793 24 26018 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5f91650ac549ee2a466da9fea4422095.jpg e2a6c230e59c6cdb13534c9efa90ff87 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert H. Merrill photographs Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1909/1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-222 Description An account of the resource Photographs, negatives, and lantern slides digitized from the papers of engineer and archaeologist Robert H. Merrill. A Grand Rapids native, Merrill held an accomplished career as a civil engineer. He founded the company Spooner & Merrill, which held offices in Grand Rapids and Chicago. From 1919-1921, Merrill lived in China, working as Assistant Principal Engineer on a reconstruction of the Grand Canal - the oldest and longest canal system in the world. Merrill became fascinated by archaeology, and among other projects, he traveled to the Uxmal Pyramids in Yucatan, Mexico, with a research expedition from Tulane University. Merrill's photo collection includes images of his travels and projects, friends and family. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Merrill_FilmPacks_3_011 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1937-03-03 Title A name given to the resource Pisa Duomo west doors Description An account of the resource Black and white photograph of the west doors of the Pisa Duomo. There are three doors, and the center door is larger than the two side doors. Subject The topic of the resource Italy Duomo (Pisa, Italy) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/dd7f30f3e8a50eb357cabd7d0983f09c.m4v dbc517c5f8ec935ef3ecc22abc9e8fe4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/027a6f526baba095d20d2302fac1a1e9.pdf 3ed43232ca0e9464b5090a7c988bb4e8 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University All American Girls Professional Baseball League Veterans History Project Interviewee’s Name: Grace Piskula Length of Interview: (00:38:20) Interviewed by: Gordon Olson, September 26, 2009 in Milwaukee, WI at the alumni annual reunion of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League Transcribed by: Joan Raymer, April 14, 2010 Interviewer: “Grace, I think the easiest way to start these interviews is to just talk a little bit about you and your family and your experience with sports before you got involved with professional baseball. Where were you born and tell me a little bit about your background.” Well, I was born on February 26, 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the south side of Milwaukee and the neighborhood was primarily Polish and German. I had a younger brother and an older brother in my lifetime. All of my experience with sports came from the neighborhood because my neighborhood was full of boys and there was only one other girl. 1:16 Gladys and I were the only two and she didn’t like any sports, but I always played and had a lot of fun. I even played tackle football in a lot of open lots and wherever we could get equipment. We had a big yard and the man upstairs would buy a ball and we would play ball in the back yard. There was a big barn that we surrounded and it must have been an old country area because if you got a home run it would go over the barn and land in the alley in the next block there, but my brothers were not interested in sports. One was very interested in reading, that’s my oldest brother, and in theater, and my youngest brother was a runner. He ran when he was in high school. 2:10 There was a social center near our home and you could go to the social center and play volleyball, basketball or take classes and it was run by the Milwaukee Recreation Department, which was terrific, so I got interested in sports. I was playing all over the city, volleyball, basketball, and softball and eventually played softball in West Allis, they had a league there and many of the girls who made this league are from that area. Interviewer: “They started as softball players.” It started with underhand softball and we played at night, and of course when I was playing it was during the war years and the men weren’t around, so they had big crowds, five thousand people would come and watch and I was offered a job at Heil Company if I would play volleyball, basketball and softball for them. 3:10 I wasn’t interested because of my family. My mom never went beyond the sixth grade and my father never beyond the tenth and both of them were terrific believers in education. However, they couldn’t afford to send us to college, but we certainly were checked on during our grade school and high school time and that’s all that mattered, doing well in school. 3:34 1 �Interviewer: “Now, in the neighborhood when you were playing, this was what would be called today, disorganized recreation. There were not teams as such, it was just whoever showed up in the morning to start playing ball?” Yes, all the boys were—I think I was the only girl and all the boys would get together and somebody would bring a bat and they would bring a ball and we would play in an open field. 3:59 Interviewer: “Did you choose up sides?” Yes, you would toss the bat and choose up sides. Interviewer: “As the only girl, were you the last one chosen?” No, I was not and my brother never liked the fact that he wouldn’t be picked before me. Interviewer: “You were the better ball player in the family?” Yes, but he was a better runner. 4:21 I had these trophies in the kitchen, my mother had them up and his friends would come over and they would say, “What did you get the trophy for?” My brother would say, “they’re my sister’s”. Interviewer: “That’s great—now, what position in softball?” I played—actually I played almost all of them except pitching and catching, but my main positions were short, first base, third base and left field. 4:50 Interviewer: “That pretty well covers it.” I played second base once, but I never played right field or pitched and I was a good hitter that was the other thing. Interviewer: “That would explain why you got chosen quickly. How did you hear about the all American Girls League and how did you get involved with that?” Well, I didn’t hear about it frankly, it was news to me. I didn’t know they had tryouts, I didn’t know anything about that. I was working at Schuster’s in the candy department to get money for school. 5:28 Interviewer: “Schuster’s was a department store in Milwaukee?” Yes, a department store and they had a cafeteria and all these other things and I played softball on their team and I got a telegram from Jack Lossa. Jack Lossa was a former Milwaukee Brewer who had a softball team on the north side and Buddy Greif was my coach and he had a softball team on the playgrounds on the south side and he got to be a manager and he needed a player in left field immediately and he remembered me playing against his team and he just sent a wire and said, “Have job for you on Rockford Peaches. Report to Racine”, and my mother said, “You’re not going anywhere.” 6:14 Interviewer: “How old were you at this point?” I was about eighteen, and my mother said, “you’re not going”. I was a senior in high school, trying to earn money for school, so I called Buddy Greif and asked him to come 2 �over and he said to my mother, “where could she earn fifty dollars a week plus two fifty a day for spending money?” My mother couldn’t answer that and I wasn’t earning that kind of money even at Schuster’s or even in the defense plants soldering canteens, so they did let me go. 6:46 I went to Rockford and lived in a rooming house. Interviewer: “I have to ask you, when you went to Rockford, was that one of the first times that you had left home essentially?” Yes, I never was on a train until I went to college because it was kind of a protective neighborhood. We had certain hours at night and you had to stay home and talk as a family. We had a night where we had to stay home so we could talk together as a family, so we could talk together and play together and stuff. A different kind of family than we have today. 7:32 Interviewer: “That’s a good family practice. Your family must have been rather excited when you decided to go off and play baseball?” I’m not sure they were excited at all. Actually my mother knew very little about sports. She came to an all city game we had one time when I was playing left field and my father told me that when the ball came out and I caught it, she turned to him and said, “now what’s she going to do with it?” That’s how much she knew about the game. 8:02 Interviewer: “Fortunately you knew what to do with the ball when you caught it.” I knew where to throw it, right. Interviewer: “Somebody told me that at one point Mr. Wrigley took an active interest in your career.” Actually when I went to college, I went to LaCrosse State University, my first college experience and while there I got a phone call from Mr. Wrigley, I wasn’t the only person, there were a few girls that he must have somehow got names of who were from different areas not just Milwaukee, but from others, and he asked me to come and tryout in Chicago with the Chicago Chicks. 8:46 Interviewer: “A different league.” I really think the Chicago Chicks were the work up league for the other one. Interviewer: “Their teams played all around Chicago.” They played at night and we wore shorts, we wore satin shorts and tops and then satin leggings and I still have the contract in my scrapbook from that experience and we lived in rooming houses in groups. In fact, I will try to remember the name of the gal who— her husband use to come and she was married and had children and he use to come and watch her play on weekends. 9:21 She also got on one of the teams in our league, so that was like, what do you call that, the minor leagues?” 3 �Interviewer: “Minor leagues probably.” Mr. Wrigley, I don’t know if it was he himself. He asked me to come and I said, “I can’t come, I have no money”, and he said they would put me on the Hiawatha, which went from Lacrosse to Chicago and I never had a chance to see my parents, so I said, “I won’t come unless I can stop in Milwaukee and see my parents”, and they let me do that and when we got to Chicago there was a limo waiting and they took me to a gym and tried me out. When the movie came out I was sitting there and I had forgotten about that experience and all of a sudden tears were coming down. It was a recall that happened to me and I’m sure it happened to other people also. 10:20 I played first base there. Interviewer: “Describe that tryout experience. What did they have you do?” Oh, they had me bat mostly in the gym and field when someone would throw a ball to you. That’s about the extent of it. It was a fairly large gym. Interviewer: “Who was watching the tryouts and who was making the decision?” I don’t know who the man was. They had somebody that took us there and was checking out what you could do and I had a first baseman’s mitt and an infielder.s mitt and a ball. I had one of those bags with me. It was a twelve-inch softball. It was the Olympic style softball. 11:09 Interviewer: “This actually took place though after you had already played with the Peaches, correct? You played with the—or did you go with the—“ I played one year with the Peaches and then the next year I played in Chicago. Interviewer: “Let’s back up to that Peaches experience. You got to Rockford on your own and do you remember the first game you played in?” No. I remember that at one of the games I slid into first base and I may have sprained my ankle, but we had no people to help us with injuries. We had a coach and the team and that was it, and a chaperone, that was it. The catcher, I remember, taped up my foot, but we were all so eager to play that we wouldn’t tell the coach what condition we were. 12:02 When I look back on it, when I look at the players now and all the help they get, exercises, food and all this. There was nothing and in fact most girls worked during the day, especially in Chicago. That’s why I went there, to make money for college. We worked during the day, like office work or store work and played ball at night. Interviewer: “Just so you had money to go to college, but earn money and also get to play the game you love.” To earn money for college and I loved the game. All three of them. Interviewer: “Any recollections of the—you played essentially part of a season in Rockford?” Yes. 4 �Interviewer: “Any recollections of the games?” They were terrific in Rockford, the people; they had lots of support and lots of people in the audience and then the American Legion and others there would say, ”today the first home run gets ten dollars”, you know what I’m saying, they use to give away prizes to the batters and a lot of times they would serve lunches for us after the game. 13:15 You always had to deal with the fans to sign autographs on cigarette packs and stuff you know people weren’t going to keep anyway. They were eager to see what you look like. 13:29 Interviewer: “Any guys hang around after the game?” Lots of guys, especially in Chicago. Interviewer: “So it’s a version of what goes on in major league baseball today only the genders are reversed.” Yes. The ladies went to see the men and the men went to see the ladies. Interviewer: “that’s good. What was the field like? The playing conditions, do you have any recollections of the condition of the field for example?” I thought they were very good fields. They were fields, as I recall, that other men’s softball teams played on in the communities. In fact, all of my sports experiences were out of the community. I played volleyball and basketball even in Iowa, you know, we would go on weekends on trips. I don’t know why, but during the war none of the companies got a lot of publicity and they always had these teams for publicity. 14:30 The paper always had the scores and the name of the company would be in the paper and that’s why they wanted people to play ball. Interviewer: “They wanted winning teams.” They wanted winning teams and they wanted their names in the paper and that’s why I was offered a job to play three sports, during the war, for that company and they said they would give me this nice easy job, but of course without an education, what kind of a job could you get, so to us—my mother was so proud—I told you she never went to school and I have a brother with a PhD and both myself and my other brother have masters degrees and my mother said we were the only ones in the neighborhood. 15:10 Interviewer: “She was very proud of that.” She was so proud of that, when she lived she was. Interviewer: “Any big hits, any big plays still come to mind from your playing days?” I remember that in Chicago at my first bat, I hit a triple and I’ve never forgotten that one. I also remember my first night with the Rockford Peaches, playing left field, a fly ball coming and I’m going after it and I catch it and I look and there was someone backing me 5 �up to make sure I would catch that ball. I remember getting my ankle wrapped when I slid into base. 15:49 Interviewer: “Pain is something you tend to remember.” It was painful later, also because it wasn’t taken care of. Interviewer: “So, you played part of a year then in Rockford and then the next year in Chicago, was that the extent of your professional playing?” Yes, I finished and I went to school. Interviewer: “Where did you go to school?” I went to school at Lacrosse State University and then I went to New York University for my masters and in 1952 we all went to the Olympic games as part of our studies. We wrote some papers on sports in America and as they are played in other countries and that’s a very big highlight in my life. 16:34 Interviewer: “That’s an incredible experience. Where were the 1952 Olympics held?” Helsinki. We saw Paavo Nurmi run— Interviewer: “Helsinki, that’s right. You didn’t just go to the Olympics, you got on a boat and traveled across the Atlantic to the Olympics.” Two boats. Interviewer: “When you say we all, who do you mean?” We were all graduate students for either masters or PhD’s at New York University. The only man who spoke Finnish in the group was a black man with his PhD and to me that was very interesting. 17:10 Interviewer: “I bet it was interesting to the Finnish people as well.” We slept in a dormitory of some kind on straw beds, double deckers, but you could see the Olympic torch all night long through the window. Those were interesting experiences and meeting the athletes from other places who were on steroids. You could see it in their builds Interviewer: “Already then you saw it.” Way back then in 1952, I think before they even noticed it. Most of the gymnasts--I never saw such shoulders on women Interviewer: “A little unusual.” Very unusual. Interviewer: “Particularly for you as a physical education major, you studied kinesiology and the structure of muscles and things, you knew what you were looking at.” 6 �Something was funny. I think it was a year later in 1953 or 1954 that they got onto the drugging. 18:11 Interviewer: “For the first time. I want to back up just a minute because I’m familiar with Lacrosse. Now Lacrosse, one of the featured majors is in physical education.” Yes, I got my first degree from there. Interviewer: “That’s what that school, among other things, focused on. How many women at Lacrosse were taking these kinds of courses? Were there a lot of women and was it unusual? ” No, there were a lot of women. We had practically—it was almost even the men to women as students. I don’t know what we had in my class, eighty or ninety and half were men and half were women. 18:48 Interviewer: “Then you went from there and got a graduate degree?” I went to New York University for my graduate work and I would go in the summers at first. They had a school camp and then later, the last year, when I got my maters we were on this trip and we studied on the ship all the way across. Interviewer: “That’s still an incredible experience.” Just a wonderful experience and I have never really forgotten it because we became very good friends after all the trips through Europe etc. The gents carried our luggage and it was wonderful. I still have friends from those days. 19:32 Interviewer: “Once you graduated, what was your career after?” The same thing after I graduated. My first job was as a physical education teacher at McKinley Jr. High School in Racine, Wisconsin where I started my career in baseball. Interviewer: “You came home.” No, I’m a Milwaukee girl. Interviewer: “You went back to Wisconsin.” That was strange, that was strange, that was very strange. I remember coming to that city and wouldn’t you know, I got a job there. I was in Racine at the junior high school and then I taught in the high school and then I taught at the University of Hawaii for a year and then I came back and I became the director for the district in health and physical education. 20:20 I spent my major lifetime in Racine. Interviewer: “In education.” Yes, in education. Interviewer: “You were in Hawaii?” I was in Hawaii before they were a state. 7 �Interviewer: “How did that happen?” That came up because I was a student at N.Y.U. and Dr. Sokhi, who was on staff in Hawaii, got to know me when I was going for my masters and at the time physical education teachers were hard to find and they wanted me to come the very year that I graduated, he did, and I said, “I can’t do that to my district. They took me when I knew nothing and they can’t replace me now because there are no teachers, so I went back to Racine and all the while I was in Racine that year, I kept getting missiles from Dr. Sokhi and he asked me to come the next year then. 21:20 I asked my superintendent, I didn’t know if I would like it or not, if I could take a leave of absence and he told me I could if I came back the next year, so I agreed to that and I wasn’t to Hawaii and taught and after a year they wanted me to stay on and I said I couldn’t because I had promised Racine that I would come back. I went back and the man I had made the promise to had lest the community and I have never forgotten that. That is a dirty trick to play on somebody. Interviewer: “You kept your word.” I kept my word, but the superintendent didn’t. Interviewer: “Hawaii would have been a very interesting place to be in.” It was and the next year they became a state. Interviewer: “Because of the fact that you were a player, a teacher—you’ve been in sports in one way or another, women’s sports, for a long time. Reflect a little bit for me if you will on the kinds of changes you’ve seen in the attitude towards women athletes for example and the attitude of women athletes toward their sports.” Well, I think the women are interested in their sports, but there’s little they can do with the fact that sports have become a business instead of anything else and unfortunately what happens is the women, even though many are more talented than some of the men, never are paid anywhere near what they are being paid and the reason is that they don’t bring in the revenue at the gates and I think that’s true with almost everything except maybe golf. 23:12 I was hole captain at the meets when the golf association was in Wisconsin and they got terrific crows, so golf and maybe tennis is good, but women’s basketball and softball, for some reason, do not draw crowds. The basketball’s a killer on the heart and the women play as well as the men do, but their not compensated. Interviewer: “Not at all. One thing that occurs to me, when you were playing baseball the uniforms were designed to emphasize the fact that you were a woman and it seems to me that all the way through, right up to today, that still is a part of the difference between men’s sports and women’s sports. There is still an emphasis on making sure that the fans in the stands know that they’re watching women athletes.” I don’t know, I think women will always be women, or they should be, otherwise we have a big problem and I think that the attitude that people think if you play a sport you have to be tough, it’s not true. I know many women who are very feminine who play 8 �sports very well, so I don’t know how you’re going to dispel that. There are a lot of very nice looking women in sports and not only in looks they have good shapes too. 24:39 You can’t—the only difference, I think, you have to remember—take for instance my shoulder for instance—men have more muscle spindles in that shoulder than I do and I’ll never be able to match them and maybe that’s the reason that when women got into overhand throwing, they lost so many arms, I don’t know. Interviewer: “There were a lot of injuries to women pitchers?” Yes, the women went to play just like the men play baseball, throwing from the pitching staff and we lost a lot of arms and pretty soon the league was over. Some of it might be part physical, I don’t know. 25:17 That’s just my opinion, you would have to ask a Kinesiologist. Interviewer: “At the time there wasn’t a lot of good science about the strain that was put on an arm by throwing.” I have a personal opinion, I can’t figure out why women would want to box. I don’t understand, I can see tennis, I can see volleyball, I can see the other games, but boxing and football, I don’t understand that. Somebody’s going to have to give me an education also. 25:53 Interviewer: “I’m with you.” Every man I know that ever played football has had back problems all his life. Interviewer: “Legs and knees and just serious problems.” It’s tough; it’s a tough sport. Interviewer: “This is a question I’ve asked an awful lot of the players. While you were playing—when you first started out as a professional woman baseball player, did you see yourself as a pioneer in any way?” No, I loved the game and I think—my mother use to say I shake to play. I would go to the social canter and play volleyball and basketball, you know I’ve done those three things all my life and now I golf and that’s about it, but I don’t know why because I didn’t have a family—my mother never went beyond sixth grade and my father never beyond tenth and they just didn’t have the opportunities that I had. 26:56 Interviewer: “Sports opened doors for you.” Yes, the sports have opened the doors for me and I’m sure it has for many young people, but first get the education. Interviewer: “Now as you look back on it, you have a chance to assess the role you played, now do you see yourself as--in some ways, although you didn’t realize it at the time, actually pioneering?” 