allotted for arts, culture
and recreation. Sources of funding which may be availa-
ble to the City of Frankfort include, but are not limited
to, the following: the Michigan DNR Recreation Division,
the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the MEDC, the
Great Lakes Fishery Trust, millage, bonding, various
grants and foundations, and user fees. As a note, the CJ Kibby Memorial Boat Launch
Marina Fund is an enterprise fund that does not use
property tax dollars.
The City of Frankfort also partners with the Lakeside
Shakespeare Theatre for two weeks during the summer.
The City allows Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre to use one
of the parks as the stage for outdoor performances of
Shakespeare.
The City of Frankfort has partnered with the Frankfort- Frankfort Municipal Marina
Elberta Athletic Association, the Frankfort-Elberta Youth
Sports Boosters, and the Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools
in order to operate and maintain Lockhart Field. Lockhart
Field is owned by the City of Frankfort, operated by the
Frankfort-Elberta Athletic Association, and used by the
public as well as the Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools. The
Frankfort-Elberta Youth Sports Boosters are responsible
for youth sports activities such as Pop Warner football,
baseball, and tee-ball.
Mineral Springs Park
Previous Grant Assistance
The City of Frankfort has received a total of six grants
from the MDNR from 1972 to 2020.
10th Street Boat Launching Site
Project No. 26-00126 Project Year: 1972
Grant Amount: $31,000.00
Project Description: Develop boat launch, and area.
Lockhardt Field
Frankfort Park and Marina
Project No. 26-00741 Project Year: 1976
Grant Amount: $15,195.00
Project Description: Acquire .75 acres of land for outdoor
recreation.
Mineral Springs Park
Project No. 26-00893 Project Year: 1977
Grant Amount: $81,040.00
Project Description: Acquire 5.5 acres addition to Miner-
Lake Michigan Beach
al Springs, Park Marina, for outdoor recreation.
Table 2: 2014-2020 Recreation Action Items
Action Item Progress
Modernize Public Restrooms Market Square Park Restroom in Progress
CJ Kibby Interior Renovation (2018)
Lake Michigan Bathroom moved to Planning Commission for further considera-
tion of location and design
Enhance Beach Facilities Bellows Pavilion, Roof being finished in 2020 (Crystal Lake)
Rain Garden Development (Crystal Lake)
Volleyball Court Addition (Lake Michigan Beach)
Market Square Improvements Bathroom (finish in 2021)
Drinking fountain (2019)
Lighthouse Maintenance Ongoing, fundraising needed (SHPO could free up money)
Dog Park Potential locations identified by Recreation Board in 2019
General Maintenance of Parks Nippising Street Stairs
Ongoing
Community Recreation Cen- Planning for Community Rec Center is Ongoing
ter
Other Relevant Projects Reroofed Fish Cleaning Station, Mineral Springs Pavilion, Mineral Spring Re-
strooms,
Mineral Springs Park & Marina
Project No. 26-01017 Project Year: 1978
Grant Amount: $107,795.76
Project Description: Develop: finger piers, and service
dock, driveway, walkways, and parking, picnic shelter,
restroom addition, play equipment, tree planting, land-
scaping, and seeding and LWCF sign, picnic equipment
and lighting.
Lockhart Athletic Field
Project No. BF90-025 Project Year: 1990 Market Square Park
Grant Amount: $42,800.00
Project Description: Redevelop athletic baseball facility,
including bleachers, electrical, regrade/seed ball field
outfield and infield, and pave parking lot. Lake Michigan Beach
Project No. TF19-0079 Project Year: 2021
Lake Michigan Beach Park Restoration Grant Amount: $225,000.00
Project No. TF03-175 Project Year: 2003 Project Description: Develop new restroom facility and
Grant Amount: $92,000.00 install Mobi-Mat for accessible beach and water access.
Project Description: Renovate parking lot, provide addi-
tional barrier-free parking, and install a restroom facility Previous Planning
at the City’s Lake Michigan Beach Park.
A recreation plan is not a stand-alone effort; instead it is
Market Square Park one planning effort among many in the area aimed spe-
Project No. RP16-0094 Project Year: 2018 cifically at outlining the parks and recreation goals and
Grant Amount: $45,000.00 action plan for the next five years. In this section, previ-
Project Description: Develop universally accessible family ous and concurrent planning efforts are examined in or-
restroom facility at Market Square Park. der to develop a recreation plan that dovetails into
them.2015—2019 Recreation Master Plan raced reading center near the library, and a proposed
paved parking lot for the library.
The previous Parks and Recreation Master Plan for
Frankfort was completed in 2014. An extensive process Cannon Park’s preliminary site plan was prepared in
was completed by Beckett and Raeder which further an- 2002, with several versions proposed. All iterations of
chored commitment to the goal “to have a balanced sys- the plan included improved accessible pedestrian facili-
tem of parks and recreation opportunities for all parts of ties such as a sidewalk along Main Street and pedestrian
Frankfort, all age groups, and all abilities”. This work lighting. A small plaza around the historical cannon was
provides the base of this plan update and the community proposed, along with additional picnic tables and an op-
input gathered during this update can be found in the tional gazebo. In one version, a playground was pro-
“Consulting Community” section. posed near the center of the park.
