E.L. City Council votes for park renovations, approves parking hours request

Two East Lansing parks will see renovations after the East Lansing City Council voted to enter a project agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or MDNR, to receive grant funds at its council meeting Tuesday.

The East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts applied for the grants in April 2008 for White Park, located in the northern part of East Lansing, and Hawk Nest Park, located on the corner of Buteo and Kiskadee drives.

Two grants were submitted for property acquisition at White Park, which would total about $500,000. The grant submitted for Hawk Nest Park is for $262,500, with funds going toward development of the park.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts Tim McCaffrey said the council had to deliberate on whether or not to enter the project agreement.

“City Council needs to know even when you apply for the grant,” he said. “This is basically, for lack of a better term, a housekeeping task.”

Also on the agenda was the request to expand parking hours in the 100 block of Orchard. Council approved the request, which will now extend parking from a maximum of one hour to two hours between 6 p.m. to midnight.

The request came after the Church of Christ, Scientist, 709 E. Grand River Ave., asked for more parking because of lack of space.

Director of Public Works Todd Sneathen said members of the church came to the Transportation Commission to ask the hours be extended. After Sneathen checked with the neighborhood, he filed his request with the City Council.

City Manager Ted Staton also acknowledged Jim van Ravensway’s retirement from Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development. Van Ravensway made a short speech about his tenure working for the city.

Van Ravensway announced his retirement earlier this month. His last day will be July 31.

“Both professionally and personally, it’s been a pleasure working for the city of East Lansing,” he said.

City Council members wished van Ravensway good luck in his future endeavors and thanked him for his service to the city.

“I’ve always regarded you as a good friend and mentor and I wish you well,” Councilmember Roger Peters said.