9 �Yes, I think that helping women not only in the professional aspect, but even in the college sports and the scholarships and things of that kind because those things are much more available to women today than they use to be just as they’re available to someone who is good in theater or good in art, we have that in sports now and people will have to look for it, but it’s there. Some of the legislation is helping also. 27:58 Interviewer: “Ok.” I figure I was lucky and I thank you for this opportunity. Interviewer: “Well, we were the fortunate ones.” If anybody’s going to hear it---“get your education first”. Interviewer: “A great line to end with.” Thank you. Interviewer: “Thank you very much.” Interviewer: “Lets talk a little bit about the movie. All of a sudden the league—it wasn’t forgotten, but it wasn’t well remembered either and then all of a sudden there’s a major movie made about your experiences. What kinds of reactions and experiences did you have as a result of the movie?” 28:39 I think everybody was excited about the movie, but I forgot to mention the fact that I had my uniform sitting in my closet for, it must have been ten years, because the last game that Rockford played was in Milwaukee and I still have the programs from that day and here I had that uniform sitting and after about ten years or so I got rid of the uniform from my closet. I either gave it to a costume shop or to the theater group I can’t remember which, but the movie is unbelievable, every year and I watch what’s on the movies and they must show that thing eight or ten times a year and every time they show it they got a crowd watching it. Now, the movie made the comedian, Rosie O’Donnell, I think that made her, that movie and I think you should know that actually a bunch of players at the time, I’m not going to name them, didn’t want Madonna playing in our movie because they didn’t like her lifestyle at the time, so I didn’t know much about Madonna because I’m not a big movie fan, but I did buy the movie for all my nephews and nieces. 30:01 Interviewer: “After the movie comes out, did that affect you more recognition?” Yes, after the movie came out you get more mail—people asking for autographs. I have had autograph seeking from Germany, for soldiers, from people in the services that send you stuff and one person sent their first day issues of a stamp collection and instructed me to sign on that first issue thing and I thought—“what are they doing?” I know they’re selling autographs and I think mine is worth about fifteen dollars now. I had somebody check up and see, but there’s one I have from the Brewers called the—It’s in the case and that one’s worth more because I’m on with the men players also. 30:57 Interviewer: “And you get invited from time to time for appearances?” 10 �Yes, it’s usually clubs and schools. Every year I’m at some school because they’re studying women—what women have achieved and there will be some number of kids that want to write about the league, so then they call me up and ask for an interview and then they write their papers. So far every girl who has written a paper about my life in the—has received an A on their paper, including my niece. Interviewer: “what do you tell them when they--?” I tell them what I told you—how I was brought up, how I had never been on a train until I went to college, how my folks never had—and this was a way of getting an education for me because they couldn’t afford to send me and how the boys were both able to go because they were both in the army at that time and their school was paid for and mine wasn’t. I think at that time there was an attitude that it’s more important for the men to get educated than the women because I found a little of that in my father. He was afraid I would get married and all that money would go down the drain. 32:10 Interviewer: “You emphasize to the girls, when you get a chance to talk to them, to get their educations.” Yes, I really—that was the proudest—my mother was proudest of the fact that she had three kids—two had masters degrees and one had a PhD and that to her meant more than anything we did, even playing ball really, because she never went beyond the sixth grade. They never had a chance, they had big families and they had to help at home. My father never beyond the tenth, he wanted to be a doctor and never got to be one—they had thirteen kids in their family and they had to go to work. It was the end of the depression. 33:02 Interviewer: “Kids need to understand that in many ways they have far more opportunities and they better take advantage of them.” All of my nieces and nephews, I tell them that they’re spoiled rotten and they are. They’re living in an entirely different world, they have so many things and they ask for something and pretty soon it comes. We could wish for it, but we didn’t expect it. Interviewer: “Any regrets about taking time out to play professional ball?” No, I loved to play, I would love to play now, but all I play now is golf. Interviewer: “thanks for taking an extra minute. There was good usable stuff there.” 11 �12 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Interviews Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was started by Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, during World War II to fill the void left by the departure of most of the best male baseball players for military service. Players were recruited from across the country, and the league was successful enough to be able to continue on after the war. The league had teams based in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and operated between 1943 and 1954. The 1954 season ended with only the Fort Wayne, South Bend, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Rockford teams remaining. The League gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball. Many of the players went on to successful careers, and the league itself provided an important precedent for later efforts to promote women's sports. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/484">All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-58)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Sports for women World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives Oral history Baseball players--Minnesota Baseball players--Indiana Baseball players--Wisconsin Baseball players--Michigan Baseball players--Illinois Baseball for women--United States Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-58 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Language A language of the resource eng Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-10-02 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-58_GPiskula Title A name given to the resource Piskula, Grace (Interview transcript and video), 2009 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Piskula, Grace Description An account of the resource Grace Piskula was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 26, 1926. Growing up she played softball with the neighborhood boys and in school. She played all positions but mainly stuck to playing shortstop, first and third base and left field. Eventually, her coach, Buddy Greif, approached her one day and informed her she would be playing for the Rockford Peaches. Soon thereafter while she was up at college, she received a call from Mr. Wrigley, owner for the Chicago Chicks to come play for them. She played one year for the Rockford Peaches and then the next for the Chicago Chicks. Her career highlights include hitting a triple for Chicago and then catching a fly ball while with Rockford. Following her two years in the league she quit and went back to college. She discusses her post-baseball career in some detail. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Olson, Gordon (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) Video recordings All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives Baseball for women--United States Baseball Sports for women World War, 1939-1945 Baseball players--Wisconsin Baseball players-Illinois Women Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009-02-26 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/484">All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/4e7eb137226e7a3621d9af301e679041.jpg 0bc068763d824165d74bade1cbbc71b2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Valley State University Photographs Subject The topic of the resource Aerial photographs Universities and colleges Michigan Grand Rapids (Mich.) Allendale (Mich.) Building Facilities Dormitories Students Events 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Description An account of the resource People, places, and events of Grand Valley State University from its founding in 1960 as a 4-year college in western Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource News & Information Services. University Communications Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">News &amp; Information Services. University Photographs. (GV012-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-03 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s-2000s Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Local Subject Subject headings specific to a particular image collection 1990s Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">University photographs, GV012-01</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01_UAPhotos_000993 Title A name given to the resource Pitcher and catcher confer during women's softball game Description An account of the resource Pitcher and catcher confer during women's softball game, April 14, 1990. Subject The topic of the resource Students Events Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives black and white photo https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d220175da1bb3b32a8b93e57e687b6bc.jpg 72a0627446fad1f8f0f11f9379e0837b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert H. Merrill photographs Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1909/1950 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-222 Description An account of the resource Photographs, negatives, and lantern slides digitized from the papers of engineer and archaeologist Robert H. Merrill. A Grand Rapids native, Merrill held an accomplished career as a civil engineer. He founded the company Spooner & Merrill, which held offices in Grand Rapids and Chicago. From 1919-1921, Merrill lived in China, working as Assistant Principal Engineer on a reconstruction of the Grand Canal - the oldest and longest canal system in the world. Merrill became fascinated by archaeology, and among other projects, he traveled to the Uxmal Pyramids in Yucatan, Mexico, with a research expedition from Tulane University. Merrill's photo collection includes images of his travels and projects, friends and family. Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Merrill_NE_47_1916_009 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1916-08-21 Title A name given to the resource Pitchoff Mountain Description An account of the resource Black and white photograph of a road lined with power lines and fences in front of a field. A barn is visible behind a line of trees. A mountain range is visible in the distance. Subject The topic of the resource Keene (N.Y.) Mountains Roadways Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Robert H. Merrill papers (RHC-222) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Merrill, Robert H., 1881-1955 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e57c474e0de8bbc15ed49fdbb4ca04a2.m4v 3cd2e4327600f7a751c9f6f0b008a9b4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/6ea71da59d068f0897fac475a559a826.pdf a12e3981ebd419bf75f88876ce07f619 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Veteran: Kenneth Pitetti Interviewer: James Smither Transcribed by Gabrielle Angel Length: 1:50:00 00.00.00 I: We‟re talking today with Ken Pitetti of Wichita, Kansas and the interviewer is James Smither of the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project. Okay, Ken, start us off with some background on yourself, and to begin with, where and when were you born? V: Yes. I was born and raised in San Francisco and I had a Catholic school upbringing with a Catholic grade school, Catholic high school. I: And, what year were you born? V: I was born in 1946. I was a baby boomer. I: What was your family doing for a living at that point? V: My dad was a fireman of Italian descent. My grandfather came from Italy. And then, my mom was a housekeeper, but she also worked for the school‟s lunching program. She cooked for the schools. My dad was a fireman, and he also had a second job, so he worked two jobs. This is in San Francisco, inner San Francisco. A great place to be raised, San Francisco was. A really nice time in the fifties. And, I had an older brother and a younger sister, and we were a working, inner-city, middle class family. My brother and I would get up in the morning and do paper routes. My sister would work part-time after school. So, we were a family that pretty much grew up with a work ethic, that everyone had to participate, because we had three kids going to Catholic school, so that was expensive. I: What kind of ambitions or plans did your family have for you? Did they want you to go to college? V: Well, for-for all – for all of us, my parents wanted us to go to college, but I was the only one of my brothers and sisters that went to college, and I don‟t know why. And I don‟t know why, because that was available to us and my parents would say they wanted us to. 00:02:15 V: I was pretty good at athletics. I was always the type of guy who wanted to be the team captain and pretty much excelled in football in high school. I would go on to play at the University of San Francisco, football. And so, football began to make me start shooting for college. I know I got real serious with my studies when I was a sophomore in high school. I worked myself up to a college prep position. At that time, they tagged you. You took a test when you came into a �Catholic school, and they had the As, Bs, Cs, Ds, Es and Fs classes. I started at the Cs, and by the time I was a senior I was with the A class. I don‟t think I shoulda been with them. Actually, it was a neat situation because the guys I went to high school that were in the A class went on to be doctors and lawyers and were really smart. But, they were really neat really helped me to realize I should be reading magazines besides Sports Illustrated. They introduced me to Time magazine, and to different things that were able to introduce me to things that were happening in the world. I had no idea what was going on in Israel before until guys said, “Hey, you ought to read this article.” I began to get involved in events that were occurring throughout the world and how they might affect me way back in my junior, senior year of high school. I: And when did you graduate high school? V: 1964. 00:03:56 I: And what do you remember about, say, the Kennedy assassination? V: I remember the Kennedy assassination was a big thing because you had a Catholic family, Kennedy was Catholic, and it was a big event. I hate to say it was an event, but it was a combination of a historical event, a president was killed. Why was he killed, how did that happen? That was something that I, as a kid, wondered about. How could this guy get on this , you know, this book store and fire this weapon to kill the president of the United States? We did have the Secret Service, you know. And, so, that was the beginning, I think, of our generation beginning to question things that were occurring in history at that time. So, we had that, but what I remember distinctly was in the summer of 1964, the Bay of Tonkin Incident. This was 1964 now, and at that time, my parents had gone on vacation. I stayed home because I was working. And on Saturday- the night that LBJ came on, I think it was Saturday, it was in August I believe that the Bay of Tonkin Incident happened. And there was a bunch of guys, we were all graduating together, and we were all friends. So, there was probably about eleven, and we were all playing. And this was back when we weren‟t drinking anything, we were drinking 7-Up and drinking orange juice and Coke and eating potato chips and popcorn. I mean, that‟s how innocent it was at that time. And, LBJ comes on, Lyndon B. Johnson comes on about the Bay of Tonkin Incident. I happened to take a break, so I was sitting in our TV room, and I yelled out, I said, “Hey guys.” I said, “You guys gotta come in here and listen to this. There‟s something going on out here. You know, there seems to be something happening in Vietnam.” 00:06:00 V: And the guys were saying, “Oh, Pitetti, you know, shut up.” And, you had Rich Nelbo, who spent 18 months as a Marine over there. And, you had Danny White, the Danny White who killed Mayor Mosconi. That was one of my buddies! And he served with 82nd for a while there. And, you had me. Every one of those guys who were sitting �there, whether they got away- whether they got out of the Draft, somehow found a way to go into the Reserves to stay out of Vietnam, or went into the Peace Corps, it all affected, it affected everyone in that room that day, in many ways. So, that was something I remember exactly and how it affected all of us, the Bay of Tonkin Incident, and how we were all affected by the that incident and the commitment to go into Vietnam. I: Alright. Now, did it occur to you at this point that you might get drafted because of that? V: I was- I‟ve read a lot of guys who served in Vietnam, I‟ve seen many of your videos online. I think for many of us, we were raised… My dad was in World War II. My Uncles were in World War II. All of his buddies at the fire department when I would go down there and talk to them were in World War II. My godfather – I know the movie The Godfather makes all us Italians look like we part of the Mafia, but a godfather in an Italian family is a very important person. And, my godfather, Steve Caccia, was with Patton. In North Africa, he got wounded. In Sicily, he got wounded. In the march into Rome, he got wounded So, here I have a godfather with three Purple Hearts. And so, it was expected, I felt, that you served your country. 00:08:06 V: So, when the time came into my Sophomore year, I really, I was majoring in Pre-Med and Biology, but I knew my GPA was not going to get me into medical school, so I was thinking maybe I‟d go to graduate school, maybe I‟d teach. But, I was saying, “Well, I don‟t want to get drafted. I know enough about the military, that you had to go the first two years in ROTC.” It was a land grant college if you were of draftable age, so I had spent two years in ROTC already. So, I said, “Well, when I graduate, I‟ll put in two years of active duty and two years Reserve Unit after that, just do my time.” In 1966, yes Vietnam was warming up. I had Rich Nelbo, the guy that was in there, come back in 1967 after 18 months who said, “Don‟t go.” [Laughs] Danny White came back from Vietnam, said, “Don‟t go.” So, I had that information, but I still had this feeling that I had to serve my country. It just sounds a little emotional, but I-I knew enough history to know the sacrifices that were made for me to be experiencing the affluence and opportunities that I was experiencing, and somehow, I felt that I owed this country my time, and if it was during a war that-. Believe me, you could not live in San Francisco and not know about the Vietnam War, and I read material about the questions about the Bay of Tonkin, especially the second incident that were shadows on the radar, that really didn‟t happen, so before I even went active duty, I knew that the Bay of Tonkin was of questionable veracity. I‟ve read enough and saw- I mean, there were marches every other day in San Francisco against something. My apartment was in the middle of Haight-Ashbury district. So, you saw this whole hippie scene, San Francisco. 00:10:31 �V: The campus of the University of San Francisco is approximately four blocks from the, from Golden Gate Park, and approximately eight blocks from the corner of Haight-Ashbury. So, believe me, you could not live in those times and not be aware of all of these things that were there, Civil Rights, Women‟s Rights, the question of the Vietnam War, it was very adamant on campus. I mean, when we would march on days of ROTC, there would be people around the parade grounds with banners against us, against Vietnam, and so, we lived with that over our heads all the time. And so, but, I still felt an obligation to serve my country. I: How did you kind of view the protestors and stuff? V: I viewed them as somebody, I viewed that they were sincere in what they felt about, I actually understood why they felt that way. I had read enough to know about the questions of the Vietnam War, so I wasn‟t somebody some gung-ho individual. The only problems I have with those who participated in the Anti-War Movement of Vietnam was not their cause. It was what they said to us when we came home. That was wrong. We didn‟t start that war, we had nothing to do with that war, yet we were the low-hanging fruit that they could pick off in airports. And I heard, one of the things you hear from the men that I led in that jungle was what they went to, because when I got wounded, I went back, I was flown back and I went to a hospital. I didn‟t have to face what these guys had to face coming back in the airports. 00:12:47 V: The stories I heard, it‟s shameful. It‟s just bloody shameful what they were called. You know, here were guys that were drafted. They knew nothing, they were 19 or 20 years-old whey they get drafted. They knew nothing about the Vietnam War. And, here they‟re called all these terrible things. And I was called these terrible things when I went on campus. I started when I was going through recovery at what was Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, it‟s not there anymore. But I asked the, while I was going through rehabilitation I asked the doctor if I could start my master‟s program at San Francisco State. And he said, “Sure, as long as you‟re back in your bed by 10:00 at night, you can start your classes, you can start your master‟s degree.” So here I am with one leg, my wife is pregnant with our first son, and I had to move on with my life. I had to start getting ready to get a job, and at that time I was going to start teaching, so I needed my teaching credential, I needed to start on my master‟s degree. 00:13:47 V: When I went out there to register, this was in January of 1971 I think, when I was still officially in the Army, all‟s I had, I had hardly any clothes. I had my jacket, my Army jacket, I was with the 1st Division and then I was in the 101st tags, Combat Infantry Badge, I was standing in line with no leg, my leg had not been developed yet so all I had was this cast with an extension of a foot on it, and crutches. And I was a target! And, I mean, I was a target. And you know, �people didn‟t say, “Oh, can we get you to the front of the line?” No. “Screw you, you stand in line, and by the way, we are going to call you all of these names.” And then, my first semester there, nobody would be my lab partner. Nobody would be my lab partner because who I was. And all throughout, I entered academia, I entered where the liberals were, you know. And listen, I‟m a democrat, okay, I‟m a democrat, but I wasn‟t the democrats that called me names and I felt did some shameful things. And throughout, I would be at parties, and somebody would say, “Hey, Ken, I heard you were in Vietnam.” And, you know, there may have been seven of us standing there, but when somebody brought up that, by a minute later everyone had receded, and the only person who would be there would be me and the guy asking the question, and the guy asking the questions, was wishing the hell he would never ask the questions. I would be at parties, and somebody would make remarks like, “You were that dumb to serve in Vietnam? You got a degree and you went to Vietnam?” So, this was the stuff I caught in academia, which you know it really made me more determined to succeed. 