Park Improvement Plans A site plan for Open Space Park was completed in 2002
and proposed a 10’ asphalt bike path along the water-
Preliminary park improvement plans have been prepared front with a spur connecting to the Main Street sidewalk.
for several of Frankfort’s primary parks, including Lake Picnic tables with trees and shrubs for shade and screen-
Michigan Beach, Cannon Park, Mineral Springs Park, ing were proposed in the northwest corner of the park
Open Space Park, and the Municipal Marina. Since most near Main Street. A fishing pier, canoe/kayak launch and
of the plans were prepared over 10 years ago, some of horseshoe pits were also proposed.
the proposed improvements may have already been im-
plemented. Copies of these site plans can be found in A master plan for the Frankfort Municipal Marina began
the appendix. in September of 2008 and was completed in January of
2009. The plan report contained an examination of ex-
isting conditions, a market analysis to compare Frank-
fort’s marina to other marinas in the area, a master plan,
and a cost estimate. The final master plan was influ-
enced by input from the public and from City Officials.
Rather than focusing only on the current marina parcels,
the master plan extended eastward from the current
marina through Mineral Springs Park and Open Space
Park to the area north of the boat launch parking lot. The
plan was broken down into a phased approach, with all
phases estimated at a total of $7.28 million dollars.
Phase one included upgrading existing boat slips and
building new slips, adding a new dingy dock, a t-dock,
Cannon Park and a new fuel sales and marina master building ($1.5
million). Phase two would push out the existing sea wall
to create additional land in the park, install three new t-
docks, install a new pier for large boats, a new accessible
playground, a carousel, a new multi-use shelter, an addi-
A preliminary site plan was prepared for Lake Michigan tion to the marina building, and a drop- off and parking
Beach in 2001. Proposed improvements included a re- entrance for the library ($3 million).
configured parking lot (which was completed in 2005), a
Phase 3 would include new pavilions with restrooms and
prefabricated restroom structure at the main entrance
fireplaces, an accessible multi-use path, a parking lot,
and north of the Sac Street entrance, a patio at the Sac
and landscape improvements ($750,000).
street entrance, an elevated walkway, bicycle parking
facilities, and play equipment. Frankfort Master Plan
A preliminary site plan for Mineral Springs Park was com- Frankfort completed a master plan process in 2010,
pleted in 2001, which included a new asphalt path which included many action items that pertain to the
through the park which would connect the sidewalk to future of the City’s park facilities, open spaces, and over-
the many proposed improvements. Proposed elements all outdoor experience. The following excerpts from the
include two sand volleyball courts, two bike stations, plan highlight the applicable action items that should be
refurbished shuffleboard courts, reading pods and a ter-considered when developing recreation goals and objec- Improve and expand the recreation facilities in the
tives. waterfront parks.
Natural Environment Actions Define, improve, and regulate the Lake Michigan
Review a steep slopes ordinance, using contour
maps to identify steep slope areas.
Continue to identify and inventory wetlands and sig-
nificant tree cover.
Create a joint task force to develop Best Manage-
ment Practices (BMPs) to protect the long-term wa-
ter quality of the Betsie River, Betsie Bay and Lake
Michigan.
Implement Stormwater Best Management Practices
and create incentives to reduce stormwater runoff Fishing Pier at Open Space Park
through the use of devices like pervious pavers, rain
gardens, rain barrels.
Work with Betsie Lake Utilities Authority (BLUA) to Beach area for the safety and well being of the pub-
identify financial strategies and pricing that reward lic.
property owners for a reduction in stormwater run-
off. Cooperate with the Frankfort-Elberta Area Public
Schools to operate joint recreation facilities in the
Develop maintenance standards and policies for City of Frankfort and the Village of Elberta and for-
street trees, parks, and natural areas. malize this cooperation by institutionalizing it.
Parks and Recreation Actions Renovate, repair, replace and upgrade existing parks
and park facilities to expand each park’s usefulness
Develop a recreation, facilities, and open space net-
for all age groups.
work which is interconnected by open land corridors,
conservation easements, public roadways, and utility Expand and improve the hiking, biking, nature and
corridors. walking trails.
Improve the Beach-to-Beach trail between City Hall Hire a part-time parks and recreation director to su-
and Lake Michigan to provide improved wayfinding pervise summer programs, sports camps, art work-
and enhanced safety. shops, volleyball tournament, horseshoe tourna-
ments, and community gardens.
Develop an informational brochure and distribution
plan which describes the recreational and open Recreation areas should be conveniently located,
space offerings and opportunities available to resi- accessible, and well designed in each neighborhood
dents and visitors. area.
Provide opportunities for the involvement of City Recreation areas should be developed with the visi-
residents in the identification, selection, and devel- tor in mind, with continued use of the City’s park
opment of recreational activities. system as an economic development tool.
Over time, develop an integrated and multi-purpose Support the creation of additional facilities for in-
open space and park system which helps to maintain door wellness activities, potentially including
the City’s valuable lakeshore character while it ad- aquatics, walking, and other fitness-related program-
dresses local recreational needs and open space pri- ming.
orities.Environmental Stewardship Assessment In order to provide additional parking spaces for the
beach, Frankfort High school could be used for
In 2012, the Northwest Michigan Council of Govern- beach parking (84 additional spaces), using a trolley
ments completed a grant-funded Environmental Stew- or horse-drawn carriage as a shuttle. Also, the Lake
ardship Assessment for the City of Frankfort and ten oth- Michigan Beach parking lot could be changed to one-
er communities in Northern Michigan. This assessment way traffic to open additional space for parking.
benchmarked the current level of environmental stew-
ardship in Frankfort and created strategies for economic Signage
development based on protecting the natural resources
in the community. Results of the assessment are sum- In order to improve pedestrian and traffic flow be-
marized on the Environmental Stewardship Dashboard tween Cannon Park and Lake Michigan beach, the
in the Appendix. Frankfort scored favorably in most are- City should implement a wayfinding signage system
as of the assessment, but received less than favorable that provides maps, a business directory, public
scores in the areas of EnergyStar Portfolio Manager, Re- parking signs, and historical and informative signage
newable Energy Use, DMR Pollutant Releases, and hav- for Cannon Park and Lake Michigan Beach. This has
ing no Certified Clean Marinas. been completed.
