The Playful City USA Task Force created a 12-point action plan to improve and expand the play opportunities within the Holly Community. The goal of the action plan is to accomplish, or take significant steps to accomplish the plan by May, 2012. Each item in the action plan addresses one or more of the following aspects regarding community play: Quality of play facilities, Quantity of play facilities, and Access to play facilities.

Quality of play facilities: Quality refers to the condition that the play facilities are in, as well as the engaging and fun aspects of the facility. Play facilities should be in good repair and visually attractive. They should also encourage imaginative play and physical activity, social interactions among kids and parents/adults, and should be a positive reflection of the community.

Quantity of play facilities: Quantity refers to the number of available and open play facilities for the community. This might include parks and play structures, sports fields, or other areas where kids and families can have fun, as well as representing the diverse interests of community members and availability for all age ranges.

Access to play facilities: Access can refer to the geographical location of play facilities in regards to the population centers of the community, as well as the safety aspects involved in going to play. There should be clear and safe routes, bike paths, and good lighting when necessary. Parks and playgrounds should also be reasonably walkable from any neighborhood or area of the community without excessive reliance on cars.

Action Item 1: Improve play opportunities at Cyclone Park in the Village of Holly

Summary: Cyclone Park, in the middle of the Village of Holly, consists of a large grass field and a fenced, groomed softball diamond. Holly Township Parks & Recreation rents Cyclone Park for use by its softball league. Aside from being used by sports leagues and for team practice, there isn’t much that encourages play at Cyclone Park across age groups.
Objective: To add more variety and facilities and make Cyclone Park a more multi-user and attractive destination for play.
Areas: Quantity, Quality
Steps: Research and analyze drainage issues in park; develop site plan to incorporate play structures or other equipment that still allows for soccer, softball and football practices.
Point People: Stephanie Chamberlain; Brian Klaassen, Village of Holly Director of Public Works
Expected Completion Date: Summer, 2012

Action Item 2:  Build and utilize multi-use pavilion and ice skating rink at Lakeside Park in the Village of Holly

Summary: The Village of Holly and Holly Township collaborated in early 2011 to jointly use Community Development Block Grant funds to construct a pavilion in Lakeside Park, in part to cover an ice skating rink in the winter months. Members of the public voiced concern as to what entity would be responsible for supervising/maintaining the rink.
Objective: To serve as the point organization on flooding and maintaining an ice rink as an outdoor play facility in Holly during the winter months.
Areas: Quantity, Quality
Steps: Work with Village Department of Public Works to arrange for rink site plan, flooding, and plowing service schedule (when necessary); cultivate and recruit volunteers (possibly civic or volunteer organizations) to provide supervision and maintenance service at rink.
Point People: Jesse Lambert & Jackie Campbell; Brian Klaassen, Village of Holly Director of Public Works
Expected Completion Date: November, 2011

Action Item 3: Plan and build a new community park in Holly Township

Summary: In 2004, construction began on several new subdivisions within Holly Township. Two of the neighborhoods were finished, and the land cleared for two more. However, the housing market decline in the past several years has stalled the development of the northernmost two development projects. When analyzing the Holly community’s play spaces, the Playful City USA Task Force realized that one of the oldest and densest neighborhoods in Holly, the western Hartner-Airport neighborhood, did not have a park or play space within a half-mile walking distance. Families could walk to Patterson Elementary, but that would involve crossing Grange Hall Road, the busiest trunk line in Holly (10,000 cars daily).

Because later phases of the new subdivisions failed, a commons space was not developed to serve the prospective new residents; nor was a trail system to connect the Village downtown north to Seven Lakes State Park.

Objective: To build a park or groomed green space that is accessible by the residents of the Hartner-Airport neighborhood and the Riverside subdivision.
Areas: Quantity, Access
Steps: Determine available plats of land that a park could be developed; analyze and research engineering requirements (both park and sidewalks/trails for pedestrian access); develop project budget (land clearing and landscaping, sidewalk/trail construction, drainage requirements, fencing & security, equipment and facilities, lighting, etc.)
Point Persons: Jesse Lambert, Ryan Bladzik (inclusive of entire Playful City USA task force)
Expected Completion Date: This is a multi-year project. Strategic plans for project to be completed in 2012

Action Item 4: Address Drainage and Surface Concerns at Lakeside Park in the Village of Holly

Summary: One of the largest play structures in Holly is at Lakeside Park, constructed nearly 15 years ago. The woodchip ground covering, safety matting and drainage tiles are in need of maintenance and replacing; the area frequently floods, causing fungus and mold, and attracting water foul and other birds that deficate in the worn woodchips. The decorative fence and benches around the structure are also worn and in need of sprucing-up.
Objective: To repair drainage issues, replace woodchips, and clean-up/improve fencing and seating at the Lakeside Park playstructure.
Areas: Quality
Steps: Analyze drainage issues and develop operational plan to reduce/eliminate flooding; secure donor for woodchips; solicit volunteers and materials donors to refinish/repair fencing, benches, and other seating.
Point Persons: Ina Golden, Stephanie Chamberlain
Expected Completion Date: September, 2011