00:15:58 V: It said, no, you‟re getting your master‟s degree, and then, no Pitetti, you‟re going to get your doctorate degree, because you are going to stay in academia and you are never going to let these people be in a position to tell you what to do. Believe me, I enjoy it, every Veterans Day, to wear my Vietnam Combat hat across this campus, and it‟s like, screw you, you know. So, I feel the scars of, and I know that what‟s his name is going to be coming out with a PBS thingI: Ken Burns, yes. V: Yes, and I read an article about that and I‟m hoping he does a good job. I have met people who were part of that movement who did call us names, and I‟ve told them to their face that they should be ashamed of themselves. Most of them would agreeI: Mhm. V: -that now that they, now that they are old enough to know that they shouldn‟t have done that. But, I‟ll tell you what. I still carry the baggage of that. And maybe it was something that really spurred me on to be who I am right now. I: Okay. Now, this of course is, a lot of this ideally comes at the end, but I don‟t care. So, now, let‟s move back, though, in your story. Let‟s take you back. I‟d like for you to tell me what you actually did in the ROTC program there. V: Okay, in the ROTC program, nothing really became important until your upper division, until your junior and senior year. Here I was, playing football. I was co-captain of the team. And, we would have the cadre in our- the officers that ran ROTC had one or two combat tours in Vietnam. They knew where we were going. So, we used to take tests in a room not much bigger �than the room we are in right now, and they would have on the corners combat films of Vietnam, volume full up. And they had in front of us, at that time we had stereos. They would have the stereo full blast with marching music and they would walk around throwing fire crackers. They said, “If you cannot think under these situations, then you will not be able to think in combat.” You know, I was wondering why they did that, but, boy, were they spot on. 00:18:26 V: And then we would have what I would call 72-hour no sleep weekends. They would load us up on a bus and take us across the bay to Fort Roberts or Fort Cronkhite or down to Fort Ord, to the different military locations. And we wouldn‟t sleep. They would just do nothing but classroom work, compass work, nighttime compass, drill, compass, compass, compass. Knowing the map, knowing the compass, knowing how many steps you take at night to make 100 meters. They drilled that into us. Okay, 12:00 Saturday night. “Pitetti you‟re the platoon leader. Here‟s your platoon. This is your mission. You have thirty seconds- you have thirty minutes to put a plan together. Lead your platoon.” And you always screwed up, because there was an ambush waiting for you. They would say, “Okay, Cadet, you screwed up. Do you know why?” And I would say something like, “No, sir, the Cadet has no excuse.” And they would say, “Okay, here‟s what you did wrong.” They would say, “You didn‟t have your flank covered. You weren‟t up front with your point man and your slack man.” They would just, very constructively, say what you did wrong. They weren‟t yelling at you. They would say, “This is what you did wrong, and we‟re telling you this because you‟re gonna be in charge of people and lives will matter.” 00:19:57 V: And that was- I got some great training by those people just in the two years of ROTC. I know everybody thinks ROTC is sort of a lame way to become an officer, but the cadre that we had at that time, the NCO cadre as well as the officer cadre at the University of San Francisco, was top notch and they knew where we were going. So, here comes my senior year and you gotta choose a branch. [laughs] Okay, this is 1968. The Tet Offensive had just occurred, and you had to choose a branch. Let me see, there‟s infantry, and then there‟s infantry, and then you get to choose infantry. I was saying, I don‟t know about this, so that the Colonel called me into his office. He said, “Ken, I hear you‟re having trouble about picking a branch.” “Well, kind of, sir.” He says, “Ken, well I‟ve been watching you on that football field and you are a born leader. You are infantry.” [Chuckles] �And I said, “Yes, sir.” And he said, “Could you sign this to dictate the branch that you‟re going in?” I said, “Yes.” [pen on paper noise] Infantry. I: Right. V: So here I go. Okay, so I go to infantry. So, I spent an extra semester. My first year of college, I didn‟t play ball. And then, because I had, because I majored in Biology, I had labs. So, I couldn‟t get my whole curriculum in in four years. It took me an extra semester, which I was able to play an extra semester of football in the fall of „68. So, I didn‟t go right until the summer of ‟69. I: M-kay. So, when do you actually graduate from college, then? V: Officially, I graduate in the fall of 1968. I: Okay, so, December, at the end of fall term? V: Right, December of 1968, yeah. 00:22:00 V: Now, I look back at this, and had I not, if I graduated on time, had I arrived in the 101st Airborne Division, I would have been either in the lead-up to Ripcord or in the A Shau. [Laughs] Life takes crazy turns. I: Alright, so now after, so now you graduate at the end of ‟68. V: There wasn‟t a position opening in what was called Infantry Officer Basic Training at Fort Benning until early, until late spring. So, I went in then and trained at Fort Benning, well, I trained at Fort Lewis for what we called Summer Camp, ROTC‟s summer camp, which was six weeks of basically boot camp. And then, I went out to Fort Benning in Georgia to start on IOBC, which the other graduates at West Point and VMI and Citadel, everybody who graduated and was in the infantry went into Fort Benning IOBC. I: Alright, so what did that program consist of? V: IOBC was an extension of what I was doing in ROTC, I think. It was map courses, given small unit tactics. Okay, you‟re the squad leader. Okay, Pitetti, you‟re the second squad leader, and so and so is the squad leader and so and so is the platoon leader. And, that would change daily. Everybody would get a position. You‟d go through the typical infantry training. At that time, we were still, I think we were still using M-14s. I don‟t think they had M-16s for all of the training I did. I remember using an M-1 when I started ROTC. I: Old World War II rifles. 00:24:10 �V: Old World War II rifles. In fact, I qualified with the M-1 one of the weekends we went there. And then we got M-14s for the rest of ROTC. And, I didn‟t really see an M-16, I don‟t think, until Fort Benning, Georgia. I think up at Fort Lewis, Washington, I think we still had M-14s. And, then I first qualified with the M-16 there at Fort Benning. So, okay, you did your qualifications. You‟d take your M-16 apart and put it back together again. Qualify throwing a hand grenade. Qualify with the M-16 machine gun, what an M-79 grenade launcher is. All the basic small arms, uh, weapons. Map courses, map courses, compass courses, night compass courses, over and over again. And running you, and doing what Infantry people are going to do. I think the Army trained us well to prepare us. I don‟t think anything happened in Vietnam that I wasn‟t really prepared to do. So, I think, somewhere along the line, we got, we got good training. 00:25:30 I: And was radio and communication a part of that too? V: Yes, and artillery. Artillery. [Laughs] Calling in artillery. Using the map, how do I adjust artillery? That was pretty much drilled into us. The other thing was, we got a total of three hours of working with TNT and C4. A total of three hours. Now, in Vietnam, C4 was used a lot, and I kinda knew how to use it, but the first, I was with my platoon for maybe ten days, and they said, we‟re getting ahead, but. So, you got three hours of so-called training in explosives. So, we get in there, we get in an area, said, “Okay, now you gotta blow an LZ.” “Okay, umm, let me see. I think I‟ll put C4s up against the trees, and then I‟ll take a det chord and I‟ll connect all of the C4s, and let me see, I‟ll put this explosive into the first C4, so maybe if this explodes maybe the det chord will just explode all the rest and the trees will go down. So, I hook it all up, and we do it all, and my radio man says, “So Lt., do you know what you‟re doin‟?” And I said, “Oh yeah. Yeah, I‟ve got this.” So, we come back and we pull out, fire in the hole, boom. [Noise] All the trees go down. I look up, holy cow, and my radio man goes, “That was cool, Lt.” So, now, I walk out into the middle of the area and go like this to my platoon. [Claps, laughs.] So, after three hours I became the expert. And, I told my radio man, he goes, “Man, you really know what you were doing, Lt.” And, I said, “Yeah, good training. Just good officer training.” I: Alright, how long was the infantry school? V: Ah, four months, I think. I: Alright, was there any notable difference between the West Pointers and the rest of you? �V: Um, I think there was a little bit with the West Pointers and the guys from the Citadel. I think they felt that- I called them abused children, because they felt that they had gone through all this tough thing, and when they found out I was from San Francisco, they said, “Oh, you‟re a hippie, man. You‟re not Infantry.” And I‟m saying, “Oh, alright. Whatever, whatever you guys gotta say so.” 00:28:13 V: And there was a limit of ring knocking [knocks on table] with the West Pointers, and it-it-it… Look, if you‟re thinking about putting a- having a career in the military, even then, you better go to West Point, you better go to Academy, the Citadel, the VMI. You know, that‟s the nature of the beast. When you go to those schools to train you to be a military person. I just wanted to serve my country and go back to civilian life. So, yeah there was, but I got into a group of guys from the Citadel, and they were absolutely crazy. They were great guys. They, they adopted me. They adopted me and said, “Y‟all better stick around with us and we‟ll show you how it‟s done.” So, I said, “Okay,” and I went along with them. [Chuckles] I: M-hm. So, when did you finish all of that? V: Oh, I left there in late- early fall. I: Okay. V: Of ‟69, and was assigned to, at that time it was the 24th Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, which became the 1st Division at the end, towards ‟70, I think. ‟70, ‟71, the 1st Division came back to Fort Riley. But, at that time, it was the 24th Mech and I became a platoon leader in the 24th Mech and we were the back-up for Europe. So, we did everything armor. It was APCs, and tank sort of, uh, military movement. But, then, this was, at that time, there was a gas shortage. They couldn‟t afford- they couldn‟t afford to keep the APCs and tanks going. 00:30:10 V: So, they said, “Okay, you guys are now straight leg.” Which was good. So, we, when we did our maneuvers we would be Infantry. And, there was a lot of guys who had just come back from Vietnam and were part of my platoon and were waiting for, they had four, maybe six months left before they got out. And I said to them, they were in my platoon, I said, “Look, guys. I would appreciate when we would go out and do these maneuvers that you teach me whatever you think I should know as a platoon leader in Vietnam.” And they were really good about it. They said, “Well, Lt., let‟s go out on an ambush tonight.” I said, “Okay.” �And, so, they would take me out on an ambush and show me how to get out of the perimeter they were in, where to go. First of all, do this, get away from your perimeter. Sit low. How to gradually move to your ambush location, how to set your claymores up. These guys, they could have said, “Screw you, Lt., I don‟t care anymore.” But, I think they had saw enough in Vietnam to realize that maybe I could save some lives. And I thought, I thought those guys were really good, and I learned a lot from them at Fort Riley. I: So, how long were you there? V: [Exhales] Six, seven months? I got my order maybe five months there? That I was going. I: Before we move out, what was kind of daily life like for you there? V: At Fort Riley? I: Yeah. V: You showed up to your, uh, at 7:00, around the front of your formation. They found out that I had played, that I was the jock of the company and the brigade. And they said, “Okay, Pittetti, you‟re going to lead the daily dozen, and you get to take them on a two-mile run.” 00:32:03 V: So, that‟s what I did most mornings before we started anything. And then, again, there would be mortar training, there would be keeping the APCs going, going out in the APCs, playing war games. You, you leave on a Monday morning and you come back on a Saturday morning. At that time, you went Saturdays too. You went Saturdays until 12 noon. And you would play war games out in the back lots of Kansas here, up at Fort Riley. You‟d play war games, red against the blue army and who could beat them. You went about being miserable when it was cold. That‟s what we did, you played war games. I: Were you living on base at that time? V: I was living in the BOQs on base, yes. I: Alright, so you weren‟t married yet at this time. V: No, but I met my future wife, she was at Kansas State University. Fort Riley was, oh, twelve, thirteen miles from Manhattan, Kansas, where K State was. Carol was a junior, so I, this is not going -. I met her one night at a party, and the rest is history. We got married right before I went to Vietnam. I: So, at K State, they didn‟t just stay away from the military? V: Well, they were told to, but with my Italian heritage, I could talk to people. I met her at a party. We got into conversation. She‟s really beautiful; even now, she‟s just a really beautiful lady, both inside and out. I just want to say this, I don‟t know how many of your people say this, but, uh, our wives are Vietnam Veterans, too, because they had to put up with us when we came �home. Nightmares, not sleeping, not wanting to talk about it. You know, I woke up one night from a nightmare and I was strangling her. I had thought she was an NVA soldier who had just come into my foxhole. And, and, she stayed with me. That‟s guts. That‟s commitment. So, I just want to say that she is, she is not only been part of my life, but she is my life. 00:34:22 I: Alright, so, now before you leave Fort Riley, did you yourself switch from the 24th Division to the 1st division? V: Yeah, we did. In fact, my last two weeks there, I think the last two weeks they switched over to it, to this division. And I was like, on my way out, you had to switch the patch on your uniform, ah jeez. And then, I got orders to go down to jungle training in Panama before. They were doing that a lot now, I think they were doing that to a lot of guys, that before they went to Vietnam, and this was good training. Let me tell you, I think those three weeks in Panama was really, because that really got you back into small units. And again, I think the cadre, both the officers and the NCOs, down at that Panama jungle school were really top notch and really prepared for what you were going to face in Vietnam. Good people, good training. I: Okay, and from there do you get a leave or-? V: Yeah, I get a leave. Three weeks? And Carol Sue kisses me goodbye at Travis Air Force Base. We made the Arctic go from there to Anchorage, Alaska, to Japan, into Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base. Yeah, there‟s a story here that I can tell you. 00:36:00 V: So, so we arrive Ripcord‟s going on. And, I don‟t know anything about the Ripcord. I don‟t know where the 101st is. I know nothing. I: So, when are you arriving there? V: I‟m arriving in August. I: August of –? V: August of ‟70. Ripcord had just got over. I: That ends in July. V: Yeah. Ripcord is July 23. I arrive in early August. Okay, and so, you arrive there, and they say to change your money and go get your equipment. This is Vietnam, and you‟re in a different country. And they say this- you‟re always arriving in the middle of the night, okay? You go to your barracks or whatever, get some sleep, and tomorrow you‟re going to get up and we‟re going to have a formation or whatever, get all your equipment. And then, by that night, you‟ll have your assignment. �Okay, so I look up on the board: 101st Airborne Division, okay? Okay. Second of 506 [2nd Battalion, 506th Regiment]. Okay. So, they, we had, they were going to move us out that night and fly us C-130, I think, up to Phu Bai. Phu Bai to Hue, and up to Camp Evans. I: M-hm. V: So, I‟m walking to the so-called Officer‟s club. It was a big parachute covering an area that had beer and warm drinks. So, a guy is coming at me, he has his green beret on. Captain. And it was, it was, it was Mike Brady who I went to ROTC with at U of SF. So, Mike‟s coming, and I say, “Mike!” And he goes, “Ken!” And, we are talking. So, he says, “So, where‟s your assignment?” I said, “I‟m going up to 101st.” He goes, “No.” He says, “Let me make a phone call. Ken, let me make a phone call and I‟ll get you to another unit.” 00:38:06 V: And I said, “Why, Mike?” And he says, Mike, Mike says, “You don‟t want to go north.” “Okay, listen, you know, I got assigned there, I‟m going there.” And he said, one more time, “Let me go in and make a phone call.” I says, “No, Mike, I got my assignment and I‟m going.” And he says, “Okay, then. You‟re not buying another drink the rest of the night, okay?” Now, go forward, I‟m in the hospital in San Francisco, at Letterman Hospital. One night, in comes Mike. And he stands in front of the bed like this. And he said, “Didn‟t I tell you to let me make that phone call?” I said, “Shut up. Come here, Mike.” And we hugged one another. So, anyways, we fly up there to Phu Bai. The C-130 lands, and they say, basically, “We‟re going to taxi in, turn around, and then start taxing out, so you better not ask this thing because we ain‟t stopping.” Well that says, I think there‟s something happening up here. So, I get out, and we get our equipment out. I need to relieve myself, so we have these piss tubes that they were called. So, I go over there, and I piss, and we‟re looking at the mountains, these mountains. So, I‟m looking at these mountains, and this NCO comes up next to me and he‟s using the tube. And, I look at these mountains and the sun is just coming up. He said, “Take a good look at those mountains, Lieutenant, „cuz that‟s where you‟re gonna be.” �And I said, “Thank you, Sergeant.” So, there you go in, you go into P training. Five days of P training, repelling out of a helicopter, making sure the M-79 and how it works, the M-60 and how it works, how to work it. 39:00 So, we‟re up out, outside Camp Evans, right outside Camp Evans. We‟re in the bleachers and we are getting the drill on the M-79. And there‟s the beginning of the lowland mountains over here. These Cobras are coming in about one kilometer away from us and they are just blasting this area with 40mm rockets and hitting them with things. And the guy goes, “Oh, it looks like there is a platoon in trouble. Anyway, guys, the M-79…” I: [chuckles] 00:39:52 V: [laughs] Okay. That night, we get hit with rockets, and then the next day, the company, the Charlie Company chief comes to pick me up. And he goes, “Lt. Pitetti. Where‟s Lt. Pitetti?” “Here.” “Jump in.” So, we go through, this is the middle of the night, so we‟re going up and down Camp Evans. We come to the headquarters, the Charlie Company headquarters. We pull in and he lets me off. So, I go in. The top sergeant is sitting behind a desk. He sat at this desk, and there were like, beer cans all over the place. He‟s sitting there, smoking a cigar, and I walk in. “Another lieutenant.” “Yeah.” “Okay, drop your shit right there, Lt. Want a beer?” I said, “Well, you know.” He said, “Trust me, you better have a beer, because where you‟re going tomorrow, you ain‟t going to see any of this stuff.” “Okay, alright, Top. You know, I got you.” So, I take it. So, anyways, the next day I get pulled up, flown out to Rakkasan I: Let‟s back up a little to a couple of things in this transitional phase. You referenced P training, what was that? V: P training was five days where you were in country. Basically, they give you five days to adjust, and they‟re introducing you to the enemy. What is the standard operating procedure of the enemy? The ones you were up against were the most well-trained North Vietnamese Army soldiers, there is. This is not Viet Cong territory. This is NVA territory. Here‟s a few ambushes. Here‟s-here‟s what you‟re looking for, here‟s what your point man is looking for, is cut off trees. �When you see cut off trees, that means that you got a bunker up ahead of you. They‟ve sparsed the trees, so the bunker can have its rifle bars trained on you. So, when you‟re out, and you start seeing these things, you back off, because you‟re getting into a bunker complex. Ah, stay off of trails if you can. How they set up. You leave anything, they will use it against you. Police your area. Noise security. Just basic infantry stuff that should be reminded of before you go out in the field. 00:42:26 V: So, it introduces you to the enemy you‟re facing, the types of ambushes they have, things like, if you see cut off trees just clear the area out for an ambush, you‟ve got a bunker. What to do when you hit a bunker, how to approach a bunker. All the basic things that anyone has to know at high corps at that time against the North Vietnamese Army and their techniques. So, standard operating procedures, relearning the M-60, relearning how to shoot your M-79, throwing a grenade, just to remind you how things are done. Rappelling out of a helicopter. Those were things that were done in P-training. I: So, was any of that new or useful? V: No. All of it, all of it was always useful. How to get in and out of helicopters. It was always useful. It was redundant sometimes, but you know, in combat, there‟s nothing wrong with redundancy. I: And then you mentioned the rocket attack. V: Yeah, 122 rockets. You had hills right outside of Camp Evans. And you, we were in the low lands, right next to the coast of Camp Evans and Camp Eagle, which for us was right off of the coast. And you, if you went about five miles, you hit rice paddies. And then you had the coastal mountains that came up, and then they came down, and they you open into the mountains. A huge mountain range that was between you and the Laotian border. And that was your area of operations. Sometimes, they would come down, and they would set up 122 rockets and knock off, or try to, or maybe 82mm, just as close as they can and drop two or three or four, and just get out of the area, and try to, you know, just see what they could hit. 00:44:27 I: So that was something over very quickly. V: Yeah. Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-boom. The sirens would go off, like yeah, okay, you know. Yeah, they hit us. Yeah, so the sirens seemed to be always going off after the impact. Yeah. I: So, we can take you back on your story now. So, basically youV: So, I take a Chinook, a big Chinook with all this equipment on it. And, now, you‟re trying to – I‟ve got all of this equipment, I‟ve got a to try to stay in the chinook and it‟s coming up. I‟m kinda looking out, seeing the low lands go and the coastals. Then, I look up and there‟s Rakkasan, our base at Rakkasan. �So, you fly in, you get off and go up into the bunker complex area like all firebases had. And so, I don‟t- I‟m looking for Charlie Company. I‟m walking up, and these artillery guys were there. They said, I said, “Where‟s Charlie Company?” “You new Lt.?” “Yeah.” [scoffs] “Charlie Company is right over there.” [laughs] Okay, so, I go down. So, I‟m walking around. So, these bunkers, you know you got all these bunkers with stairs that go straight down. And I don‟t know what bunker Charlie Company is in. So, another guy walks by, and I said, “Hey, where‟s Charlie Company?” “You new Lt?” “Yeah.” “Huh, Charlie Company is right down there.” So, I go there. There‟s four guys sitting down there, no shirts on. They‟re playing bridge. So, I… “You the new Lt.?” “Yes.” [both laugh] 00:46:05 V: “Is Captain Lamb here?” So, Captain Lamb, who‟s all of 5‟8”, 130lbs., looks up and he says, “I‟m Captain Lamb. And you‟re Lieutenant -?” “Pitetti.” “Pitetti. I didn‟t know how to pronounce that name.” I said, “It‟s Italian, sir.” He goes, “You know how to play bridge?” “Yeah.” “Okay, good,” he said. All of the sudden, we have impacts. 82mm impacts. Pwah-pwah in the air. And I‟m looking like, should I do something? He goes, “Sit down, Lt.” “Well, shouldn‟t I go out to my platoon?” �“Look it, they‟ve been taking care of themselves pretty well before you arrived, okay? So, they‟ll know what to do.” I: [laughs] V: So, I go out and take over my platoon and this is-this is. A lot of times people say they‟re the new guys when they‟re all just enlisted men, but for a lieutenant, it‟s hairy, too. So, you go out there. I go out there to my platoon and my bunker area. So, a guy comes up to me. “You new Lt.?” “Yes.” “Here‟s the f-ing compass, here‟s the f-in‟ map, and this f-in‟ platoon is all yours. And, Lt.? You better have your shit together.” And he walks off. So, that was, that was the introduction to, to, hello. 