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is a voluntary stew- Restroom Facilities
ardship program that encourages marinas to reduce
The study recommends a restroom facility be locat-
waste and prevent pollution in environmentally sound
ed in Cannon Park due to the availability of sewer
and economically feasible ways. The program results in a
lines, the favorable proximity to the beach, the large
Clean Marina Certification through a ten-step process.
amount of available space, and the limited obstruc-
The overall goals of the program are to improve the wa-
tion of beach views from Main Street. The restroom
ter quality in the Great Lakes and Michigan’s inland wa-
should have four stalls for women and two for men
terways. The program can help marinas reduce pollu-
with three urinals. A patio space for outdoor seating
tion, enhance the public image of boating and marinas,
is recommended
and save money by reducing disposal fees and insurance
costs. None of the four marinas in Frankfort are current- Sand Control
ly certified.
In order to decrease the wind erosion of beach sand,
Beach Infrastructure Plan tall vegetation or dune grass could be planted
around the perimeter of the beach is recommended
In 2013, four Michigan State University students studied
to decrease wind erosion of sand. Cleanup of sand in
Frankfort’s beach infrastructure as part of their Urban
the downtown area with a street sweeper is recom-
and Regional Planning practicum coursework. The end
mended, as well as the implementation of a wooden
product of the study was a Beach Master Plan for Lake
dune fence. Old Christmas trees can be used on the
Michigan Beach, which would include improvements to
beach to form a seasonal wall.
the adjacent Cannon Park, based on site analysis and the
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Revenue Increase Strategies
each site. The study included recommendations for a
beach visitor economic analysis, parking, signage, re- Some strategies to increase revenue include the in-
stroom facilities, sand control, and ideas for revenue stallation of parking kiosks in the designated beach
streams. parking lot and within ¼ mile of Lake Michigan
Beach, limiting kiosk parking time to 3 hours during
The key recommendations are summarized here. weekend peak hours to facilitate parking turnover
and maximize revenue, and performing a cost-
Beach Visitor Study
benefit analysis to determine the appropriateness of
City of Frankfort should conduct an economic analy- a beach concessions stand.
sis of beach spending and the benefits of Lake Michi-
gan beach, which would include a comparison of
revenue from Lake Michigan Beach compared to the
beach-related costs.
ParkingFrankfort Recreation Master Plan 8
Frankfort
City Parks
4th Street Pocket Park C.J. Kibby Memorial Boat Launch
Frankfort Municipal Marina Father Charlevoix “Cannon” Park Karl Luedtke Rotary Park
Lake Michigan Beach Lockhart Field Market Square Park
Mineral Springs Park Open Space Park Park Avenue (Tank Hill)
Seventh Street Beach Father Marquette Memorial Marker Elizabeth Lane Oliver
Center for the ArtsFrankfort Recreation Master Plan 9
CITY OF FRANKFORT n Golf South Shore Crystal Lake
de
Lin
RECREATION MASTER PLAN
Br e w s
12
Existing Recreation Facilities
te r
Thomas
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Miles
0 0.125 0.25 0.5
Legend
City of Frankfort
1 4th Street Pocket Park
Pautz
2 C.J. Kibby Memorial Boat Launch ç
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ad
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ow
Bellows
3 Frankfort Municipal Marina
4 Father Charlevoix "Cannon" Park
Pilgrim
5 Karl Luedtke Rotary Park
w
Sky Meado
6 Lake Michigan Beach
Cox Cox Graves
7 Lockhart Field
8 Market Square Park
T
Day
9 Mineral Springs Park
Michigan
10 Open Space Park
George
11 Park Avenue (Tank Hill)
12
13
Seventh Street Beach
AF
Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts Hanrath
Denton
14 Father Marquette Memorial Marker
Beech
Frankfort Public Schools Highland
Ba
15 Frankfort Elementary School Maple
7th
ld Elm
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in
y
Bridge
sta
16 Frankfort High School
Parkview
l
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16
ing
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rn
State of Michigan 8
R
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o Hall Hall
Winnebag 11
17 Betsie Valley Trail Nipissing
James
Parkview
Port
9th
Day
15
Leelanau
Private
11th
Miami Harbor 7
7th
5th
8th
6th
18 Goldcoast Marina 6 Forest
1st
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10th
3rd
Anchor
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19 Jacobson Marina
2nd
5
Main
4th
Waterfront
Grove
20 East Shore Marina 4 10
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9
2
19 3
Day
14 18
1 1
17Spring
13
Nelson
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tsie
20
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½ ¾
½ ¾
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½Recreation and Resources
Park Facility and Accessibility Inventory 1 = none of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility
guidelines
An inventory of existing parks and recreation facilities
owned and operated by the City of Frankfort took place 2 = some of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility
in the summer of 2013. Beckett & Raeder visited each guidelines
park and took a detailed inventory of recreation equip-
ment and facilities, including the number, type, and con- 3 = most of the facilities/park areas meet accessibility
dition of available equipment. In 2020, Networks North- guidelines
west staff and City Officials examined and updated the
4 = the entire park meets accessibility guidelines
existing inventory for accuracy. A detailed inventory
sheet for each park can be found in the Appendix. Basic 5 = the entire park was developed/renovated using the
facts about each park such as size and general use can be principles of universal design
found in Table 4. For a summary of the recreation facili-
ties available at each park, see Table 5. The City of Frankfort owns or operates 13 parks and one
site with a historic marker. The following is a brief de-
In order to determine the level of universal access to scription of those parks and the summary of comments
each park, an accessibility evaluation was completed by from the on-site inventory.
