Parks & Recreation Five Year Recreation Plan ... - City of Marquette

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update 2011
City of Marquette
Observations from the park system mapping
From the mapping of the park system, the following observations have been made:
There is a need for a city-owned park in the southwest part of the community
Other than the southwest part of the community, citizens in Marquette have equitable
access to the park and trail system
A shared-use path connection from the existing path system to the Kaufman Sports
Complex is needed
An east/west trail connection is needed in south Marquette to connect the residential
area with the waterfront shared-use path
Other Responsibilities
Maintenance of the park system is provided by the Public Works Department.
The Parks and Recreation Division is responsible for facilitating approximately 100 special
events which results in numerous hours away from its other responsibilities.
Opportunities
Winter Recreation Opportunities
Marquette residents have some of the best opportunities for winter recreation in the United
States because of relatively mild winter temperatures and abundant snowfall. Most of these
opportunities, including the popular winter sports of snowmobiling, cross country skiing and
snowshoeing are located outside of the city limits.
The City of Marquette currently grooms the trails in Presque Isle Park for skiing and has a
partnership with the Noquemanon Trail Network to groom the lighted Fit Strip Trail for skiing.
The Marquette Commons Ice Rink in downtown, an outdoor rink on Baraga Avenue and an
outdoor rink in north Marquette provide outdoor skating opportunities. The rink at the Marquette
Commons was designed so that in the future, as funding permits, refrigeration can be added to
extend the ice skating season.
The addition of a lighted sledding hill would be very popular with families and should be
considered as part of the new park development in the southwest part of the city.
70