00:47:40 V: So, Captain Lamb says, “Get your stuff, go around and introduce yourself to your platoon. Then, come back here.” So, I said, “Fine, okay.” I come back here. He goes, “We got about five days before we go back out in the field. We‟re up here at the firebase, we‟re pulling perimeter for the firebase. Look, you will be actually able to get half a pint of milk tomorrow for breakfast. Enjoy it. Okay, you‟re going to get some hot food, just one hot food meal a day. Enjoy it. And, I want to get you up to snuff here before we head back out to the field, okay?” “Okay, right.” “So, tomorrow, I want you to take a squad out and riff the area. Go around the perimeter of the firebase to see if there‟s any trails or anything that looks suspicious.” “Okay.” So, I go out there and we do a riff. We stop every once in a while, in position. Ya know, I‟ve got point man, slack man, me. Think I got that down. So, we‟re going around. We come back up. I come back to him. And he said, “Well, how‟d it go?” It was like six hours that we were out there. So, I said, “Well, there doesn‟t seem to be anything out there.” He goes, “I got a pretty good report back from some of the guys. Said you kind of knew what you were doing. This is a good start.” I: [laughs] �V: So he says, “Come out here.” So, he‟s standing, he‟s got his back to outside, looking towards Laos. He says, “I want you to look over my shoulder. Don‟t stare, just look over my shoulder.” This is Captain Lamb. I just kind of went with it. I said, “Yes.” “Do you see that sort of terrain, that hill about a click out that you can see the top of it,” he goes. “Okay. Tomorrow, you‟re going to combat assault there because some equipment was left out there. You gotta go out, and I want you to get that equipment. Load it back on helicopters. Then,” he said, “I want you to lead your platoon back here, and I want you here by nightfall.” “Okay.” 00:49:43 I: Who had been running your platoon before you got there? V: Ah, good question. I believe Lt. Campbell had? Lt. Jim Campbell, who I communicated with just recently. Burkey, Sgt. Burkey was a platoon sergeant. Ah, another story. So, that same day I took over the platoon, Burkey is running. He had been taken out of the field, he had, he was short, he had maybe 30 days left. He was running re-supply from Camp Evans up to Rakkasan, Firebase at Rakkasan. And he found out that there was a new officer to take over 3rd platoon. He also was involved in this, “Are you the new Lt.?” So, he comes over to the bunker and I‟m sitting there, and he goes, “You the new Lt.?” I said, “Yeah.” He goes, he walks over and goes, “I‟m Sergeant Burkey.” He says, “You take care of my boys, Lt., you hear me? You take care of my men.” “Yes, Sergeant, I will do my best to take care of your men.” So, this was all. So, anyways. I go out, okay, and Lamb says to me when I‟m going out to do this, he says, “You‟re going to be in lead ship. That‟s the way we do it here, Ken. You‟re lead ship, and you‟re responsible for, once you land, to bring in all the rest of the helicopters, to bring in your platoon, and then reload the supply and lead your people back here.” “Okay.” “By the way,” he said, “we‟re going to hit it with artillery and you‟re going to have Cobra gun ships with you.” You know, [gestures], okay? �So, we‟re up there, circling, about six choppers, about six Hueys. And below us, they‟re just hitting the shit out of this thing with artillery. I don‟t think it was from Rakkansan. It had to be from another flyover, O‟Reilly or something. It was 155s, and 155s were too under range at that place, so the artillery had to be coming from another Firebase. So, I‟m watching as the place is exploding and I‟m going, “Okay, I‟m glad they prepped me for this.” 00:52:02 V: And then, my helicopter peels off by itself and starts approaching this thing, and through, from the outside come these two Cobras. And they are just hitting this thing with rockets. [Rocket noises]. And I‟m looking over there, and as we go the machines, the M-60s off the side of the helicopter are just strafing the hell out of this thing. And the bullets, the casings, are coming in and hitting my helmet, you know? So, and this is funny you know, I gotta replay this. So, I jump, we jump off of the helicopter and I hit and I roll, and you know, I‟m upside-down, and I‟m backwards, and I‟m laying there. We‟re all laying there, and nothing‟s happening, so I look over to my radio man and he says, “Okay, Lt., pop a green smoke and bring in the rest of the choppers.” “Got it.” [pats himself] “I don‟t know where my green smoke is.” And he says, “What? You don‟t know where your smoke is?” “No.” He says, “Look, Lt., all‟s you have to do, all‟s we‟re asking you to do, is pop the green smoke and bring the rest of the platoon in.” I said, “I got that, but let me look and see if I can find the green smoke.” So, he‟s on the radio, and he says, “Okay, you want me to tell these people up here that everything is on hold until you find the green smoke?” I said, “Don‟t say anything. [pause] I got the green smoke!” And he goes, “Lt., now go out there and pop it and bring in the rest of the, the rest of the helicopters. Now, you know how to do that, right?” I said, “I got it.” So, I pop the green smoke, bring in the rest of the platoon. We get back to the firebase that night, come in, and so, I report to Captain Lamb. He said, “Hey, you didn‟t do bad.” He said, “You know, I got some good reports on you.” He said… I: Is there anything notable about the walk back? It was your first time actually out there. 00:54:02 �V: We went, I went very slow. And, you know, one of the things I think that really impressed the guys is that I was up front. Point man, slack man, me. And, we would go slow and sit down for a while, listen. Go slow, sit down for a while, listen. Didn‟t take trails, cut through some jungle. And, then, we had approached the perimeter from a certain location to be let into the wire. They were waiting for us at this place so you couldn‟t approach it from any other location. I got them back there, no casualties. Everything went well. You know, neat. I think I know what I‟m doing. So, that‟s when Lamb begins to say, “Well, maybe this guy will be good, maybe he‟s going to work out.” I: And what was your impression of Lamb himself? How good of a commander was he? V: Lamb was a… quiet commander, so when he talked, it was best that you listened. He was not a rah-rah guy. He was, I think this was his third tour. He was, he was, uh, he was – I: A Mustang? V: A mustang. He was, he spent his first tour as an NCO. And, he knew his stuff. I mean, he was a good Company Commander, I felt. I mean, I only had one company commander to compare him to, but I felt he handled me pretty damn well in determining what I should do. I gotta tell you another story, and this is an example of how, given that it‟s 1970, you get the attitude that is not that high sometimes. There was one time that when I first arrived that Lamb set a listening post over there past the re-supply landing post, so that you have three people over there at that listening post. “I want you to go over there with a radio man and see how they‟re doing.” 00:56:16 V: “Okay.” So, I went over there. They are sitting in a circle playing cards, with their bags, just playing cards. Just, they were on a picnic. So, well, how do you handle this? Okay, so I walk in and I say, “Who‟s winning?” They all look up. “Are you the new Lt.?” “Yes.” Now, I said, “Look, I‟m going to put you in positions I think you should be in. And, when I leave, you can go back to playing cards, but then your parents may get, “The Department of the Army regrets to inform you that your son was killed.” And I may have to write back to your parents and say, “Well, I didn‟t know them very well, but they were healthy the last time I saw them.” I said, “It‟s your call. You can take your positions and stay there and do your job as a soldier, or you can go back to playing cards, but I‟ll be back sometime.” That‟s the way I kind of handled things, in terms of, I didn‟t feel it was my place. You had Leaf in the front, you had the understanding that you had 19- 20- year-old kids who had been hearing all of this anti-war information, had probably had demonstrations outside wherever they did their bootcamp, their AIT, were actually questioning why they were there, and here they were. And, �you know. That‟s the way they felt and you had to tell them what they should do, but when you turn your back, they could do whatever they want. But, basically, they were great guys. They were good men. 00:58:09 I: Now, how long did you actually spend in the field? V: I was there for almost four months before I got wounded. I: And then, proportionally, how much time did you spendV: I spent I: Not on firebases orV: I was on that firebase for four days, and then I was never on another firebase. We had a short stand down that we went down to Eagle Beach, but most of the time, we were in the field. That was the standard operating procedure of the 101st, that you had any battalion that was in charge of a firebase, and you had a company around the firebase for security, and you had companies out in the jungle on patrol. I: And when you‟re out on patrol, what‟s the purpose of that? V: I think, looking back, I think we were bait. [Laughs] We were supposed to identify areas that we felt there was a lot of travel going on, pull ambushes, identify bunker complexes, just try in any way to prevent the movement of the enemy, prevent them from developing stores, caches of food or weaponry. That was, I mean, that was basically what we were looking for. 000:59:58 V: I felt that, I mean, I felt that we kinda were bait because we knew once we came in contact, we had all this support fire. And most of the time, that was where most of the enemy casualty occurred. It didn‟t occur from the M-16 or the M-60s, but sometimes it did. But the NVA were really good about getting their wounded and dead out of the area. They would not leave their people. But, where I think they took a lot of their casualties was our support, our artilleries, our F-4 and Cobra support. That‟s where I think they took their loss. So, I think looking back, that‟s what we were there for, to bait them, to make contact, and then bring supporting fire on them. I: So, at this point this tape is about up, so we are going to pause here. I: We were talking, now, about your time out in the field of Vietnam. You had learned the ropes and sort of made the acquaintance of your men. About how many men did you actually have in your platoon? V: Depended on the day. I don‟t think there was- you were supposed to have thirty. Actually, ten to a squad, that makes thirty, then you had your platoon sergeant, your platoon medic, your platoon radio man, and your platoon leader. So, really, you should have 34 people. �I: Would you, I guess the forward observers would be at the company level. V: The forward observer would be with Cpt. Lamb, wherever Cpt. Lamb was. Cpt. Lamb would maybe be with second platoon for a while. Maybe he would be with… He never was with me. He was with First and Second Platoons. So, yeah, it was platoon operations. You worked as a platoon. So, again, you should have 34. I was lucky to have- 28 was the most I ever had. So, you maybe had seven to nine in a squad, and many a night, I would take the CP, which I should be in the middle, and I would go to the perimeter in order to fill in the perimeter. 01:01:59 V: Now, we were supposed, this is something I will say. There were decisions that had to be made, that, it‟s like we talked about Hill 902, and how, perhaps, they shouldn‟t have been there that second night. And I know people watching this stuff don‟t know what we‟re talking about. [Pitetti‟s company had been overrun on that hill on July 2, 1970 because they had stayed there a second night] And, perhaps, another company commander would have found a reason to move off that hill. I would be called up and say, “You should put an ambush at this location.” If I, if I take an ambush out, they‟re up all night. My platoon is down to two squads. Maybe, maybe sixteen men in a platoon pulling the perimeter, with another group maybe 100-150m away. So, I would call off my ambush, and there would be no ambush. We would be in a platoon perimeter. So, you had to do those sometimes, because day after day, your men became exhausted. There were so many things you had to worry about as a platoon leader: A, you‟d get the order in the morning of where to be by that night. Captain Lamb would say basically that was where he wanted us to be by that night. You instructed your platoon, your squad leaders and squad sergeant because you knew because by that day, every day, you could be gone. You acquainted them with what you were doing, where in the map you were, what the direction was, what the purpose of that day was, where you should be that night, and, were something to happen, where was your rallying point, where do you get your men to with the helicopters. 01:03:57 V: Now, during that day, you had, you‟d go down the ravines, I mean, the map was just contour lines, and you would go down into the ravines and up into the ravines. You were, a, you had to find in the line of march water, because guys would go through a gallon and a half of water a day. So, you made sure you crossed the Green Line to get water for your men. You didn‟t want them to reach position that night with empty canteens. So, you had that to worry about. You had to stay off trails, but you had to be at a certain location by that night. So, you would walk down this trail for maybe 100m and then you‟d get off and go this way to get off of them. �You were constantly, you had your point man and slack man, and any time the point man saw something he didn‟t like, he would go like this, and he would look at me, and he would come up, you would go down, you would go up, you would look, you would assess the situation. Do I just continue? Should I bring my squads up flanking? Are we into a, flanking me? Are we in a situation where I need to watch my flanks? So, all of these were decisions you had to make, and where were you on the map. Where were you on that map? Because, if you did not know, and if you got in trouble, you couldn‟t direct artillery, you couldn‟t direct leadership, you couldn‟t bring in medevac. And, by the way, as you‟re going along here, what if you do get hit? Where are you going to medevac? Where are you going to bring your guys to medevac? How‟re you going to get there? 01:05:54 V: So, there‟s all this logistic, and, by the way, guys are running out of boots. Guys need boots. So, you better get back to the S4, you‟d better get back. These boots, these pants are falling apart. So, you had those logistics that your platoon sergeant had to worry about. He was in constant communication with you. So, you had those logistics. And, okay, when you arrive that night, how are you going to get into that night defensive position? Because you better not do the same thing every night, because you had trail watchers. You knew you had trail watchers on you. You knew the NVA was watching you, every day, and they would know how you, what your line of march was, how you would set up for a night defensive position. So, you had to come up with different ways of setting up your night defensive position, and never the same thing. And, so, all that you were trying to run, and then, by the way, you were on two hours energy. Everyone was on until 10:00 that night, and then you‟d go on two-hour watches. You would maybe get six hours of broken sleep that night, pulling, maybe a 2-4 watch. And then you‟d get to do the same thing the next day. That was the most exhausting, both physically, mentally and psychologically, that I think I have ever experienced, was trying to stay up like that every day. I: What kind of system did they have to keep you supplied? V: Every four days, you got a resupply. I: Would that come in in the morning usually? V: Whenever. You didn‟t know. You‟d get the order from Cpt. Lamb to find a position to bring in re-supplies and call back that position when you get it. And that‟s when I told you the funny story about C4, that‟s what we were doing. We were bringing in resupply. So, I‟d get it every four days, weather permitting. You would be responsible for finding the place where they came in, and you‟d hand out the C-rations. 01:08:05 �V: And, the first, and the other thing was that the mail would come with it. You got 19-, 20year-old guys. They got girlfriends, they‟re writing letters to their mom, or whatever. Now these guys, if they got the letter, they would sit there, and they would act like they were in their living room on a Sunday reading the paper reading their letters, you know. They would forget all about the fact that there was a war going on. So, what I had to do, was when the re-supply came in, I had one of the platoons- one of the squads load up and start out and start going in the direction that I wanted to go. Usually, I would put my platoon sergeant with them and say, “I want you to get to this area and secure this line of march.” So, as soon as stuff was unloaded, you would start giving it out to your squads. C-rations, a third of the c-rations you would just throw away. You would not need all of that stuff, and you had to carry the stuff. And c-rations are heavy. They‟re not like the stuff that they have, whatever they call that. So, a lot of guys would throw stuff away. You had to empty the camp, remember, men, do not leave anything for the enemy. You had to empty your cans and make sure nobody left the empty cans. They would use them as, they would put a grenade in them and leave it out in the pathway, if you‟re using along the trails. Some G.I. would come along and kick it. So, you had that to worry about, guys who wanted to read their mail from home, and you said, “No. We‟re going to up and get the hell out of here, because we just marked our position.” And it wasn‟t until maybe 4:00 that evening when I knew we had made enough, had traveled far enough, close to our night defensive position, that I would sit down, make sure everybody got what they were supposed to get, whether it be enough machine gun M-60 bullets or whatever, and give them time to read the letters. And then, head off again to our night defensive position. 1:10:20 V: So, to me, resupply day every four days was a pain in the ass because you had that human nature, and you wanted to just sit down and say, “Forget the war Lt., let me read my letter from my girlfriend, or from my mom! Let me just experience a few minutes of just enjoying this.” And you‟d say, “No, you can‟t, we‟ve gotta move out. Come on, let‟s go.” So, those were some of the things you had to do to keep people alive. I: One of the things I noticed before we started this interview, you were showing me some clips that the 101st Airborne had had, and there were a lot of guys out in the field very close together. When you‟re actually marching, how far apart are you? V: It depends on terrain. Most of the jungle was pretty damn thick, so if you string out 28 guys, 28-25 guys, all single file through the jungle, they might be, they might be five to ten meters, feet apart. Some places, you would lose sight of the man in front of you in a matter of five meters. So, it‟s important to keep your men together, but not too close together. Now, what, what the hell was going on behind me, I had no clue. That was the squad leaders and the platoon sergeants. I was focused on point man, slack man, me. And, right behind me was a radio with an antenna on it, to say to the enemy, you know something, the guy with the radio was the platoon leader. So, �there were a whole lot of other things, so I expected the squad leaders and platoon sergeant to make sure that guys didn‟t get lost, and that they weren‟t clustered up, but they weren‟t so far away that they couldn‟t see one another. I don‟t know if that answers your question, but it was thick. Now, there were sometimes that the area would become sparse. There was, Agent Orange was being dropped, so there were like splotches of jungle that were dead. So, you would hit that, point man would hit that, bring me up, and what I would do, I would circumvent, send a couple squads this way and a squad this way, and we would circumvent. We wouldn‟t walk through that area. Now, you could see people and it was easier to travel with that. Those were the only times that I remember that we didn‟t go single file. I: How much actual contact did you have with any enemy ground troops as opposed toV: You had, it was whenever they wanted to make contact with you. There were sometimes when we would look back. There was one day we saw a trail watcher. We knew he was calling, we felt he was calling. He was with a radio man, so we felt this guy might be calling league too [?]. It was a rush for me to get to Cpt. Lamb, to get artillery up to that area, and I guess we won because we didn‟t get hit. They, there was one time they hit us, it was in the morning. And we were just beginning to break camp, if you will, heading out in the direction we were supposed to go. And they hit us with full RPGs. And they hit one of the guys really bad. He fell out over the, there was a slight cliff that was there, and the men rallied real well, they had just got back down to their positions to begin to re-fire. We got the kid that was wounded was wounded real bad and we knew we had to get a medevac out real soon. The thing is, they were beginning to figure out our line of march. They were beginning to booby trap all of the old LZs in the area. They were starting to booby trap all of the trails in the area. And, so therefore once… So, there we are and I know there‟s an LZ in about 300m, and we‟re going to have to take the trail. If we‟re going to get this guy out, we‟re going to have to take the trail. 01:15:13 V: So, I just said, you know, “Give me point man.” And this guy instantly stands up with his M16. And, I‟m saying this because I want to tell the people listening the courage, and the service, and how they felt about their fellow soldiers, to do anything to make sure they saved them. So, he has to get up and takes the machine gun, and he starts boppin this thing. [gun noises] Nailing that gun, hitting areas in front of us, and we‟re carrying this kid through the trail and onto the LZ. Medevac comes in, we get him on the medevac. Haven‟t hit a mine yet. And we get back to the perimeter. They had receded. I think they got what they wanted. They were telling us, “We‟re here.” And, that‟s an example of what would happen. Bang, they would just hit you. You would return fire, stand your ground, and try to get your wounded out. That was our life. �01:16:27 I: In the space of about four months, how many times do you think you would have that sort of contact? V: About four or five times we had actual contact. I: Then how common was it to hit booby traps or mines? V: Oh, the last two weeks I was there, it was, monsoons had set in and it slowed everything down. We weren‟t getting in resupply because of the weather. It‟s hard to think about being cold in the jungle, but when its been raining for 24 hours, never stops, not one stitch of clothing is dry. It‟s all wet. And, at night it gets down to 68 degrees up there, up in the mountains, and you are cold. Your guys start getting sick and running fevers. And I would say, in those two weeks, all of us were sick. And they began, you could hear during the day, the other units hitting land mines. You could hear them going off. And, what I‟m going to say is, I didn‟t want to tell this story because I wasn‟t sure about this story, about what happened the last day I was there. But, just about four years ago, I hooked up with the then platoon sergeant, my then platoon sergeant, Chuck Riley. We‟ve been talking, and in fact, we communicate a lot via email. 01:18:11 V: And so, he said to me, “Do you want to know what happened?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, I said… Basically here‟s what I think. We had three units, three platoon units. Cpt Lamb had fallen hard on. So, we had a West Point guy that was platoon leader. He‟s a good man. And First Platoon, that Lt. had stepped on a land mine earlier that morning. So, then it was just him and me, there were two more Lt.‟s left. And then, that lieutenant got into problems, his platoon got into problems, and he hit a land mine. So, they called up to me, my call sign was 2-5, 2-3. They said, “2-3, this is 7-Alpha.” 