Beckett & Raeder in conjunction with the parks invento-
ry. On August 23, 2020, Networks Northwest visited each 4th Street Pocket Park
park to assess the accessibility of each park, utilizing the
initial assessment performed by Beckett & Raeder in This park provides pedestrian access to the shore of
2014. The accessibility evaluation for each park can be Betsie Lake through a permissive use agreement. It is a
found in Table 4. very small “pocket” park that is used for snow storage in
the winter. It provides an overlook to the south side of
A detailed assessment of slopes and clear widths would the channel and the historic sites. There is no universal
be needed to determine full compliance with the Ameri- access to this site since there is no curb cut or pathway
cans with Disabilities Act. The Michigan Department of adjacent to the park. Ideas for improvement include a
Natural Resources published a scale for evaluating park gazebo or picnic area, refuse containers with recycling
accessibility in its Guidelines for the Development of capabilities, wayfinding signage, day docks or dingy
Community Park, Recreation, Open Space, and Green- docks, or a cantilevered dock along a sheet piling.
way Plans. It ranks the accessibility of parks on a scale of
1-5 as follows: This park provides a good opportunity for a passive expe-
rience such as interpretive signage regarding the mari-
time history of Frankfort.C.J. Kibby Memorial Boat Launch finding signage, a dog park, a new flag pole, a drinking
fountain with a water bottle filling station, an irrigation
This Park is located on the Betsie Lake and consists of a system, and refuse containers with recycling capabilities.
parking area and a boat launch ramp. It is a well-used
public access site to Betsie Lake. Amenities include a Frankfort Municipal Marina (and Borwell Yacht Basin)
floating dock, a staging dock for the boat launch, and a
recently re-roofed fish cleaning station. Ideas for im- This city-owned marina on Betsie Lake provides boaters
provement include increasing the accessibility of the with a place to tie up and enjoy the downtown. The ma-
boat launch and other amenities, more seating and pic- rina has shower facilities and restrooms as well as fuel.
nic opportunities, improved access to the Open Space There is also a well-used picnic area and tables that are
Mason’s Lodge on Main Street, a high-speed ferry dock, shared between boaters and playground users.
improved buildings such as the restroom facility, office
Please see the appendix for a detailed inventory of the
area, and fish cleaning station siding, to re-pave and in-
existing boating inventory. This detailed inventory con-
crease green spaces in the parking lot, and an accessible
tains information such as the annual maintenance sched-
canoe/kayak launch. Other ideas for improvement in-
ule, dredging, and general information of the marina.
clude day docks along the waterfront, historical and way-
Table 3: City of Frankfort Parks
Size Service Purpose / Use Accessibility Evaluation
Area
4th Street Pocket ParkTable 4: Park Facility Inventory
Father Marquette Memorial
Seventh Street Beach (Crystal Lake
C.J. Kibby Memorial Boat Launch
Father Charlevoix “Cannon
Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for
Frankfort Municipal Marina
Karl Luedtke Rotary Park
Park Avenue (Tank Hill)
4th Street Pocket Park
Mineral Springs Park
Lake Michigan Beach
Market Square Park
Open Space Park
Lockhart Field
Marker
Park”
the Arts
Beach)
Lighted Baseball Field •
Multi-purpose Sports Field • •
Football •
Volleyball • •
Basketball •
Tennis Court •
Trike Track •
Play Facilities
Walking/Biking Trail • • • • • • •
Play Structure • • • •
Swings • • • •
Other play equipment •
Shuffleboard •
Outdoor swimming • •
Boat Launch • •
Boat Slips •
T-Dock •
Picnic shelter • •
Facilities
Picnic
Picnic tables • • • • •
Grills • • •
Benches • • • • • • •
Restrooms • • • • • • • •
Park lighting •
Signage • • • • • • • • • • •
Parking Lot • • • • • • •
Irrigation system •
Well •
Bike Rack • •
Park “Support”
Wi-Fi Antenna •
Ice Machine •
Marina Fuel •
Shower Facilities •
Locker Rooms •
Storage Room •
Drinking fountain • •
Soda vending machine •
Mutt Mitt Dispenser • •
Fish Cleaning Station •
Dog Run •
Flag Pole •
Cannon •
Other
Lighthouse •
Pier •
Art Center Building •Father Charlevoix “Cannon” Park gineers, and even though they are not designed for pub-
lic access, walking down the pier to the lighthouse is a
A small park located near Lake Michigan beach, favorite Frankfort experience. The City of Frankfort is
“Cannon” Park is recognizable by the 7-ton cannon committed to improving pier safety with ideas such as
brought to the City in the late 1800s. The park also installing an access gate, utilizing a flag or LED light sys-
marks the beginning of the Frankfort-Elberta Beach to tem for safety measures when the weather is dangerous
Beach Trail. This park offers a passive recreation experi- to people on the pier, and enhancing education and
ence as it links downtown to waterfront and beach. A awareness. Recently, a committee has formed to discuss
new concrete sidewalk runs through Cannon Park, im- the preservation and renovation of the pier and light-
proving its accessibility by connecting to two benches; house.
however, most amenities in the park do not have an ac-
cess path. Ideas for improvement include a restroom The current restroom facilities at Lake Michigan Beach
facility with a pavilion, additional picnic facilities, histori- are approaching 16 years of age. They are the most com-
cal and wayfinding signage, the extension of the park in monly used restrooms of all the parks. Upgrading, re-
front of the existing tile wall to create a picnic area, add- placing, adding, and relocating bathrooms have all been
ing pavement around the cannon, an irrigation system, discussed. The restroom could include changing stations
refuse containers with recycling capabilities, and a splash with foot wash and shower heads. In 2020, the Planning
pool. Commission was tasked with the Lake Michigan Beach
bathroom matter.