Action Item 5: Survey and Research Improvements to School Play Facilities

Summary: The Holly Area Schools, like many school districts in Michgan, have been facing budget and revenue challenges. As a result, many “niceties” such as improvements to playgrounds have been cut to afford higher-priority needs. There are many audiences in a school district: administrators, faculty, parents, and most importantly students. The Playful City USA task force felt that
soliciting the input and ideas of students on how to improve their play facilities would be the best “first step”.
Objective: Utilize surveys and focus groups to collect input from Holly Area Schools students on how to best improve playgrounds and facilities at schools.
Areas: Quantity, Quality
Point Persons: Ryan Bladzik & Linda Blair
Expected Completion Date: Late Winter, 2012

Action Item 6: Revamp Bush Lake Exercise Trail

Summary: An exercise trail along the perimeter of Bush Lake was constructed years ago as the community service project portion of a Boy Scout earning his Eagle Scout badge. The exercise stations along the trail, along with the trail itself, have fallen into disrepair and disuse.
Objective: To rehabilitate the exercise trail and station equipment in Lakeside Park and along Bush Lake.
Areas: Quality, Access
Steps: Catalogue exercise stations and refurbishing/rebuilding needs; identifying labor and material sources;
Point Persons: Stephanie Chamberlain & Jackie Campbell

 Action Item 7: Improve Wayfinding within the Holly Community

Summary: Directional signage around the community that point residents and visitors to parks and play areas is almost non-existant, and very unattractive where it exists. In fact, directional signage in general for all aspects of the community is lacking.
Objective: To pursue a new, consistent signage program in the Holly community that more adequately points people and promotes our parks and play areas (among other areas).
Areas: Access
Steps: Catalogue the areas, regions and attractions that require better signage; locate best locations for collective signage display; collaborate with the Village of Holly, Holly Township, & the Holly
Downtown Development Authority (Main Street Holly) on an incremental signage replacement project
Point Persons: Ryan Bladzik
Expected Completion Date: This is a multi-year project: signage plan to be completed by Winter, 2011

Action Item 8: Improve Walkability and Safety Issues in access to Community Parks

Summary: Several of Holly’s parks are deeper within neighborhoods. Some of the side streets that lead to those parks do not have sidewalks. Additionally, two railroad lines pass through Holly, and access to a park requires crossing those railroad tracks.
Objective: To increase safety in walking to parks and playgrounds by creating more well-marked crosswalks, improving or building sidewalks on high traffic paths to parks, and to provide additional
safety at railroad crossings with barriers or pedestrian corrals.
Areas: Access
Steps: Identify crosswalks in need of re-painting/taping and those that are unmarked; identify common pedestrian paths to parks and playgrounds, including frequent railroad crossing points.
Point Persons: Ina Golden & Pauline Kenner
Expected Completion Date: Summer, 2012

Action Item 9: Install Bike Racks and Signage in the Downtown Area

Summary: Holly has an ordinance prohibiting bike riding on sidewalks and streets in the Historic Downtown district. Many Holly residents have expressed a
desire to ride bikes throughout the community. The downtown once had bike racks for riders, but they were removed at some point in the past.
Objective: To lobby for the installation of bike racks at the edges of the historic downtown, at other parks and play areas throughout Holly.
Areas: Quantity, Access
Steps: Research the reason for the removal of bike racks; examine ordinance regarding biking for opportunities for updating and revision; work with Holly Police Department regarding ordinance
enforcement and safety issues.
Point Persons: Pauline Kenner; Katy Hughes, Elena Danishevskaya, Holly Chief of Police
Expected Completion Date: Spring, 2012

Action Item 10: Introduce Archery Course in Holly Township Parks System

Summary: Holly is surrounded by state recreational and park areas, which are open to hunting; as a result, many Holly community residents are active in hunting and related sports. Holly Township Parks and Recreation are considering the installation of archery grounds to appeal to this market segment and provide a resource for youth hunters. Several grants have been identified that could fund this project.
Objective: to create a public archery practice and training course within the Holly Township Parks system.
Area: Quantity
Steps: Outline project plan; prepare for prospective grant applications.
Point Person: Toni Brinker
Expected Completion Date: Fall, 2011

Action Item 11: Plan for sidewalk/walking path from Village of Holly to Holly High School

Summary: In 1998, construction began on the new Holly High School, built on land approximately 2.5 miles outside of the Village of Holly. E. Holly Road has a high amount of traffic and only has sporadic shoulders. The Holly community has been interested in building a sidewalk/bike path to the High School for pedestrians and bikers. This path would also pass by and provide access to Holly Township’s Sorensen Park.
Objective: To build a pedestrian/bike path to Holly High School along East Holly Road.
Areas: Access
Steps: Analyze local and county engineering requirements; examine legal issues regarding easements that might be required; develop a project budget; seek sources of non-tax revenue funding support.
Point Persons: Jesse Lambert & Toni Brinker
Expected Completion Date: This is a multi-year project. Action plan and research to be completed by Spring, 2012