7 was the company commander, 7-Alpha was the radio man. He said, “2-3, you are now 7. We need you.” And, I said, “I think he‟s telling me that explosion we heard got that lieutenant.” Now, I‟m trying not to, this is two weeks of being out in the rain, trying to get through the jungle, being exhausted. And, I just wasn‟t thinking right. And, I said, “We gotta move, we gotta move.” And, I know Chuck said, “Don‟t go down that trail, Lt.” “We‟ve gotta move closer,” I said. “We gotta hook up, we gotta hook up. We‟re in trouble.” And, bang, I hit the landmine. 01:19:58 �V: And, basically, he came out and put a tourniquet on my leg, and guys in the platoon came out and laid down fire so he could recover me back into the jungle. And then, and then he called in a Medevac. And when the Medevac came, we had two wounded guys on that thing. They picked me up with a jungle penetrator, because they couldn‟t land. There was no place to land. I: So, what is a jungle penetrator? V: A jungle penetrator is a little seat on the end of a metal rope. So, he had to come over and hover and send it down. And Chuck Riley literally had me on his back and carried me and slapped me into the seat. And he was yelling to the radio man to tell them to pull it up. So, I‟m coming up, and there are tracers going through the air. [Laughs] And I‟m going, “You know, I don‟t think this is going to be good.” And, so, the helicopter pilot, and I‟ve been trying to find this guy, begins to move. I‟m dangling from the helicopter. He wants to get out of the area, so he‟s trying to clear me above the trees. And they‟re wheeling me in at the same time. So, they‟re wheeling me in and I‟m going like this, and you know, it‟s completely out of your control. So, I‟m going along a tree top. They‟re wheeling me into the helicopter. And so, the guy pulls me into the helicopter. There were so many casualties that day that the bottom of the helicopter that day was thick with blood, sticky blood. So, I hit the bottom and I‟m going like this in blood. And the guy that pulled me in looks at my leg and looks at me, and says, you‟re yelling over the thing, says, “You‟re okay. Hang in there.” 01:22:10 V: And he turns around, and he‟s working on a guy on the other side of the helicopter. And I‟m going, “Okay? I‟m okay.” And I yell out, and I go, “Do you have any morphine?” He turns around and says, “We ran out this morning.” So, he goes back over, and he‟s working on the guy on the other side. And, I hear the guy who was just talking to me yell, “Oh my god, we lost another one. We lost another one.” And he just leans over the guy. So, I‟m laying there, and I look up, and there‟s this guy sitting above me, and he‟s got a thing on his face, a big old bloody Band-Aid on his face, and his right arm is gone. It‟s, it‟s a stump. And so, I‟m looking up at him, and he‟s looking down at me with one eye, and I reach up and we just grab one-another‟s hand. We were just trying to give one-another courage until we got to the field hospital. When you get to the field hospital, there was so many casualties that day that there was no room in the hospital. They were laying us out in the mud because it was still raining. It was just, this was like a scene from the Civil War. �And so, I‟m out there, and this nurse, these nurses, and may I say, the nurses were fantastic. They were the angels over there. Those nurses probably saw more in a year than most nurses see in a lifetime. And I know many of those nurses from stories I‟ve heard came back with PTSD just as bad as many of us guys did. And there was nobody for them either, to talk to them about the carnage that they saw. They were only 22, 23, 24 year-old lieutenants, the nurses, and they were the angels. 01:24:17 V: So, this nurse kept on coming over to me. She would fade in and out. She would grab me by the hand and say, “Honey, you hang in there, you hear? We‟re going to get you into the operating room. I don‟t know when, but you hang in there and we‟re going to take care of you.” Eventually, they got me into the operating room. And for those who aren‟t looking at me, when I stepped on a land mine, it blew my leg off about six inches below my knee. It‟s called a traumatic amputation. Very common wound sustained by many of us given the landmines that were there lined up. So, that‟s my story with how I survived. So, to those people looking at me, I‟m a miracle. [Laughs] And when I came home, and when I came to after the operation, I thought about all that had happened. And I thought about the men in my platoon and in my company. And I thought about those two pilots that came and got me out of there. And I said to them that I felt that I owed them, that I had to live my life paying those people back. I owed them to live a good life, and I think I have. I: I want to back track to a couple of things here. There are sorts of stereotypes that people have about Vietnam and what happened there, and it doesn‟t often necessarily fit with reality. Sometimes it does. One of them has to do with the drug use. Were you aware of that, or did you see it either in the field or not? 01:26:00 V: [Sighs] When we were in the field, I can honestly say that I was not aware of any of it in my company, okay? Now, on Firebase, I made sure I made rounds to bunkers each night to make sure there was a man in their position and that nothing funny was going on while we were on base. When we were out in the field… So, I‟ll tell you how I know this. If I pulled, say, the first watch from 1012, I would have the guy that took the watch from 2-4 wake me up at 2. And then I would go around to each of our positions. I would make sure that there was somebody on watch. Okay, so that‟s how I can say I didn‟t see it. On the Firebase, I didn‟t see it. Now, we had a stand down, and in the stand down, we came out of the field. You took all of your clothes off and put them in a big pile and they burned them. You got, like, wow, clean, dry clothes to wear. No, wait a minute, you got a shower! A shower! So, after soaping up about four or five times, you got out and you got these clean clothes on, and on that night, it was a tradition �that the officers went out and bought the booze. And the order was, you had steaks. And the order was, you will be drunk by midnight. Now, were there guys that went off and smoked weed? Hey, I don‟t know. I just told my men, “Hey, look. I‟m going to get drunk tonight, and I‟m going to get drunk with you guys. So, if you want to do anything else, it‟s your call, but if you get caught, I‟m really going to get pissed off. Okay?” 01:28:11 V: And that‟s all I said. So, was there anything going on at a big stand down, at the big, big Camp Evans, where you had the perimeter set up and we weren‟t soldiering at that time? There could have been. I‟m sure there was. But that‟s what I know about the drugs. I: Yes, that‟s the idea: what did you see where you were. V: Yes, that is what I know about it. I: And another big thing is racism. There was a lot of tension back home. You get a lot of kids from back home that brought it with them. Did you see signs of that? V: If you were back at a main base, like Camp Evans, there were areas where white men weren‟t supposed to go. There were areas where black men weren‟t supposed to go. Back where the war wasn‟t, there were racial issues. The little, the few days I was at Camp Evans, I did experience some of that, so there was no doubt there were racial issues. Out on the field, it didn‟t exist because of the situation you were in. Now, what was happening back at Camp Evans, I‟m sure there was some racial strife going on. And rightly so. I mean, look. Let‟s put me into, let‟s turn my skin into black, and have me raised, rather than in the neighborhood I was in San Francisco, say I was black and raised in Hunter‟s Point, and I got into the army. And, I couldn‟t get a job when I was young, but the idea of going to college wasn‟t there. And, then when I go to Vietnam, I may have felt the same way, that what am I fighting for. 01:30:10 V: So, I tend to try and put myself into other people‟s shoes. I‟m not blaming anybody who is black or white who had those feelings at that time. Again, if I was in their shoes I might have felt- I probably would have felt the same way. But, they were there. And, so, they still exist today. I don‟t see it. I‟m a retired officer, I go out to McConnell Air Force Base every day, just about. I work out there and I don‟t see a racial problem that existed, but we were being drafted at that time, that‟s in the military now. I went back to Fort Campbell and I visited troops back there, and I didn‟t feel the racial strife that I felt in the service. And that‟s because everybody has to realize, look what was happening in the 60s. I lived through two race riots in San Francisco. There were just, cities were burning. Civil Rights was huge at that time. You had Eldridge Cleaver. You had leaders of the black community that were speaking out about their rights, and, there were people that, I would too if I was black. I would �have said, “Here, you know you‟re right. There should be more…” You had Malcom X. Kane. I can remember listening to all of those people and going to an Eldridge Cleaver talk in San Francisco. And you get the feeling that maybe if I were black, I‟d start feeling this way too. So, that‟s where I come from. And, by the way, we had a foster son who was black. White people are naïve when it comes to the undercurrent of racism that exists in our society. And, I only knew about that by having a black kid in my family and raising him. To see through his eyes and see his experiences, I was able to see racism that existed as an undercurrent in this society. So, that‟s where I‟m at with that. 01:32:28 I: Alright. So, back to the main line of your story. So, initially you were in a field hospital in Vietnam. Were you at Camp Evans initially this period or were at Eagle, or… V: When I originally arrived? I: Yeah. V: When I originally arrived, I was in Da Nang, I flew up to Phu Bai I: Actually, on your way out. V: Oh! On my way out. So I‟m flown from Quang Tri, that was where the field hospital was, to Denae. What they would do was that they would stabilize you at the field hospital for 24 hours. Once stabilized, they would fly you into Da Nang. Da Nang was the main thoroughfare through which you either went to Japan or you went back to the States. When I arrived in Da Nang, they determined that I was stable and there wasn‟t a reason why I couldn‟t make the flight back to the States and start my rehabilitation back in the States. So, I was flown from Da Nang to the Philippines, to Hawaii, and into Travis Air Force Base in California. They flew me out to Fort Simmons Hospital in Denver because my wife had gone back with her mom. She‟s from Dodge City with her parents while I was over there. She came up and joined me in Denver. 01:33:53 V: After about three weeks there, I convinced the powers that be that look, all of my stuff is back in San Francisco. My car is back in San Francisco. Carol was pregnant at the time and needed to start seeing an assistant doctor every week. And she‟s between Dodge City and Denver. We knew nobody, well, we knew somebody in Denver, but all of our belongings are in San Francisco. So, they flew me out, back to Travis and down to the hospital where I rehabilitated and started my master‟s degree and my teaching credentials. Got my teaching credentials, coached football and taught in San Francisco. We moved out to Kansas. I taught high school and I coached football and basketball. And in the summers because of the GI bill I stayed there a year to get my master‟s in biology. So, I got my master‟s. That was 1980. Two years after that, I decided I wanted to go back and get a PhD. So, I was accepted in the University of Texas Southwest Medical School and started there in 1982. I was 35 years-old. I went full time. Four years and �three weeks later, I received my PhD. Worked a post-oc, spent a little bit of a post-oc at University of Texas Southwest Medical School. Great people, I learned so much there. They were fantastic. Got a job up here at Wichita State thirty years ago. I‟m teaching pathophysiology, clinical physiology, I‟m in the Department of Physical Therapy, to the doctor students of physical therapy. I see nursing students, I teach PA students. So, I teach all of the people that would be in all of your health professions here at the College of Health Professions here at Wichita State. Most of my research has been with disabled populations. I focused on kids with developmental disabilities in my past 20, 25 years. And that‟s probably where I‟m going to leave my mark. I‟m still focusing on working with kids with developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities: down syndrome, autism, those type of kids. 01:36:19 V: I enjoy it, I love it. I get paid for what I do. I love research, I love writing, I love teaching my kids, I love to be around them. I‟m living a dream, that‟s what I‟m doing, and I‟m paying back the guys that saved my life in Vietnam. I: You also mentioned that when you got back you had your share of PTSD and other events… V: Oh, yeah, continued, continued events would happen. As I, out of nowhere, for instance, I flew into Washington DC one time. I would be flown back there sometimes to be an evaluator of research proposals for, like, the VA or NIDRR, research for disabled people. And you would be flown back there, and you would review different proposals, determine and rank the proposals as you would see fit. I knew some people back at George Washington University that I did research with, so I would use the time I went out there to hook up with my colleagues, at George Washington. They were part of my research team and they were part of doing what we were doing. I went to a social event that was put on by GW, George Washington. I don‟t mean to be derogatory or cause any ill feelings, I‟m sure George Washington is a great university. But, you have to remember that academia, in my generation, there was that culture, the anti-war culture, and that anybody that served in Vietnam, there was something wrong with us. 01:38:03 V: And, I was at a party, and this woman that was my age there with her daughter who was about nine, and she said something like, “I heard you were in Vietnam.” And, I think somebody put her up to this. I really do. She was standing next to her mother, and I said, “Yeah.” I told her yeah. And she goes, “Why would you do something as stupid as that?” Now, I know that nine-year-old was put up to say that. And I look at her mother, and her mother was just smiling, like, boy you deserve this. Just stuff like that. �And I said, “Well, this is not my party.” And I said, “Ma‟am, you have a nice evening. Girl, you have a nice evening. Good luck to you and your life.” I then went over to my friends and said, “I‟m leaving.” And left. It‟s stuff like that that would appear every once in a while, out of nowhere. It‟s just like someone came over and just slapped you right across the face. I: Now, today, you are pretty connected and well-involved with other veterans. V: Sure. I: And when did you start making those connections? V: I think most of us… I think Gary Gillian was very active in our Charlie Company organization said it the best way I know how. He said, “You know, for twenty years, we buried it. And for the next ten, we ran away from it. And finally, somewhere around 2000, we said, „Enough of this, we are getting too old. We gotta start reaching out.‟” And that‟s where we started reaching out. So, I‟m at the commissary one day. And I, every once in a while, I get a 101st Airborne hat and I‟d be wearing it cocked, and I‟d be walking around with it. And, I go and work out, just about every afternoon, and after I work out, I go to the commissary. Carol Sue always has a little list that I have to pick up, so I pick up a list of groceries and I head home. 01:40:04 V: So, one of the guys over there, one of the clerks, was a Vietnam veteran, and he said, “You worked with the 101st.” And I said, “Yeah.” And he said, “You gotta meet somebody. You gotta meet somebody.” I said, “Sure, John. Yeah.” And he said, “I know somebody from the 101st.” And so, I‟m out there a couple of weeks later, and John comes up to me and he said, “Ken, don‟t go anywhere.” “Oh, okay.” A guy comes over, says, “John told me you were in 101st.” I said, “Yeah.” And he goes, “So, who were you with?” Pft, like you‟re going to know who I was with. I said, “I was with 2nd of 506.” He said, “Oh, you were with Currahees.” �I mean, who would know that. I: Yes, it‟s a nickname of the Battalion. V: Yes, it‟s a nickname of the Battalion. So, I go, “Yeah.” Then he goes, “What company were you with?” I said, “Charlie Company?” He goes, “I was with Delta.” I said, “For real?” He said, “Yeah, I was with Delta.” So, I go, “Okay.” And he hands me the card and says, “Look, if you‟re interested in getting back with your crew, just send me an email,” and said, “I will hook you up.” I‟m going, right. So, I said, “I‟ll take the card.” And I put it in my pocket. “Well, it was nice meeting you.” And he‟s getting the feeling, you know, that I‟m kind of disking him. So, I‟m walking out and he says, “Oh, by the way, Currahee.” And that just stopped with in my tracks, because I hadn‟t heard anybody say that, that Currahee. I turned around and looked at him, and he said, “Think about it.” 01:42:04 V: So, I go back to the car, get in the car and go back home. And, I take the card and I have it on my desk at home, and I put it there like that. And I‟m working on the thing, and I‟m looking at it like, do I? Do I open this door? I think I know what happened while I was over there. But, does my platoon really want to talk to me? I mean, I left them in a mess. Do they have ill-feelings and hard feelings towards me? How am I going to be greeted if I see these guys? So, Carol comes by and she looks over my shoulder and asks, “What‟s that?” And I tell her, and I go, “Babe, I don‟t know whether to open that door.” She goes, “You have no choice. You‟re opening this door.” And I said, “Yes, ma‟am.” So, I email him, and I get hooked up with Charlie Company, and I‟ve been with them ever since. So, it was just a chance meeting and a lot of the guys that we try to get to the reunions, you‟re talking about guys that are in their late sixties, Jim. They‟re afraid, like I was. What are the people going to think of me? �And you say, “Look, when you come, you will have closure like you‟ve never had closure before. You will be with people who understand you.” And to each man that has come back from the first visit, it has been that way. So, it has been, for all of us who put up with all of these decades of hiding from it, of not wanting to talk about it, we finally are stepping forward and saying, “Look at us. We served our country. We fought for our country. Enough of this feeling towards us. Respect us.” 01:44:04 V: And, I think after two generations of the strife that happened, like the kids that I teach now, they don‟t know about Vietnam. And they look at me and go, “You served in combat? Holy cow. Wow!” You know, I‟m put up on a pedestal by the generation that I teach. That‟s what, after two generations, we got away from that. Am I still pissed off at my generation? Big time, okay, big time, but you have to put it besides yourself. And I really hope that the new PBS that is coming out on Vietnam, and from what I‟ve read, they do a pretty good job. I: I‟ve actually seen parts of it and he does a very good job at making it very balanced with all of the different perspectives and giving people the time to talk. There are a lot of asides and he does not pull a lot of punches. V: Good, good. I trust from his previous productions that he‟ll do a good job. I: Now, if you were to put together sort of a balance sheet of how the military experience as a whole has affected you as a whole and include the training and so forth as well as Vietnam, what stands out for you? How did all of that affect you, other than losing part of your leg? V: I, again, I was raised surrounded by people who served in World War II, and I read a lot of history when I was a kid. Catholic upbringing, you read a lot, and you read a lot of history. I was aware of the things that happen in our history to give us the freedom that we have. And, I always wondered, what was it like on D-Day? What were those guys thinking about when the front of that landing barge went down, and they had to walk out on that beach? What was it like for the Marines in the Philippines to have the front of that barge go down and to wade out into those waters, not knowing what you were going to hit? 01:46:12 V: Well, I found the answer to that, when you come in on a CA and you‟re lead ship on what I described to you that first time I went into. Things are blowing up all around you, and you‟re damned scared, and you‟re hoping that you don‟t do the wrong thing, and you‟re hoping no one‟s there and no one is going to shoot you. I found out what that was like, and in doing that, I became a part of that long grey line of those people that served this country, that fought for what the Constitution says. I feel really good about that. I feel like I deserved, I earned my right to be an American serving in Vietnam. That has been with me all my life. �So, to me, it made me earn what I was given. It made me realize the sacrifice and the pain people have suffered for what we stand for. I realize how easy it is back here, that you live in a survival mode, that when things are pretty tight or bad, I‟m the guy who usually tells a joke, and says, “You know guys, let me tell ya, it could be really, really worse. So, let‟s kick back and say, this is the situation and solve the problem.” So, it has allowed me to be in a leadership position and say, and mean it, “Guys, you don‟t know how bad it can get. This is nothing. Let‟s just put our heads together and figure out how to get this solved.” 01:48:05 V: I think it just makes you feel like you‟ve earned it, that you‟ve been able to help people get through tough situations in life, like let‟s take it one step at a time, and that you‟ve been a good mentor, and a good American, being that, when the time comes for me to die, I‟m going to leave it in a better shape than I found it with the people I associate and the students I associated with and helped. I feel pretty damned good being 70 years-old and being who I am now, so I think it‟s made me. And, I go through pain and discomfort every day of my life because of my leg, but that gave me more empathy to people who are disabled, who are suffering. And, I know how important it is to try to help them. So, that‟s what it‟s given me. I: Alright, well, thanks for a remarkable story. Thank you very much for taking your time to share it today. V: It‟s been my pleasure, Jim. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_PitettiK2146V Title A name given to the resource Pitetti, Kenneth (Interview transcript and video), 2017 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-07-21 Description An account of the resource Kenneth Pitetti, was born in1946 in San Francisco, California, where he was raised. He enlisted in the ROTC program at the University of San Francisco. He signed up for infantry in the Army. He received Infantry Officer Basic Training at Fort Benning. In the fall of 1969, he was assigned to the 24th Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, which, within his last two weeks of the assignment, became the 1st Division. He then participated in jungle training in Panama before being sent to Vietnam in August of 1970. He was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He spent most of his time in the field leading platoon-size patrols in the mountains and jungles in the northern part of South Vietnam. Four months into his service in Vietnam, Ken Pitetti stepped on a land mine and lost his leg just under his knee in a traumatic amputation. He was medically evacuated to a field hospital, where they performed surgery. He was sent back to the United States to recover. After his return to the United States, he faced the negative treatment and negative stigmatization that many veterans of Vietnam felt. Still, he worked to get his PhD and now is a professor at Wichita State. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pitetti, Kenneth Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/x-m4v application/pdf https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/bdae0c9d68e2dcddf2d1c00f7d6fbd57.jpg 0e3b490aa28177abb106516c7adebab1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faces of Grand Valley Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource University Communications Description An account of the resource A non-comprehensive collection of photographs of Grand Valley faculty, staff, administrators, board members, friends, and alumni. Photos collected by University Communications for use in promotion and information sharing about Grand Valley with the wider community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960s - 1990s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived GV012-03. University Communications. Vita Files Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copryight Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University College administrators College teachers Colleges and universities -- Faculty Michigan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Language A language of the resource eng Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PitmanGlen_Photo1 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Pitman, Glen Description An account of the resource Glen Pitman, Seidman School of Business Dean Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University – History College administrators College teachers Universities and colleges – Faculty Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived University Communications. Vita Files, 1968-2016 (GV012-03) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/0b41678150b82fecca3b5a153707cbbf.jpg 101bc875c8e612905a3f0a9a22f86869 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faces of Grand Valley Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource University Communications Description An account of the resource A non-comprehensive collection of photographs of Grand Valley faculty, staff, administrators, board members, friends, and alumni. Photos collected by University Communications for use in promotion and information sharing about Grand Valley with the wider community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960s - 1990s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived GV012-03. University Communications. Vita Files Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copryight Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University College administrators College teachers Colleges and universities -- Faculty Michigan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Language A language of the resource eng Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PitmanGlen_Photo2 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. University Communications Title A name given to the resource Pitman, Glen Description An account of the resource Glen Pitman, Seidman School of Business Dean Subject The topic of the resource Grand Valley State University – History College administrators College teachers Universities and colleges – Faculty Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived University Communications. Vita Files, 1968-2016 (GV012-03) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. Special Collections and University Archives Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/015170a426360d893154e3eae2ecfdca.mp4 d7531b3fc98fb55b2a1ff7db28081d57 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ce6fbb5a3f844f3305544f26b39367fc.pdf 303fb359963d77415da3552d9757c80e PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Vietnam War/ Germany Richard Pitsch Interview Length (42:02) (00:10) Family Background       Born December 4, 1952, Born and raised in Byron Center, Michigan where he lived the majority of his life (00:20). Father worked for General Motors on 36th street until his retirement at the age of 52 for medical reasons (00:42). He was aware of the Vietnam during grade school and remembered the era of military advisors. He did not think that the war would continue until his coming of age (00:58). He was eligible for the draft and his draft number was one. He withdrew from his first term at Grand Valley State University (01:35). He volunteered for the draft, which simply extended his actual enlistment for 3 months. He took the time to wrap his around what was about to happen to him (02:04). He became active duty in August 1972. He hoped that he would not go to Vietnam due to the troop draw down. However, he had some expectation that he would end up there (02:27). (03:08) Active Duty/Basic Training          He first went to processing at the induction center in Detroit, where he was given medical exams and some other testing (03:12). From there, he took a bus to Fort Knox, Kentucky near Louisville, for basic training (03:34). All different types of people were on the way to Fort Knox with him. There was no homogenous group (03:43). At the induction center, in Detroit, there were some people trying to ‘beat the draft’ by faking their hearing tests or trying to raise their heart rate or blood pressure (04:06). Less than 2% of the group did this (04:44). They arrived at Fort Knox at 4:00 AM and were told to get off the bus and line up by the drill sergeants (05:44). Footprints were on the pavement showing them where to stand. This began the indoctrination of ‘you will do what we say and when we say’ (06:00). Basic training mostly involved development of group mentality, relying on one another (06:20). He was in reasonably good shape due to his participation in athletics during high school (06:53). �   They ran everywhere when time would allow for it. The basic training had been reduced to 6 weeks from 8 weeks due to the need for troops. At times, they traveled in cattle trucks to their destination (07:13). He adjusted well to the military life and he attributes this to his experience with athletics. The loss of freedom was more difficult for him (08:20). Some men did have trouble with the lifestyle change. One guy left by hitchhiking. One man left for week and then returned. He was court martialled and sent to military prison for a time. He later returned boot camp and had to start over (08:54). (10:05) Advanced Individual Training (Fort Bliss, Texas)               After basic training, he took a plane to El Paso, Texas and trained for air defense artillery at Fort Bliss (10:21). He took a battery of test when he was at the reception center at Fort Knox, where they determined that he scored high enough on the intelligence exam to get assigned to air defense artillery [?] missiles (10:54). The systems he trained on were computer based (11:11). Advanced training at Fort Bliss was a 12-week program. There were moderate facilities, which had a 3-story barracks building (11:33). There were about 40 men in his company (11:50). The base was large and was utilized for training of various weapons systems [Hawk, Tow Missiles and Armor] (12:06). Physical training was integral to the program. He trained on the various equipment utilized for the tracking system (12:27). He was a fire control crewman. He tracked targets and designated them for attack (12:25). The system he worked on could track mid to high-level aircraft (13:27). There was no firing of missiles during training. Everything was simulated for expense reasons (14:00). Richard was happy about his assignment, because the missile system he trained on was not utilized in Vietnam. So, he knew he would not go to Vietnam and hoped for stateside orders (14:17). These missile systems were in Chicago, Detroit, New York City, San Francisco, etc. They have since been decommissioned (14:45). Advanced Individual training (AIT) allowed for more freedom. They spent time in Juarez, Mexico, which was a much different place then than it is now. The drug cartels did not have a major presence in the town. It was fun and entertaining, but they were warned that they were under the jurisdiction of the Mexican police (15:13). After AIT, he had a few weeks of leave and then reported in to Fort Dix, New Jersey in January of 1973 (17:16). (17:30) Active Duty/Germany �                         After leave, Richard took a plane from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, where he got a bus to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He then flew on a charter flight to Frankfurt, Germany (17:42). He knew the number of his unit, but nothing else (18:09). He realized that everyday army life was much less strict than training (18:26). His unit was Delta Battery 2nd Battalion 1st Air Defense Artillery (18:44). He was stationed near a small German town. He was given isolation pay, because they were basically in a rural area and away from almost everything. Most Nike Hercules units were in isolated areas (18:44). It was located in Central Western Germany, close to the Dutch border and a few miles from the Rhine (19:55). The job was to protect against air attacks versus being a front line of defense at the Eastern German border (19:33). They kept watch over the Eastern frontier looking for hostile aircraft that might enter airspace (19:42). There were approximately 100 men and 1 barracks building and a motor pool garage (19:59). At their arrival, they were greeted with ‘welcome to the end of the world’ (20:42). The fire control facility was located at the top of a hill (21:01). They reported and settled into the unit easily (21:36). Duties included operate computer, report to fire control, and run checks on equipment (21:52). They played a lot of basketball (22:28). One day a week they were hot battery, which meant that had to be within 15 minutes of the equipment. They were locked in (22:39). They had one significant scare when he was operating the radio. They received a call from headquarters telling them to man their battle stations, but the aircraft ended up being friendly (22:48). The Arab-Israeli wars affected their status for about week. They were on high alert (24:08). There was no anticipation of action from the Soviets, at the time (24:55). They trained for it though (25:05). The group of men consisted of all types of people, some educated and some not. Mix of races, too (25:14). Segregation existed, but it was voluntary. Not many people had been to Vietnam due to the type of training they had (26:06). They tried to travel when they were off duty and they met people from around the world (27:14). They were cautioned to not wear their uniforms off base due to the possibility of resentment of German nationals from WWII, but he did not encounter a lot of animosity. [Baader-Meinhof Gang] was around during this time (28:00) Richard eventually rented an apartment in town and had no issues with his landlord, who had been part of the Fascist party. He learned enough German to function (29:00). Morale of the unit was overall normal (30:13). �      The officers lacked leadership skills, except one who was ex-enlisted (31:09). They had a West Point cadet spend the summer with the unit and when he returned he left the institution (32:20). One major event that stands out to Richard is a shooting incident. A soldier on guard duty was joking with a friend and shot him in the head. They were not supposed to have live ammunition loaded in their weapons. (32:55). There was an investigation of the entire unit (33:55). In another battery a soldier opened fire and injured 2 (34:15). He left after 20 months in Germany, August 1974 (34:46). (35:00) Inactive Duty   He rotated back to the United States and was placed on inactive duty status for 2 years. If the U.S. needed him, he would be called back to active duty. These were the terms of his enlistment (35:04). He was discharged on August 9th, 1974. The day President Nixon resigned. His letter of appreciation bore Nixon’s signature (35:35). (35:50) More Information on Germany and Life after Service          While in Germany, they were aware of current events, such as Watergate (35:58). Some Germans thought Watergate would create destabilization and others were amused by it. Probably much the same way as the American public (36:45). Once Richard returned to the U.S. the economy was in poor condition (37:30). He found his first job through the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) (37:46). He was a janitor for Grandville Public Schools, first. Then he worked for RC Cola until he realized that factory work was not for him (38:01). He decided to return to school and get a trade. He received an electronics technology associates degree. Once he received his degree he began working for Lear Siegler Avionics (38:20). His training in the service brought him to this path. There is little to no comparison with the technology of the seventies and today (38:57). The computers he worked on could solve only one problem. They 12 ft. long, 2 1/2 ft. deep, and 5 ft. high. They utilized vacuum tubes and all information was fed into them from the radars (39:10). He did not want to be in the service. Most likely due to the anti-war sentiments of the 1960’s, but after he returned from the service he adopted the attitude that everyone should have to serve for a couple years. It was a positive learning experience for him (40:30). � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PitschR Title A name given to the resource Pitsch, Richard (Interview outline and video), 2011 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pitsch, Richard Description An account of the resource Richard Pitsch volunteered for the draft in the summer of 1972. He expected to go to Vietnam, but had hopes that he would not due to the troop draw down. He completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and completed his advanced training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned to air defense artillery missile system and was a fire control crewman. He spent 20 months of active duty in central Germany, near the Dutch border. He returned to the United States in August, 1974, and was on inactive duty for the next two years. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-04-12 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/63ba18730d4c3a557cc841216fca763c.mp4 55508c54a7715e57ffff597ee9f7b2a8 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7c1ae2a5214c545dc870f273e387a35a.pdf 50becc1997217504bcfcd58ce2b91a50 PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project Meldon Pitt (01:57:51) (00:22) Background Information • • • • • • • Mel was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1924 His mother died when he was 2 and his father left so he lived with his grandma He moved a lot during school Mel Graduated from Kelloggsville High School in 1942 During high school he loaded trucks for a bakery and played football In the summers he would work for his uncle on a pipeline The Air Corps would not let him join because of his color blindness so he enlisted in the Army (20:08) The Army • • • • • • • • Mel was sent to diesel mechanic school in Florida He was deployed to England in February of 1944 It was his job to fix and test broken equipment Mel made sergeant and was sent on a mission to teach other units how to waterproof a jeep On this mission he stopped for lunch at a British Wren Base that was all females and when he got back was knocked back down to private He was sent to Omaha Beach, France, 6 days after D-Day The beach was still a mess from the fighting Mel was with an ordinance company but then was reassigned to the 2nd division with the 23rd infantry regiment (37:04) Battle of the Bulge • • • • • • • He was put on the Siegfried line A 15 year old French boy started following them around and wanted to join them so they gave him a gun and some clothes When they sent him on a mission to transport two German prisoners, the boy shot them both because the Germans had killed his family Mel received a bronze star for fighting at the Bulge He got frostbite on his feet up to his ankles At one point he didn’t eat for three days Mel was split up from his unit and had to travel back towards the American side during a couple nights �• One night he hid in a kitchen and ate some hard bread with peanut butter and pineapple that he found (50:34) Ordinance Company • • • • • • • • • • • • Mel was sent back to an ordinance company to be a welder He was also the colonel’s body guard Mel was asked to bring a bus back from the front line He came up with a plan to tow the bus with a tank at night It was Mel’s job to steer the bus while the tank pulled it The bus ended up smashing into the tank, so they jumped into a ditch because they were sure the Germans had heard and would call an airstrike There was no airstrike so they got the bus out of there When he got back he was told to get parts and fix the bus so they could use it as a troop transport One morning a sergeant woke him up for breakfast and Mel shot a hole above his head, but he didn’t get into trouble because he had been in combat Mel got a flat tire on his jeep while in a convoy and had to wait an hour for a spare, so he went into a brewery and got a bunch of schnapps by shooting at the walls When he got back he was called in by the colonel and told that it was his fault that everyone was drunk and he almost got court marshaled for it The company moved up to the Russian border [border of Soviet Zone in Germany] and it was their job to make sure the Russians didn’t kill their German Prisoners (1:18:05) VE Day • • • • • They were still on the Russian border when the war in Europe ended His unit was sent to Le Havre and boarded a boat to New York On the way over to Europe he had to get on an anti-aircraft gun because of a German plane They got a ticker-tape parade when they got back Mel was sent to Camp Swift, TX and was discharged (1:28:38) Discharge • • • • • • He went home to Grand Rapids, MI by train Mel worked as a mechanic for his uncle He also bought repossessed cars from the bank to fix them up and sell them for profit Mel sold 36 cars in 30 days for the bank and they gave him a job He then went to work at banks in Traverse City, MI and Marquette, MI After that Mel started a national bank in Gaylord, MI and resigned �• • • • • Right after he was discharged he got married His wife died in 1985 Mel got married again to his former secretary He was injured during the war when a German bomb ruptured his ear drum Mel belongs to the Disabled American Veterans club � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context PittM Title A name given to the resource Pitt, Meldon (Interview outline and video) 2008 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pitt, Meldon Description An account of the resource Meldon Pitt was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1924. He graduated from Kelloggsville High School in 1942 and then went into the Army. Mel went through diesel mechanics school and then was sent to England. In England he taught people how to seal jeeps so they could go into the water when they were sent to France. Mel was transferred to an infantry company when he got to France and he fought at the Battle of the Bulge. After the Bulge he was sent back to the ordinance company and became a welder. Mel received a battle star for fighting at the Bulge and a purple heart. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Collins Sr., Charles E. (Interviewer) Collins, Carol (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans United States. Army World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Video recordings Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Text Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008-08-21 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project Collection, (RHC-27)</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/877757eb441a3a8ef99a4b6ba9e89467.mp4 d7920906c624a3265c2f38e861f9da12 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/d72be73224a22383a9df18e6dd981db8.pdf 638fd5619f81f972c251b58403102cee PDF Text Text Grand Valley State University Veterans’ History Project James Pittman Vietnam War 1 hour 7 minutes 7 seconds (00:00:12) Early Life -Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943 -Father had just moved up from Kentucky -Father, mother, and brother got jobs building tanks in Warren, Michigan (suburb of Detroit) -Family moved to Hazel Park in 1943 shortly after he was born -Grew up there -Attended high school in Hazel Park -Graduated from there in 1961 -Went to work for Carbide Tool Factory -Started off working in shipping and receiving -Went on to work in a variety of other positions during his time there (00:02:24) Getting Drafted -Received his draft notice about four to five months after he got divorced -Had a deferment by being both a husband and a father -Got drafted in March 1967 -Received a physical in the Detroit Induction Center -Draftees were trying to pass off as being gay so that they’d be rejected -Doctors and officials didn’t care -Army needed everyone who was physically fit for fighting (00:05:10) Basic Training -Sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky for basic training -Got there by way of train -Got immersed in the rapid pace of the Army almost immediately -Given a lot of mental and physical tests to see who was truly prepared for the military -He was twenty four when he started basic training -Older than most of the other recruits -Getting used to the physical routine was the hardest part of training for him -Got called “old man” by the drill sergeants -Most of training consisted of physical and psychological discipline -Some recruits tried to resist the discipline -The other recruits and drill sergeants punished anyone who didn’t follow orders -Trained with draftees as well as National Guardsmen -Everyone was treated fairly equally by the drill sergeants -Tension did exist between the draftees and the National Guardsmen though -Fights did occur and drill sergeants would have to break them up -Basic training lasted eight weeks (00:10:55) Advanced Infantry Training -Sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana for advanced infantry training (AIT) -Carried out maneuvers in the swamps �-Meant to simulate jungle combat -Felt that the swamps were worse than Vietnam -Rattlesnakes were a fairly common threat -They were taught as much as they could be about Vietnam -Booby traps that they would encounter -Basic language courses -Had difficulty picking up Vietnamese -Taught about the rules of engagement -Not allowed to fire unless fired upon first -AIT lasted ten weeks -Fort Polk also had mock villages set up -Actually enjoyed AIT -At the end of training his designation was as a mortar crewman -Offered a chance to be promoted to sergeant -Would have meant reenlisting, and he didn’t want that, so he declined the offer (00:15:56) Deployment to Vietnam -Given a twenty day leave prior to leaving for Vietnam -Sent to Oakland, California after his leave -Boarded an Air Japan chartered airliner bound for Vietnam -Stopped in Alaska, and from Alaska flew to Okinawa -Got to see Mount Fuji as they flew over Japan (00:17:36) Arrival in Vietnam -Landed in Long Binh -First impression of Vietnam was that it was hot and humid -Sent to reception center at Long Binh and they were assigned cleaning duties -His job was to handle Lone Star Beer pallets -Kept there for three days -Allowed to choose what type of unit that he’d want to be assigned to -Decided to go with a mortar unit -Got assigned to Charlie Company of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade -He was with fire direction control for about a month -Used 81mm mortars (00:20:51) Being a Mortar Crewman in C Company -By now it was August 1967 -Battalion was carrying out search and destroy missions in the Long Binh area -A couple lieutenants introduced him to the company -Joined the company in the field -He stayed close to the captain of C Company to help with fire direction -Built their own base camps wherever they were operating -Had to carry their mortars with them whenever they moved -Base plate and mortar tube weighed about one hundred eighty pounds all together -Spent about two months as a mortar crewman -Encountered very little enemy contact -Operated heavily in the rice paddies -Their enemy in the area was the Viet Cong, not the North Vietnamese Army -His battalion was in charge of searching Vietnamese villages �-He and the other mortar teams would hang back to provide support if necessary -Moved to a new village every third day -Also carried out harassment and interdiction missions -Lobbed a few rounds at given coordinates -Usually found that they were firing at nothing because the Viet Cong had moved -Battalion was operating as a single unit at this time -All the companies were doing the same thing just in different areas (00:30:03) Interactions with Vietnamese Civilians -Vietnamese civilians were never allowed to enter their base camps -He once let some Vietnamese