Karl Luedtke Rotary Park
Another topic of discussion includes erosion issues along
This is a beautiful, landscaped, meticulously maintained Lake Michigan, especially at the bluff area. One of the
community garden area relatively close to the center of main factors in the erosion is high water. Some of the
downtown. It is located adjacent to City Hall and can ideas to remedy the erosion include coastal resilient
serve as entertainment for children while adults, resi- strategies or examining beach nourishment which does
dents and visitors alike are shopping downtown, or as a not remedy the physical forces of erosion but mitigates
place to relax in tranquility during the work day. This the effects.
space also serves as a passive experience as a walk-
through from Main Street to the parking lot behind City The parking lot at Lake Michigan Beach is the most used
Hall. of all the parks. Discussions have occurred on possible
redesign of the parking lot and entrance to be more de-
The accessibility of this park is very good. Ideas for im- fined as the entrance to Lake Michigan Beach and the
provement include parallel parking on the Bay side of pier. Redesign of the parking lot could see additional
the park, potential lighting upgrades to LED, replacing spaces added and a better flow of pedestrian and vehicle
the drinking fountain with a fountain / water bottle fill traffic from its current form.
station, refuse containers with recycling capabilities, his-
torical and interpretive signage, wayfinding signage, ex- Other ideas for improvement include restoration of the
panding into the corner lot adjacent to 5th and Main lighthouse, the creation of a designated swimming area,
and/or improving the corner lot for the benefit of the and the unification of signage. On Nipissing Avenue, a
public. viewing platform could be constructed and the stairway
to the beach could be further improved. Throughout the
Lake Michigan Beach beach, mobility mats could improve universal access to
the beach. Additional ideas include a larger play struc-
This park is located at the entrance to the Betsie Lake. It
ture, parking for bicycles, a community fire pit, a new
provides a public Lake Michigan beach at the west end of
swing set at Sac Street, refuse containers with recycling
Main Street (downtown). This beach is a well-used space
options, the renovation of the existing wall at the main
that attracts many visitors. Benches provide accessible
entrance, and exploiting kite surfing and stand up pad-
seating options, and ADA walkways allow access to the
dleboard (SUP) opportunities.
beach.
Lockhart Field
The main focal point of this park, and perhaps the entire
town, are the twin piers and lighthouse that extend into Easily recognizable by its chain link fence, this athletic
Lake Michigan and create Frankfort Harbor. These struc- field is maintained by the Frankfort/Elberta Athletic As-
tures are under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of En- sociation, but is open to the public. It is mainly used forBetsie Valley Trail Map. Source: http://www.betsievalleytrail.org/
1
3 11 2
5 4 8
6
MAP KEY
9
Designated snowmobile routes in Frankfort. Source: www.frankfortmich.comschool athletic events. This park is owned by City of struct ADA- compliant restroom facility, historical and
Frankfort and leased by the Frankfort/Elberta Athletic interpretive signage, wayfinding signage, a drinking foun-
Association. The athletic fields are well used; the football tain / water fill station, additional benches and tree
field is in very good condition, but the baseball field plantings, new refuse containers with recycling capabili-
could be improved. Portable bleachers have been placed ties, to replace grills and picnic tables, new bike racks, to
to supplement the grandstand. There is no accessible improve building finishes, to construct additional picnic
public sidewalk or access route through the site. Ideas pods, add equipment to existing playground area, covert
for improvement include new refuse containers with existing volleyball court to a beach volleyball court, and
recycling capabilities, a new batting cage, to renovate improve the shuffleboard court.
and preserve the baseball grandstand, to erect decora-
tive brick entries, to install wrought iron fence along M- Open Space Park
22 and at facility entries, to install brick cornices on all 4
This park is an extension of Mineral Springs Park, extend-
corners, to construct split-faced block bleachers on the
ing eastward along Main Street and Betsie Lake. This
home side, to improve surface water drainage around
park contains approximately 860 feet of the Betsie Lake
the facility, to add historical and interpretive signage as-
shoreline. It is a beautiful green space that is utilized for
sociated with athletic accomplishments, and to construct
numerous community events and serves as an area of
a new softball field on school property located on the
overflow parking for the boat launch. This park is intend-
southeast corner of James Street and Day Avenue
ed to be a multiple-use facility, including a Recreation
(existing Little League field).
Center and Farmers Market. The Farmers Market brings
Market Square Park in 60 vendors on Saturdays. This park plays host to a fall
festival in mid-October, concerts, and a wedding venue.
This park is located in the 4-acre octagonal shaped block The Betsie Valley trail runs along one edge of the park,
in the center of town. It is a general purpose playground but since that is one of the only paths in this park, acces-
and open space used for special events such as two an- sibility is low. The space is adjacent or very close to pic-
nual art fairs. The park has new play equipment and nic, playground, and restroom facilities and can share
some older surfaces that need attention. The existing those opportunities.
