Village Council Sets Green's Park Hours, Fees

After making the decision in April to , the Lake Orion Village Council on Monday examined the schedule and fees associated with .

Council members voted 5-1 (Councilman Lary Stumkat was absent from the meeting) on Monday at Village Hall in favor of using the Green's Park Annual Admittance Pass Fees from last year, which were $25 for village residents, $50 for Orion Township residents and $75 for non-residents. People also have the option of purchasing a day pass for $5.

Councilman David Churchill voted against the fee schedule, saying he hoped to  decrease the fees a bit. Churchill suggested moving the fee for residents from $25 to $20.

"A $20 bill is easier to give up," Churchill said.

In 2011 the fees were raised from $1 for village residents, $25 for Orion Township residents and $50 for non-residents.

"We figured that the $5 difference wasn't really going to bring in anymore people," Councilman Michael Toth explained. Toth is the council member that also sits on the Village's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

"We would have to make it up somewhere else, so basically if we lowered the village residents by $5 we need a 25 percent increase in residents who bought passes just to break even in what we had last year and our goal is to make more money," Toth continued.

During preseason, postseason and winter season schedule for Green's Park the beach and buildings at the park are closed and no lifeguard will be on duty. Restroom facilities are open from May 1 through Oct. 1.

Here is the Green's Park schedule that was approved through April 19, 2013:

• Preseason and postseason: Now through May 24 and Sept. 4-Oct. 21
  
  • No passes required
  • Hours: Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
• Regular season: May 25-Sept. 3
  
  • Passes required
  • While school is in session park is open 3-7 p.m. on weekdays.
  • Hours: When school is out the park will be open noon-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon-8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Winter season: Oct. 22-April 19
  
  • No passes required
  • Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

Fees for the Green's Park Swim Program were approved with a 5-1 vote as well Monday night (Churchill voted no), also mirroring the costs for the swim program last year. For Lake Orion residents the cost is $50 per person; Orion Township residents $60 per person; non-residents $80 per person.

People who enroll in the swim program can choose between the first and second segment:

• First segment runs June 25-July 6.
• Second segment runs July 9-20

For both segments people have the option of enrolling in the 10-10:45 a.m. lesson or the 11-11:45 a.m. lesson Monday-Thursday.

For more information contact the Village of Lake Orion at (248) 693-8391.

Meek's Park update

Patti Lareau, a third-grade teacher at , attended Monday's meeting with fourth-grade student Naiya and third-grade student Sydney, who spoke to the council about raising funds for .

Earlier in the year Stadium Drive decided to adopt Meek's Park and help raise funds to benefit the park.

"We didn't even know the park existed because there isn't a sign for it on the main entrance-way on Broadway in downtown," Lareau said back in March.

After investigating the park more and learning that Lake Orion's (DDA) had a wish list for the park, Lareau saw the perfect opportunity to help her students become involved in the community. became a fundraiser to raise funds for the park.

Stadium Drive has since partnered with the DDA, putting the $5,000 it raised toward a new sign.

"This year over 300 students participated and we were excited to donate $5,000 toward a new sign at Meek’s Park," Sydney said at the meeting about the success of her school's Dance-A-Thon.

At the meeting Lareau also noted that they received a $400 United Way grant to beautify the park. Between noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Stadium Drive families will be pitching in for the cause and will help plant flowers along the park. Ivy will also be placed along the fence and two large flowering trees are being donated, said Lareau.

"We're looking at making this a long-term partnership," Lareau said.

To see footage of the Dance-A-Thon see: .