children in to help him fill sandbags -Got in trouble for allowing this to happen -He was told not to trust any of the civilians -Didn’t know which ones were Viet Cong (00:30:54) Being a Rifleman with C Company -Got switched over to being a rifleman after being with the mortars for two months -Enemy activity was increasing so they needed more riflemen -Enemy activity was heaviest around the Dong Nai River -Lost eight soldiers trying to probe the area -Viet Cong were using scavenged American weapons -They would raid South Vietnamese weapons depots for their armaments -Spent about four months as a rifleman before he was sent home -Within the first week of patrols he was put on point leading the patrol -Sergeants taught him what to look for (signs of Viet Cong, booby traps, etc.) -Had some sergeants and lieutenants leading them that had been redeployed from Germany -Hadn’t seen actual combat in Vietnam yet -Finally got used to being a rifleman after about two months of being in the field as one -Learned how to look for booby traps and how to properly search villages -Learned how to search a building without getting surprised and shot (00:35:31) Interactions with South Vietnamese Army -South Vietnamese soldiers taught them how to operate in villages -South Vietnamese soldiers didn’t seem to have much concept of why the war was being fought -Most were just afraid of the North Vietnamese and wanted to beat them for that reason -Others were afraid of being captured and killed by the North Vietnamese or Viet Cong -South Vietnamese soldiers were ruthless when it came to dealing with Vietnamese civilians -They didn’t tolerate anything (00:37:38) Fighting the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese -Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army tunnels were extremely complex -Usually dug far underground and impossible to destroy or access -Couldn’t even really go in manually to destroy them -Knew of tunnels that were dug so far down that they ran underneath rice paddies and rivers (00:39:30) Downtime -Went to two parties at their base camp -Saw Japanese girl bands that were performing for the troops -Didn’t understand the lyrics, but enjoyed the music -Went water skiing on the Saigon River -Both activities were part of two three day in country R&Rs �(00:40:20) Prostitution, Drugs, and General Morale -Soldiers would get approached by prostitutes -Knew of one prostitute that gave an entire outfit gonorrhea -Soldiers smoked marijuana fairly regularly -Encountered one soldier that was smoking while on guard duty -Soldier that was smoking almost killed James by accident -About half of his unit was smoking and it was leading to problems -Never participated himself -Eventually approached the captain and told him to deal with the problem -Afterwards soldiers stopped smoking for a while and the unit improved -The more activity they got the better the unit performed -Forced them to constantly be at their best and to work together (00:45:03) Conditions in the Field -Set up ambushes and would go on search and destroy missions pretty much every day -During his time as a rifleman his unit lost about a dozen men -Company was never larger than about seventy men -About half the size of what a company was supposed to be -Received letters and care packages from home on a regular basis -Received a bayonet and machete sharpener from Carbide Tools -Family would send him letters and treats -Every day he was there the more he got used to being in Vietnam -Started not to worry about whether he’d make it through his tour, or not (00:48:27) Getting Wounded -Got wounded on November 29, 1967 -On November 28 told by sergeant to be ready for a sweep of the Dong Ngai River -On November 29 his unit was inserted by helicopter into the Dong Ngai River region -Established a perimeter -Didn’t have any enemy contact for a few hours -Scout noticed that there were about a dozen Viet Cong coming down a trail -Engaged the enemy patrol with hand grenades and rifle fire -Started to receive enemy fire and fell back to command post -Company left their insertion point and started working their way up the river -Noticed signs of Viet Cong activity -Engaged the Viet Cong again further up the river -Killed one Viet Cong soldier and captured another -Missed one that was hiding in a tree and he was shot by the one in the trees -Received immediate aid and the soldiers in his unit helped get him onboard the helicopter (00:57:02) Coming Home -After getting wounded he was sent to the medevac hospital in Tan Son Nhut -Had to be stabilized there -Had gotten shot in the lower spin, kidney, rib, and the arm -Spent an indeterminate amount of time in the medevac hospital before he was sent home -First got sent to Japan and then from Japan was sent back to the United States -Spent several months in a variety of Army hospitals getting healed -After three months was sent to Chicago and was able to see his family there �-After getting healed [only partially, since he had lost the use of his legs] he was discharged from the Army (01:00:30) Life after the War -Began to receive disability checks from the military -Went back to work for Carbide Tools as a draftsman -Worked for them for another four years until he quit -Bought property in the Saranac, Michigan countryside -Gained full custody of his son -Worked with local farmers on his property -Became a profitable venture for him -Veterans’ Administration support has been great for him -Goes to the Veterans’ Hospital in Milwaukee for their specialty in spinal injuries -Feels that it’s a much better facility than anything Michigan has -Involved with a large variety of veterans’ groups -Took two years for him to get accepted into the rural community -Locals were skeptical about him -Not because he was a Vietnam veteran, but because he came from the city -Received a wheelchair grant that allowed him to build his home (01:05:50) Reflections on Service -Army taught him how to effectively problem solve -Despite his disability he has learned how to live his life to the fullest -For example he decided to build a cabin the Yukon, so he did it -Learned that if you set your mind to a task you will figure out a way to accomplish it � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Veterans History Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. History Department Description An account of the resource The Library of Congress established the Veterans History Project in 2001 to collect memories, accounts, and documents of U.S. war veterans from World War II and the Korean War, Vietnam War, and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to preserve these stories for future generations. The GVSU History Department interviews are part of this work-in-progress, and may contain videos and audio recordings, transcripts and interview outlines, and related documents and photographs. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1914- Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright</a> Subject The topic of the resource Afghan War, 2001--Personal narratives, American Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981--Personal narratives, American Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, American Michigan--History, Military Oral history Persian Gulf War, 1991--Personal narratives, American United States--History, Military United States. Air Force United States. Army United States. Navy Veterans Video recordings Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James Boring, Frank Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27 Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project interviews (RHC-27)</a> Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-27_PittmanJ1600V Title A name given to the resource Pittman, James (Interview outline and video), 2014 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014-06-17 Description An account of the resource James Pittman was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943. He grew up in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park and graduated from high school there in 1961. He went to work and got married, but lost his marriage deferment when he divorced in 1966 and was drafted in March 1967. He received basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana leading to him specializing as a mortar crewman. In August 1967 he was deployed to Vietnam where he joined Charlie Company of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade stationed in the area around Long Binh. For two months he worked as a mortar crewman in Charlie Company until he was reassigned to be a rifleman carrying out search and destroy missions as well as patrols in the Dong Nai River area with Charlie Company. After four months of being a rifleman he was severely wounded and was evacuated back to the United States. Despite being a paraplegic, he went back to work as a draftsman in the Detroit area, and eventually bought a farm near Saranac, Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pittman, James Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Smither, James (Interviewer) Subject The topic of the resource Oral history Veterans History Project (U.S.) United States--History, Military Michigan--History, Military Veterans Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American United States. Army Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Moving Image Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/455">Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">In Copyright</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Relation A related resource Veterans History Project (U.S.) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf video/mp4 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/1c3d83e5bf3fa7d1b5ac9fb6249749d2.jpg 187b70a9c0d80286296f8737c8ebc73e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Valley State University Photographs Subject The topic of the resource Aerial photographs Universities and colleges Michigan Grand Rapids (Mich.) Allendale (Mich.) Building Facilities Dormitories Students Events 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Description An account of the resource People, places, and events of Grand Valley State University from its founding in 1960 as a 4-year college in western Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource News & Information Services. University Communications Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">News &amp; Information Services. University Photographs. (GV012-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-03 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s-2000s Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Local Subject Subject headings specific to a particular image collection 1960s Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">University photographs, GV012-01</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01_UAPhotos_000910 Title A name given to the resource Pizza eating contest Description An account of the resource Pizza eating contest, 1968. Subject The topic of the resource Events Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives black and white photo https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c48c15b17c918dab4ebf9f9230420402.jpg 1d7c8d2da7e61dd9bb5e3b39bc6536ef Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Valley State University Photographs Subject The topic of the resource Aerial photographs Universities and colleges Michigan Grand Rapids (Mich.) Allendale (Mich.) Building Facilities Dormitories Students Events 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Description An account of the resource People, places, and events of Grand Valley State University from its founding in 1960 as a 4-year college in western Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource News & Information Services. University Communications Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">News &amp; Information Services. University Photographs. (GV012-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-03 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s-2000s Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Local Subject Subject headings specific to a particular image collection 1960s Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">University photographs, GV012-01</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01_UAPhotos_000911 Title A name given to the resource Pizza eating contest Description An account of the resource Pizza eating contest, 1968. Subject The topic of the resource Events Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives black and white photo https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/7f537a326dd121027e5e1d1aa99a7ede.jpg 685c456570520ea727514b50801cc65c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Grand Valley State University Photographs Subject The topic of the resource Aerial photographs Universities and colleges Michigan Grand Rapids (Mich.) Allendale (Mich.) Building Facilities Dormitories Students Events 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Description An account of the resource People, places, and events of Grand Valley State University from its founding in 1960 as a 4-year college in western Michigan. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource News & Information Services. University Communications Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">News &amp; Information Services. University Photographs. (GV012-01)</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017-03-03 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpg Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource image Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s-2000s Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Local Subject Subject headings specific to a particular image collection 1960s Source <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/41">University photographs, GV012-01</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GV012-01_UAPhotos_000909 Title A name given to the resource Pizza eating contest participant Description An account of the resource Pizza eating contest participant, 1968. Subject The topic of the resource Students Events Grand Valley State University Michigan Allendale (Mich.) Universities and colleges Language A language of the resource eng Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-NC/1.0/?language=en">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives black and white photo https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/cf78d964bddd58ee07b944c0d82759d1.jpg 483991488c393a98f02e8b71683ba25a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Pie-Factory-34 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lloyd J. Harris Pie Co. Title A name given to the resource Places that Sell Lloyd J. Harris Pies Description An account of the resource A collage of 12 images of "restaraunts and drug stores that serve Lloyd J. Harriss Pies exclusively." Such places include Walgreen Drugs, Helsings, Chez Paree and Roosevelt Coffe Shop and Cafeteria, among others. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Allegan County (Mich.) Factories Bakeries Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/94843bb12261dcd5620fee68c327b491.pdf 0d922cdfa1347743be4e8a476d233920 PDF Text Text IL __ ,- ~ .,1 1 I I if I I J PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP I I COMPREHENSIVE PLA.N I :I tI II lI,I , I I: I! I I I I I I i i Ii I I II I JULY, 1988 \ i__;_ _,, ; -- I !I! I I �■ ■ FROM THE LIBRARY QFj Planning & Zoning Center, Inc~ ACKNOWLEDGt1ENTS Plainfield Township Board: Beverly R. Rekeny Susan L. r1orrow John Goodspeed David Groenleer t1ary J. tlalkewitz George K. 11eek Ted Vonk - Supervisor Clerk Treasurer Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Plainfield Township Planning commission: David Groenleer - Chairman Arthur Spalding Robert Heindricks 11a ry Holmes Sam Kovalak Karl Koster Cathy Vandert1eu1 en Thomas Doyle - Former 11ember Plainfield To1-mship Planning Director: Theodore J. Wilson Planning Consultants: 11i 11 er Associates Larry D. t1iller, P.C.P Mark A. Sisson, Associate Special Thanks: The Plainfield Township Parks and Recreation Committee is acknowledged for their primary role in the preparation of the Parks, Recreation And Open Space component of this Plan. The Grand Rapids consultant, The of the Plainfield cerpts from that Plan. Environs Transportation Study (GRETS) and their WBDC Group were responsible for the preparation Avenue/Northland Drive Corridor Study. Exstudy have been edited and incorporated in this This Project was funded through the Kent Count Community Development Program. i �TABLE OF CONTENTS Fo,~-.Jard ........................................................ 1 v Introduction .................................................... v Chapter I - Description of Plainfield Township ................ I-1 Chapter II - Basic Studies ................................... II-1 Existing Land Use Inventory ............................. II-1 Socio-Economic Characteristics ......................... II-12 Summary Of Existing Conditions And Trends ..•........... II-20 Chapter III - Planning Dimensions .................•......•.. III-1 General Growth Policy .................................. I I I-1 Goal s .................................................. I I I - 2 Population Projections ....................•............ III-4 Land Needs ...............•...........•................. III-6 Chapter IV - General Development Plan .............•.•...•.... IV-1 Residential Land Use Plan ....................•.......... IV-3 Commercial Land Use Plan .............................•. IV-16 Industrial Land Use Plan .........................•..... IV-22 Belmont Special Development Area ....................... IV-27 Chapter V - Connnunity Facilities Plan ......................... V-1 Churches ................................................. V-1 Fire Stations ............................................ V-1 Libraries ................................................ V-3 Refuse Disposal ..•..........•...............•...........• V-4 Educational Facilities ..•..........•............•..•.•... V-5 Chapter VI - Utilities Plan ......•••.••...•...••..•...•...... VI-1 Chapter VII - 11ajor Street Plan ............................. VII-1 ~1ajor Streets .......................................... VII-3 Collector and Local Streets ............................ VII-6 Special Problem Areas ....•..••••....••...•••.•...••.... VII-8 Plainfield Avenue/Northland Drive Corridor •••••....•..• VII-9 Chapter VIII - Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan ....•.. VIII-1 Analysis of Needs ....•.....•....•....•..•............. VIII-1 Goals and Objectives ••.•..................•..•..•...• VIII-22 Plan Statement ....................................... VIII-26 Program .•.................•••.....•....••..•..•....•. VIII-27 Chapter IX - Implementation •....... y························IX-1 Appendix List Of Maps Map Map Map Map t1ap t1ap Map 11ap Map t1ap 1 - Regional Location ....•...•.....................•....•. I-2 2 - Topography & Soils .................................... I-3 3 - Existing Land Use .......................•.....•..... II-10 4 - Sub-Areas ................•.......................... II-13 5 - Environmental Limitations ........................... II-21 6 - Development Staging .................................. IV-2 7 - Rural Conservation Area .............................. IV-6 8 - Rural Estate Residential Area ........................ IV-7 9 - Low Density Residential Area ......................... IV-9 10 - l1edium Density Residential Area .................... IV-10 �• • • : :: II II • • • • • TABLE OF CONTENTS - CONT . f1ap t·1ap Map t1ap Map Map f1ap flap Map Map 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 - High Density Residential Area ...................... IV-12 Prime Agricultural Area ............................ IV-15 Commercial Land Use Plan ........................... IV-21 Industrial Land Use Plan ................. ·.......... IV-25 Belmont Special Development District ............... IV-29 Community Facilities Plan ............................ V-7 Water And Sewer Utilities ........................... VI-7 Major Street Plan ....•..........•....•............. VII-7 Potential Regional Park Land ..................... VIII-17 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan ............ VIII-30 List Of Tables Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table 1 - Single Family Residential Zone Land Use Analysis ..• II-2 2 - Agricultural Zone Land Use Analysis •.•............. II-5 3 - Existing Land Use Summary .......................... II-9 4 - Construction Activity ............................. II-11 5 - Value of Construction ............................. II-11 6 - Population Change By Sub-Area ...........•.•....... II-12 7 - Population By Type of Housing •.•.•.........•...... 11-15 8 - Housing Types ..................................... II-15 9 - 1980 Age Group Comparisons ...•••..•.••..•.••...... II-17 10 - Age Group Comparisons By Sub-Area ••........•..••. 11-18 11 - 1970-1980 ~1igration .............................. II-19 12 - Projected Population By Sub-Area .••..•....•.•.••. III-5 13 - Projected Residential Land Needs •.••.••.......•.. 111-6 14 - Projected Land Needs •••..••....•.•..•...•.••..... III-8 15 - Shopping Center Characteristics ...••.........•... IV-16 16 - Desirable Separation of Adjacent Driveways ..•..• VII-11 17 - Facilities Most Used - Facilities Requested •.... VIII-1 18 - Existing And Projected Local Park Land Need •...• VIII-4 List Of Figures Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. 1 2 3 4 - Land Use Recommendations .•••....•.....•.•......... VII-12 Verner To Grand River ............................. VII-15 Plainfield Ave./East Beltline Intersection ........ VII-17 Proposed Service Drive ............................ VII-20 �PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP 1988 Cot1PREHENSIVE PLAN FORWARD Michigan law enables the Plainfield Tovmship Planning Commission to adopt and periodically update a basic plan for the development of the Township. The Plan must contain the Planning Commission's recommendations for the physical development of the Township. The 1988 Plan is designed to provide direction for future grm'lth and developr.ient in accordance vdth Township goals and objectives. Future development is intended to be in accordance \lith these goals and plans. Although the Plan is enabled by f1ichigan law, it does not have the force of statutory law or ordinance. It is an official advisory policy statement for encouraging orderly and efficient use of the land for residencP.s, business, industry, community facilities, parks and recreation areas, and for coordinating these uses with each other and vdth the development and use of streets, utilities and other public facilities and services. Once adopted it is the Township's intent to implement the Plan's recommendations until such time that specific modifications or deviations are deemed appropriate and the Plan is ammended as a result of the Tm·mship's on-going long range planning program. \ iv �HJTRODUCTI ON Plainfield Township is one of the fastest grm·ling suburban communities in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. This has been the case since the mid 1960's. Pl ai nfi el d Township has many attributes and opportunities which wi 11 continue to make the community an attractive and desirable place to live. Hov1ever, due to continued growth the Township is also faced \'tith numerous problems. The responsibility of making various policies and decisions regarding growth and development is therefore an important one. The on-going need for such things as public utilities, new and improved streets, parks and recreational areas and community facilities are generally recognized, but few persons realize the hard work and effort necessary to fulfill these needs. Equally important are the decisions made regarding the various spatial relationships of the major land use types - residential, commercial, industrial, and public. These are important in providing a harmonious pattern of land use and in the economics of providing community services. Attractive and desirable communities are difficult to achieve and even harder to maintain. Conscientious and deliberate long range planning is required. It is this basic premise which has prompted the Plainfield Township Planning Commission to update its 1975 Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Process The planning process can most basically be divided into four major phases, described below. 