trike track needs resurfacing or, if it is little-used, remov-
al. Ideas for improvement include a bike rack, historical Ideas for improvement include new refuse containers
and interpretive signage, wayfinding signage, additional with recycling capabilities, outdoor movies, a see-
play structures, an accessible paved trail around the pe- through band shelter, historical and interpretive signage,
rimeter of the park, a rock wall, renovate the multi- wayfinding signage, to remedy and/or control goose
purpose court, replace or upgrade play equipment, an problem, to construct a boardwalk adjacent to the
irrigation system, improvements to landscaping, a small shoreline, to place day dock and dingy docks between
pavilion, and new refuse containers with recycling capa- the municipal marina and corps dock, to utilize corps
bilities. dock for day cruises and/or water taxis, an irrigation sys-
tem, to improve the farmers market environment, picnic
Mineral Springs Park pod areas, to construct a new community center on the
northeast corner to accommodate a multitude of com-
This Park includes almost twenty-five percent of the munity need, and promote events that combine water
Betsie Lake shoreline with a lineal footage of approxi- and land access.
mately 1,180 feet. It is a rare and valued asset to have
this much waterfront in public ownership. This park is Park Avenue (Tank Hill)
large enough (6+ acres) to be a multiple use facility, in-
cluding the City-owned Marina and District Library. This park is located by the City’s water tower and in-
cludes about 20 acres of forest. There are hiking trails,
Overall, this park has a well-used playground with acces- an outdoor theatre area, and mature maple trees.
sible options; however, the shuffleboard is not often Lakeside Shakespeare performs in the open space area
used. The public restrooms are not accessible, and there two weeks a year. This park was used as an ice rink but
are no doors on the stalls. The park has many possibili- has not been for nearly 20 years. This park is not accessi-
ties; ideas for improvement include improving or re- ble, since there is no formal parking or pathways to or
building a pavilion with fire pit, to renovate the Mineral through the site.
Springs fountain area, a splash pad, an outdoor story
telling area, a skating rink under the pavilion, to con-This park is in a transitional stage; several large and num-rated building from the City of Frankfort. This year-
some landmark trees had to be removed and areas are round facility has retail space, classrooms, art exhibits,
being re-vegetated. A walking trail winds around the pe- and hosts community sponsored events. The building
rimeter. There is good potential for an interpretive walk- has very good interior accessibility, but there is no acces-
ing trail describing the history of the park, and environ- sible public R.O.W. sidewalk on site. Ideas for improve-
mental features, events, and improvements. Ideas for ment include an outdoor sculpture display and parking
improvements to this park include a disc golf course, a shuttles.
camp for kids, a community fire pit, a viewing deck by
the water tank, improved accessibility and parking, the Father Marquette Memorial Marker
formalization and expansion of trails, a webcam on the
This site, listed on the state register of historic places,
elevated tank, and interpretive signage.
was landscaped in 1995 and contains a historic marker
Seventh Street Beach (Crystal Lake Beach) sign, which reads:
This park is a small beach on Crystal Lake north of the Marquette’s Death
City limits. The Park serves as a beach and picnic area, as On May 18, 1675, Father Jacques Marquette, the great Jesuit
well as a primitive boat launch. It is owned by the City of missionary and explorer, died and was buried by two French
Frankfort, but located in Crystal Lake Township. companions somewhere along the Lake Michigan shore of the
lower peninsula. Marquette had been returning to his mission
In the past, this park contained a brick building with a at St. Ignace which he had left in 1673 to go on an exploring
fireplace. It now has a picnic shelter and park grills; how- trip to the Mississippi and the Illinois country. The exact loca-
ever, there is no access route through this park. tion of Marquette’s death has long been a subject of contro-
versy. Evidence presented in the 1960’s indicates that this site,
Ideas for improvements include nature trails and a near the natural outlet of the Betsie River, at the northeast
boardwalk through the wetland area, the eradication of corner of a hill which was here until 1900, is the Marquette
ash trees, a disc golf course, a new pavilion with solar death site and that the Betsie is the Riviere du Pere Marquette
power and fireplace, porous hardscape surfaces and rain of early French accounts and maps. Marquette’s bones were
gardens, collaboration with the Benzie County Road reburied at St. Ignace in 1677.
Commission to control stormwater on Bellows, a pedes-
Ideas for improvement include new refuse containers
trian crossing from the park area to the beach, a new
with recycling capabilities, a sidewalk through the park
accessible restroom, enhanced landscaping and irriga-
to the Oliver Art Center, historical and interpretive sign-
tion, a floating boat ramp or improved boat launch, an
age, and wayfinding signage.
improved swimming area, as well as bike racks, wayfind-
ing and interpretive signage, and additional play equip- Other Facilities
ment.
In addition to City-owned and operated facilities, Frank-
Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts fort has three private marinas, two school properties,
and a connection to the Betsie Valley Trail. The Village of
Elberta has a kayak launch on 10th Street, and discussion
could take place of possible partnership opportunities
between Elberta and Frankfort to show what both com-
munities offer. The Frankfort Elementary School and
Frankfort High School grounds are open to the general
public for recreation use. Regionally, residents of Frank-
fort have access to several spectacular recreation oppor-
tunities. The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore offers
cross country skiing, nature trails, hunting, fishing,
beaches, hiking, and camping, just 10 miles north of
Frankfort. Crystal Mountain Ski Area has both alpine and
cross country skiing, a pool, tennis facilities, lodging, and
36 holes of golf. Frankfort was home to the Northwest
Soaring Club until 2012.
The former home of the historic Coast Guard Boathouse
and living quarters, the Art Center leases the LEED Plati-Historically, the United States Coast Guard has operated Resource Inventory
on a year round basis out of Frankfort, but over the past
five years operations have been seasonal (typically from The “Resource Inventory” map on page 22 shows the
May to September). The Coast Guard is vital to the safe- location of woodlands, wetlands, and steep slopes in the
ty of the pier. area and was created using available GIS data. A large
portion of the woodlands and steep slopes nearest to
Trails downtown Frankfort are already protected within Tank
Hill and Lake Michigan Beach parks. The 2010 Frankfort
The Betsie Valley Trail is 22 miles long and extends from Master Plan reported that there are approximately 170
Frankfort through Elberta and Beulah to Thompsonville acres of wetlands within Frankfort’s limits, 130 of those
in Benzie County. From Frankfort to Beulah it is non- which have characteristics of wetland soils.
motorized. The trail is well suited for bicycles and pedes-
trian use. The 6 miles from Frankfort to Mollineaux Road
is asphalt and good for roller blading. From Beulah to
Thompsonville (13 miles) the compacted aggregate trail
is open to snowmobiles from December through March.
The trail is owned by the Michigan Department of Natu-
ral Resources and is operated and maintained by Benzie
County. The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail is a Michi-
gan not-for-profit corporation formed in 1993 “to advo-
cate, promote and encourage the development and suc-
cessful operation of a recreational trail on the former
Ann Arbor Railroad corridor in Benzie County.”
The group is a benevolent friend of the trail. It supports
the efforts of the DNR and County and intends to see
that the trail is built, maintained and enjoyed. The Beach
to Beach Trail within Frankfort is linked to the Betsie Val-
ley Trail. The trail map is shown on page 20.
There are designated snowmobile trails within Frankfort
as shown on the map on page 20. The route enters
Frankfort on the north side of Betsie Lake on Elm Street
and winds into the downtown area on Anchor Street and
Waterfront Street, ending at Lake Michigan Beach. From
the South, the trail comes into Frankfort on River Road
and follows Lake Street into town. Snowmobile parking is
available at the Municipal Boat Launch, the Municipal
Marina, and several locations downtown.
Parks Service Area
In Table 4 on page 17, the service area of each park
owned and operated by the City of Frankfort is indicated
as either local, community, or regional. Local parks serve
the immediate area, drawing visitors from within a short
walking distance or those who are passing by. Communi-
ty parks serve all of Frankfort, with recreational facilities
that typically serve a wider audience, such as athletic
fields or larger parks. Regional parks serve visitors from
Frankfort and surrounding communities because of their
unique characteristics, such as access to Lake Michigan
or Betsie Lake.Frankfort Recreation Master Plan 18
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CITY OF FRANKFORT
RECREATION MASTER PLAN 0 0.125 0.25 0.5
Miles
Resource Inventory
Data Sources: State of Michigan Geographic Data Library
City Boundary Woodlands
Major Road 9.1 - 16 Degree Slopes
Minor Road 16.1 - 80 Degree Slopes
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub WetlandConsulting Community
2020 Action Item Survey and 7th Street Beach. It was noted that the Lake Michigan
Beach bathroom project and discussions had moved in
The 2020 Action Item Survey was developed to help the 2020 to the Planning Commission for consideration.
continuation of identified action items from the previous
process. The questions were targeted to specific action Upgrade Beach Facilities
items to help enhance the action items. The 2014 com-
munity process is described in detail following this sec- The next 4 questions looked at upgrades to the beach
tion. The 2020 survey was released on September 8th, facilities. When asked if beach facilities met the needs of
2020 and was available for response until October 9, users, 7th Street Beach received 55.1% yes votes while
2020. The survey was distributed through the use of so- Lake Michigan Beach had 61.8% yes votes.
cial media by Networks Northwest and the City of Frank-
At Lake Michigan Beach, the most popular projects for
fort. Additionally, some community organizations were
consideration included renovating parking and access
asked to help spread the survey for response.
from Miami Street to Sac Street, designated markers for
Survey Results swim area, surf area, and dog area, and improving the
staircase at Nippising followed closely by the purchase of
156 responses were received with varying total respons- a beach groomer and enhanced signage.
es to each question (noted in the full survey results lo-
cated in the appendix). Nearly 85% of respondents iden- 7th Street Beach’s top response for project consideration
tified as full time residents or seasonal/part time resi- was flushable restrooms. This was followed by installing
dents of Frankfort, while the rest of the respondents a foot wash/drinking station, nature trail, replacement or
were primarily from the surrounding areas. expansion of dock, ADA accessible dock, and updating of
park equipment.
Modernizing Public Restrooms
Market Square Improvements
The first question asked respondents were they would
like to see the next restroom modernization take place. At Market Square, the improvements most sought after
The most popular location for restroom modernization were a perimeter trail, addition of benches, and updated
was at Mineral Springs with 40.5% of respondents, fol- lighting. A pickle ball/shuffleboard convertible court was
lowed by Canon Park (which currently has no facilities) also a top mention. Bathrooms were mentioned by a fewwhich was not a prepopulated answer as the restroom Solar Energy, recycling, and rain gardens were identified
project is being worked on in the fall of 2020. as the top 3 renewable energy and green infrastructure
items the City should consider. These were followed by
Lighthouse Maintenance permeable pavement and wind energy. Other comments
included support for all renewable energy and green
With knowledge that the cost of lighthouse renovations
infrastructure options.
was estimated be around $850,000, respondents were
asked to identify their priority level. Moderate priority Frankfort Parks and Recreation Support
was the highest level at 38% followed by high priority
(26%), low priority (20%), and no priority (9.7%). There When respondents were asked in what ways would they
were a few comments mentioning the safety of the pier be willing to support the growth and development of the
which should be noted as a Army Corps of Engineer’s parks and recreation system, donations and volunteer
responsibility. activities were mentioned the most, followed by user
fees and crowd funding.
Dog Park
Other Improvements
A long discussed item, the dog park priority level most
popular was 32% with low priority which was followed The responses to an open ended question regarding
closely by moderate priority (31%). High priority held what other improvements respondents would like to see
20% of responses, while no priority held 16%. A concern to Frankfort’s Park and Recreation system were wide
noted by a couple of respondents noted dogs on beach and varying. Mineral Springs playground flooding was
particularly while unleashed. the most mentioned while other items such as a splash
pad and seasonality of current parks and services were
It was also asked where respondents would most like to mentioned multiple times. Indoor recreation opportuni-
see a dog park should one be pursued. 56% marked the ties were also frequently listed.
grassy area by the boat launch as their preferred loca-
tion, while 31% preferred a site located near Betsie Lake 2014 Community Input Process
Utility Authority.
The community input process was three-fold. First, a
General Maintenance of Parks survey was conducted that was available both online
and in paper form. Next, two community visioning work-
Open ended questions were asked to examine the shops were held to give community members another
strengths of the park maintenance and where improve- chance to voice their opinions about the future of the
ments could be made. Many noted that the parks are parks and recreation programs in Frankfort. Finally, after
generally clean, trash is picked up, and grass is mowed. the draft plan was complete, a public hearing was held
Many offered comments that parks were well main- to hear final comments. The public was invited to attend
tained. all Frankfort Recreation Board meetings throughout the
planning process.
Improvements to the maintenance of the parks most
popular responses were more regular bathroom clean- Survey Results
ing and working on the Mineral Springs playground
flooding issue resulting from high water issues. Other The community survey was available to the public from
items mentioned included additional trash cans and March to May of 2014. There were a total of 89 respond-
more regular emptying among other comments. ents, with 82 surveys completely filled out. Some sur-
veys were completed on paper, which allowed some
Community Center questions to be skipped. The incomplete surveys are in-
cluded here to gather all available input.
In continued planning efforts of a potential community
center, the survey asked what respondents would like to Overall Participation in Programs
see in a community center. The most popular answer
was activities focused on children followed by aquatic The results from the first question showed that 67 per-
center, senior center, ice rink, pavilion, and capacity to cent of respondents participated in parks and recreation
host events. programs offered by the City of Frankfort in the past five
years.
Renewable and Green InfrastructureRecreational Activities Walking/nature trails were the second highest priority,
and the enhancement of parks to include accessible play
Out of the fifteen choices and “other” responses possible structures and restrooms was third.
in Question 2, the recreational activity that survey re-
spondents most frequently participate in is walking, fol- Desired Beach Restroom Location
lowed by swimming and biking.
Cannon Park On the beach Build a facility at both
Recreational Facilities sites
Question 3 listed all of the City of Frankfort parks and Public Restroom Location and Quantity Questions 8
asked respondents to note how frequently they used asked respondents to identify whether they would pre-
each park. The most frequently used park was Lake fer to have modern restroom facilities at Cannon Park,
Michigan Beach followed by Mineral Springs Park, Can- on Lake Michigan Beach, or at both locations. Seventy-
non Park, Open Space Park and Market Square Park. five percent of respondents favored Cannon Park as the
ideal restroom location, and the remaining responses
Parks Maintenance were split between on the beach or at both locations.
Twenty-seven respondents chose to leave a comment on
Overall, survey respondents feel that the City of Frank-
this question; the majority of responses included state-
fort parks are well maintained. Out of the 14 parks listed,
ments supporting a facility at Cannon Park and disap-
the park with the most favorable maintenance rating
proval of the facilities at Lake
was the Oliver Art Center, followed by Mineral Springs
Park. The park with the least favorable maintenance Michigan Beach. Other sites that were suggested include
rating was the Community Center, followed by the Sev- Seventh Street Beach, Mineral Springs Park, Market
enth Street/Crystal Lake Beach. Square Park, and Open Space Park.
Recreation Ratings Question 9 asked respondents to consider that Frankfort
has 10 municipal bathrooms but a reduced number of
In Question 5, survey respondents were asked to rate
City employees, and to indicate whether they would pre-
the variety of park facilities, recreation programming,
fer to have fewer restrooms open to the public that were
arts and cultural events, and other areas of concern
cleaned and maintained regularly, or to have the same
within the City of Frankfort Parks and Recreation system
number of restrooms but cleaned less frequently. The
as either excellent, good, fair, poor, or no opinion. Out of
responses were split – 49% of respondents favored clos-
the three choices, the variety of park facilities was the
ing some restrooms in order to have them better main-
highest rated, followed by art & cultural events.
tained and 51% preferred to have a larger number of
These two options were rated very similarly. Recreation restrooms open. Almost half of all respondents left a
programming scored the least favorably. comment about this question. In general, respondents
either felt the Lake Michigan Beach facility should be
Parks and Programs for Age Groups closed, or that all bathrooms should be kept clean re-
gardless of the number. Many respondents did not know
Question 6 inquired to what extent Frankfort’s outdoor where all of the public restrooms were located.
parks and recreation activities meet the needs of young
children, youth, adults, and senior adults. Although the Demographics
general consensus was that the parks and recreation ac-
tivities meet the needs for all age groups, elementary Questions 10, 11, and 12 asked respondents about the
school age and preschool age groups scored slightly age of their household members, the age of the re-
higher than the rest. The groups that scored the least spondent, and the City in which the respondent lives.
favorably were the high school and middle school age
The majority of survey respondents were 61 and older
groups.
(44%). Thirty-eight percent of respondents were be-
Planning and Development Priorities tween 41 and 61 years old, and 7% were between 21
and 40 years old. Fifty-six respondents reported their
Question 7 asked survey respondents to indicate what location as Frankfort, 8 respondents were from the near-
they feel should be the planning and development priori- by area, 11 were from the southern lower peninsula, and
ties in Frankfort. Beach facilities scored the highest, with 4 were from out of state.
74 respondents saying that they were a high priority.You can also read