1. as Understanding the Corrrnunity - Basic Studies The purpose of this phase is to obtain knowledge of the existing situation, of changes that have occurred, trends that gave rise to the present situation and trends that are likely to persist. 2. Planning Dimensions With a clear understanding of existing conditions and trends, planning dimensions setting forth the basic parameters for development of the Comprehensive Plan are enunciated. 3. Plan Formulation Various elements of the Comprehensive Plan are formulated which are designed to guide the community towards its long range goals. 4. Plan Implementation and Maintenance This phase outlines the various controls and programs necessary to implement and maintain the Comprehensive Plan in recognition of fact that the Plan is not an end in itself. V �The plan components or elements include a wide range of subject areas, which have a significant bearing on community growth and development. all of Included in this report are discussions and recommendations regarding the following individual plan components: Demographics Land Use Community Facilities Utilities Transportation Parks and Recreation Each of the above elements was studied and the resultant assumptions and mendations have been incorporated into the overall Comprehensive Plan. \ vi recom- • • • • • • • • • • • • �• • • • I CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION OF PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Regional Setting Plainfield Township is located in Kent County on the northern boundary of the city of Grand Rapids. Since the mid 1960's it has been one of the fastest grm·1ing s.uburban communities in the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area. Climate The climate of Kent County and Plainfield Township is affected by _ three major influences. These include general latitude, the lack of major natural barriers to affect weather patterns and the modifying influence of Lake r1ichigan. These three factors combine to give Plainfield Township and the surrounding areas somewhat cooler su11111ers but milder winters than other areas i'lithin the snowbelt. Historical records show that on an average the area will experience a wide range of temperature extremes along with moderate amounts of precipitation. The average high in January is 30.3 degrees fahrenheit and the average low is 16.0 degrees. In July, average highs and lows are 83.3 and 59.6 degrees respectively. During the winter, nine days with temperatures below zero are expected and during the sunrner, eleven days with temperature of 90 degree or greater are expected. Average annual rainfall amounts are 33 inches and snowfall is 76 inches. The average date of the first killing frost is October 12th, and the average date of the .last frost is April 25th. Thunderstorms occur on average 37 days per year and are most prevalent during June, July and August. Topography and Soils The topography of the Township is generally rolling in nature with pronounced hills being prevalent in the northcentral, northeast and in the southeast areas. Total relief within the Township is over 330 feet from a high point of over 940 feet in the northcentral area to approximately 610 feet along the Grand River. In the southeast relief approaches 220 feet. A significant portion of the Township lies within the floodplain of the Grand River. Map 2 classifies the topography and soils of Plainfield TO\lrnship into four general physiographic districts. Beginning in the southeast and running along the Grand River through the southcentral and southwest portion of the Township are nearly level poorly drained loamy and mucky alluvial floodplain soils. These areas are submarginal for agricultural purposes and because of the flood hazard, are not suited for intensive development. They are 1'iell suited forcertain recreational uses (golfing and open space) and considerable portions are presently utilized for these purposes. The second major physiographic division is characterized as being nearly l e vel 1-1 �! ~- . - - ----- ' ' --- -=+:.------- -------------- II II II LAKE ! -· ;.' ·------ -:' --········ I C.OTTVli..LC ------ ·"--. ·-----·' ,. __ _ '' -------:' I ' I : : II ! 'I ' : -► ' -------- I I f"EWAn;t7 - ---- -- : I MECOSrA -------t··---, -~------;-----o I I I -· ----------{- _______ .., ____ ____ ,-- ----I • _ _ _ .,.,_ _ _ ___, o o ' -------,----- -"H T I :' i ocEANA : I .... . - - - - ' ' I o ' ' : · -- - . -------- ,--: I ,. --------"·' ·----~------' ! ; I ' --•------1..-, I ' I AfONrCA~ : : ,. IONIA . z<( C) :i: u 2 ~ ...J ,ALLEGAl't .. ,I REGIONAL LOCATION MAP PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN I- 2 MAP 1 • • �_j "' I • • • • • • • • // // // // / / PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP TOPOGRAPHY & SOILS GENTLY ROLLING TO VER Y STEEP , ExCESSIV EL Y ORAINED TO WELL D"RAINED , SANDY AND LOAMY SOILS ON MORAINES, OUT WASH PLAINS, AND Till PLAINS NEARLY LEVEL TO GENTLY ROLLING , EXCESSIVELY DRAINED TO POORLY DRAINED , SANDY AND LOAMY SOILS ON OUTWASH PLAINS , TERRACES, AND Till PLAINS MarleMe-Perrinton -Metea association · Gently roll ing to very steep , Oakville -Thetford -Granby association : Nearly level to gently rolling. well drained to poorly drained, sandy soils lormed ,n S<>ndy materia ls well drained , loamy and sandy soils formed 1n loamy, s,lty, and sandy deposits D Chelsea -Plainl1eld -Bo) er association · Gently rolling to very sleep, ucess1vely dra ined to we ll drained , sandy sods formed ,n sandy and loamy materials NEARLY LEVEL , VERY POORLY DRAINED TO SOMEWHAT POORLY DRAINED . MUCKY AND LOAMY SO ILS IN BOGS OR ON FLOOD PLAINS ~ ~ Pla1nfield -Oshtemo-Sp1nks association : Nearly level to gently rolling , excess,vely drJ 1ned and well dra ined , sandy and loamy soils formed 1n sandy and loamy ma terials Marlette-Chelsea -Boyer association : Gently roll1 n;: to very steep, somewhal eicess1ve ly dra ined and well dra ined , loamy and sandy soils formed in loamy and sandy deposits Houghton-Cohoctah Ceresco assoc1allon: Near ly level. somewh<>t poorly dra ined to very poor ly dra ,ned. mL.cky and loamy soil s formed m herbdc.eous organic material or loamy alluvial deposits NEARLY LEVEL TO GENTLY ROLLING, WELL DRAINED TO SOME WHAT POORLY DRA INED, LOAMY AND SANDY SOILS ON TILL PLAINS , OUTWASH PLA INS. ANO MORAINES [Zj llhau -R1mer -Pemn!on association: Nearly level lo gently rolling , well drained to somewhat poorly dra ined, loamy and sandy soils formed 1n loamy, sandy , silty, and clayey deposits £~ MILLER ASSOCIATES MAP 2 W 2~N . MONROE,ROCKFORO,M l 4934 616·866-1183 1987 �II to gently rolling, consisting of outwash plains, till plains and terraces. The largest area is located in the extreme southcentral to southwest portion of the Township. Other areas are found north of the Grand River east and \'lest of the Rogue river and south of the Grand River in the same general area. Soils are excessively drained and well drained sands and loams. Large deposits of gravel are also found in areas of oub-1ash. t1uch of the Tovmships existing residential and commercial development are situated in these areas. The third physiographic division consists of gently rolling to very steep moraines and outwash plains. This division includes most of the Tovmship north of the Grand River, a small portion south of the Grand River in the southcentral region and all of the southeast portion of the Tovmship. It is characterized by knobs and basins and is broken by sharp draws and ravines. Soils are classified as being generally \'/ell drained sandy, silty and loamy soils. Ho111ever, many inclusions of poorly drained soils within drainage courses and depressions which severely limit development. Nonetheless, this district in general provides many extremely attractive homesites and is seeing increased development pressure. It is also generally suited to such forms of recreational development as hiking, cross country skiing, camping and picnicking. The fourth physiographic district is located in the westcentral part of the Township. It is nearly level to gently rolling. It consists of moraines, till plain and outwash plain. Soils include \'/ell drained to poorly drained loams and sands. This area includes the largest remnants of USDA designated "Prime Agricultural Land" and much of it remains under cultivation. Water Resources The \later resources of the community are numerous and varied. The Grand River flows from east to west through the southern one third of the Township. The Rogue River, flows from the north through the northcentral portion of the Township and empties into the Grand River. The Rogue River is a designated "Natural River" (P.A. 231 of 1970). Boating, canoeing and fishing are activities \lell suited to these rivers and their use has increased significantly in recent years. There are also numerous lakes within the Tovm,hip. They include Dean Lake in the south and Little Pine Island, Freska, and Clear Bottom Lakes in the northwest. Versluis Lake, a manmade lake located long the Grand River, serves as the Township's primary water based activity center for public swimming and picnicking. Forest Cover There remain many forested areas in the Township especially in the northwest, northcentral and southeast portions of the community. The higher, \·1ell drained areas consist predominantly of oaks, sugar maple, beach and white pine. Areas of low relief and poor drainage support white pine, aspen, basswood, oaks and llcples. The floodplain areas consist of ash, maple, silver maple and oaks. 1-4 -I I I I I I -~ �• • Preservation of forested area ~Ii thin the Tol'mship shoulrJ be encouraged as they greatly contribute to the aesthetics of the community and have a definite ecological function. Fish and Wildlife A wide variety of wildlife species inhabit the forests, rivers and lakes of Plainfield Tm·mship. In the forest and fields are found v1hitetail deer and many smaller mammals including squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and opossums. Game birds include ducks, grouse and pheasants. In the rivers and lakes are popular game fish such as bass trout, walleye, perch, bluegills and sunfish. Steelhead trout and salmon also migrate up the Grand River and Rogue River in the fall. As a result, the Rogue River sees a tremendous amount of sport fishing activity by fisherman from around the metropolitan area and region. There exists, however, no formal publicly owned access points to the Rogue River within the Township. To gain access, fisherman are required to use the road right-of-ways at three bridge crossings and private lands. An exception to this is the Rogue River Park operated by Kent County. This park has approximately 1000 feet of river frontage but access to the river within the park is very difficult. ■ 1-5 �I I I I I I • • • • • •■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CHAPTER II BASIC STUDIES At the present time relatively large portions of Plainfield Township remain undeveloped. This being the case, the To\'mship has the opportunity to direct future development in a manner that will be desirable and economical to serve with public utilities and community facilities. However, in order to develop a realistic plan for the future development of the community, decision makers must have a clear picture of the conmunity as it is now, for it is on this foundation that future growth will occur. EXISTING LAND USE INVENTORY Plainfield Tm-1nship forms the major focal point for development on the north side of the Grand Rapids Metropolitan area. Awareness of the types and patterns of existing land use is a key factor in assessing the community's character, in identifying problems and opportunities and in establishing future goals and objectives. The following is an inventory of existing land uses in Plainfield Township. Single Family Residential Single family residential land uses have consumed the largest amount of acreage of any of the land uses found in the Township, accounting for over 30 percent of the total. The primary concentration is in the broad band south of the Grand River between Coit Avenue and the East Beltline. This general area accounts for 56 percent of the population residing in single family homes. The second major concentration lies north of the Grand River in the Belmont/Blythfield area. This area, bounded by Samrick Avenue on the west, West River Drive on the south and Northland Drive/Kuttshill on the east accounts for approximately 28 percent. In recent years this area has seen the Township's largest increases in ~·fogle family home development. · A third significant concentration of single family home development lies in the area bounded by Division Avenue, West River Drive and Seven t1ile/Buth Drive. This area along with Comstock Park and large lot developments in the northern one third and southeast corner of the Township account for remaining 16 percent of the Townships single family population. Of the roughly 5700 acres of land devoted to single family use, approximately 3470 acres have developed in areas presently zoned for that use, and 2200 acres have been developed in the agricultural zone. The remainder or approximately 30 acres exist within other zoning districts. There presently exist approximately 7800 acres of land within the R-1 Single Family Residential District. Follo1-1ing is a breakdown of the uses included in this zone. II-1 �T/\BLE 1 R-1 Single Family Residential Zone Land Use Analysis ACRES PERCENT Single Family 3,469 Agricultural 710 Extraction 140 Public-Quasi Public - Outdoor Rec. 730 Commercial 5 Industrial 15 44-. 3 Total Committed 5,069 64-.8 Vacant 2,754 35.2 Total 7,823 100 % USE 9.1 1.8 9.3 .1 .2 The majority of vacant land zoned for single family use south of the Grand River is located between the Grand River and Coit Avenue. Development potential in this area is hampered by the flood plain of the Grand River. There also exist numerous other undeveloped parcels or groups of parcels south of Coit Avenue. They range in size from a few acres to up to 80 acres. While many of these vacant parcels hold potential for future development, limitations such as steep slopes do pose obstacles and will tend to limit their full development potential. The largest single undeveloped area within the single family zone south of the River is found north of Woodworth Avenue. While much of this area is devoted to agricultural and extraction purposes, its future development to residential use appears likely since there are relatively few natural limitations. \ P1ost of the developed areas south of the River have been provided with sewer and or water. With the exception of a small area near Four Mile Road and the East Beltline all of the uncommitted and undeveloped areas appear to be capable of being served with relatively minor expansions to the water and sewer system. The Four 11ile Road/East Beltline area appears to be somewhat limited by a lack of water storage capacity and the absence of major sewage transmission lines. The areas of uncommitted and vacant land north of the Grand River which are presently earmarked for single family development are considerable. T!1e major physical limitations that are seen being imposed on this area are the steep slopes. The soil survey for the area also indicates that the combination of steep slopes, high water tables and porous soils, and in other cases heavy soils make urban densities of residential development without public sewer and or water inadvisable. 11-2 '~ ~ �I I I I I • • • • • • • •■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I Two Family Residential Two family residential uses comprise less than 1 percent of the total residential land area and consist of thirty acres which are committed and 42 acres zoned. The zone is found in four different locations. The first is located along Northland Drive north of Wolverine Blvd, the second is found, south of Airv1ay near Boyd, the third along Mayfield and the fourth at the north~'lest corner of Five Mile Road and the East Beltline. There are approximately 8 acres of vacant two family land with 6.5 acres of this being at the Five f1ile/East Beltline location. Approximately 6 acres of the land zoned for this use now exists as single family. Sewer and or water is available for all of the land presently included in this zoning classification. Multiple Family Residential Multiple family residential land use comprises nearly 5 percent of all residential lands and includes structures having three or more housing units. The R-3, R-4, R-5 and Residential P.U.O.S are included in this classification. In total there are 255 acres of developed multiple family and 375 acres included in the various zones . The highest concentration of multi-family housing is in the Five f1ile Road area bounded by Plainfield Avenue and the East Beltline. Individual complexes include the Rockhill Condominiums, North Valley Condominiums, Northview, Hidden Valley, Pine Ridge, Northwood Hills and Rolling Pines Apartments. Others include the Franklin t1ills Apartments near t1ayfield and Woodworth, the Condominium project off Jericho south of Rockford, and the Cardinal Industries Complex off Division near US-J31. Vacant lands zoned for multi-family use total 100 acres and include: Ten acres adjacent to the Northview Apartments off Sawkaw, t1ile Road. south of Fi~e Approximately 15 acres -0n Northland Drive, south of Kuttshill . 20 acres on Five Mile Road, east of the East Beltline. 54 acres between the Grand River and U.S.-131 from the south Township line to Abrigador in Comstock Park. With the exception of the R-3 zone located on Northland Drive, all of the vacant multiple family lands are included in Planned Unit Developments. Each, with the exception of the land along the Grand River in Comstock Park, are expected to be developed in the near future. The physical constraints imposed by the Grand River's flood hazard area appear to have reduced the viability of developing the 54 acre PUD along the Grand River as originally planned. All of the vacant lands zoned to permit multi-family development are capable of being tied into the public sewer system. Only the R-3 zone located along Northland Drive is without public water. II-3 �Mobile Home Parks Lands devoted to mobile home parks comprise a total of 224 acres and include 7 parks. In the eastern portion of the Township, two parks are located off Chauncey near Cannonsburg Road and t1"10 are off Northland Drive. In the southv,est, one is located on 11ayfield near Plainfield Avenue and one is located on West River Dr. near Wakefield. The Township's largest mobile home park is located on Post Drive just v1est of U.S.-131. A 93 acre mobile home park is now planned directly north of this site on the north side of Post Drive. The total amount of land zoned for mobile home parks is 423 acres. Of the 199 acres zoned but not used, roughly 20 acres is located off Northland Drive and is associated with the existing Woodland Estates Development. Roughly 80 acres of R-6 land is located off Cannonsburg Road near the existing Leisure Village t1obile Home Park. t1uch of this land is presently being used for gravel extraction. The proposed site off Post Drive has received a PUD zoning designation and its near term development appears imminent. At the present time the vacant R-6 zoned land on Northland Drive appears capable of being served with public S61er. Public water is not yet available. Neither utility is within reach of the Cannonsburg Road site. Plans to extend public utilities to the Post Drive site are presently under consideration. Agricultural Land Use There are approximately 2600 acres of land devoted to agricultural use. Most of the actively farmed land is located in the northwest portion of the Tovmship, west of U.S.-131. Less expansive farming activity is still seen north of Belmont, the Kroes/Brewer Avenue area, in the Seven Mile/Cannonsburg Road area, and between Woodworth and Coit in the southwest. Farm types include, field crops and orchards. While most of the agricultural activity taking place is within the existing agricultural zone, considerable ammounts still take place in the less developed areas of the R-l's Residential zone. \ Approximately one half of the ified as prime agricultural land Conservation Service. These general farming areas within the Township's active and fallow farmland is classby the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Soil lands to varying degrees coincide with the four Tovmship as previously described. Agricultural zoning as it presently exists in Plainfield Township is a broad land use classification intended to allow low intensity rural residential development, farming, outdoor recreation and a variety of other compatable uses. It is also intended to serve as a land reserve for those areas not intended for near term development or intense development due to the difficulty and expense of providing urban services. Following is a tabulation showing the various land uses and acreages encompassed within the Agricultural zoning classification. II-4 • • • ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ �• • • • • • •I I I I I I I I I TA!3LE 2 Agri cu ltu ra l Zone Land Use Analysis USE ACRES PERCENT Agriculture 1,976 18.0 Single Family Res. 2,215 20.5 Outdoor Rec. 575 5.2 Landfi 11 250 2.3 Public 225 2.0 Quasi Public 120 1.1 Extraction 135 1.2 Industrial 25 .2 Total Connnitted 5,521 51.1 Open 5,260 48.9 Total 10,811 100 % •~ Il-5 �Industrial Land Use Plainfield Tovmship contains approximately 270 acres of land committed to industrial development. Of this amount lll,5 is actually developed and the remainder is theoretically available for expansions or accessory uses of existing businesses. The majority of the industry is situat2d along West River Drive beginning in Comstock Park and continues intermittently to just east of Samrick Drive. Other areas include the north side of Plainfield Avenue west of Northland Drive, Belmont Avenue south of Ten Mile Road and the Rockford Paper t1ill, south of Rockford on Childsdale. Several light industries are found elsewhere in the Township with several being in the Belmont area on West River and Rogue River Drives. Of the 270 acres of land committed to industrial use, 30 acres is located in areas not presently zoned or planned for industrial use. There are approximately 615 acres of industrially zoned land. Of this amount 238 acres is committed to industry and 65 acres developed for uses other than industrial. These include older residences, retail and office uses and a few farming operations. There remains approximately 310 acres of uncommitted vacant industrially zoned land. The major holdings are located in two planned industrial districts. These include 66 acres on Safety Drive and 32 acres in the P.I.D. off Belmont Avenue south of Ten Mile Road. Other major vacant tracts include 55 acres near the Rockford Paper Mill and 120 acres within the flood plain between West River Drive and the Grand River, north of Abrigador Trail. Scattered parcels ranging in size from 1 to 4 acres and totaling 29 acres are found along West River Drive. There are approximately 5 acres of vacant industrially zoned land on the north side of Plainfield Avenue west of Northland Drive. Approximately 30 percent of the vacant industrial land is within the West river Drive Corridor and is presently capable of being served by public sewer and water. This area holds 10 parcels in the 1 to 4 acre range and the 66 acre parcel off Safety Drive. The vacant land on Plainfield Avenue is also serviceable by these utilities. The property adjoining the Rockford Paper Mill is served by public sewer but must rely on the Rogue River ind wells for its water supply. Neither water nof sewer are available to the developed and undeveloped industrial land on Belmont south of Ten 11ile road. · The approximately 120 acres of industrially zoned land along the Grand River is within reach of existing water and sewer utilities. However, this land lies 1'/ithin the 100 year flood plain of the Grand River and the majority is vlithin the River's flood way zone. The physical limitations and resultant high development cost that the flood hazard zone imposes tend to make this area less attractive for industrial develop~ent than other existing industrially zoned properties. The property adjoining the Rockford Paper Mill is also viewed as being generally undesirable for additional industrial development due to its proximity to the Rogue River and poor highway access. This land is presently targeted for acquisition by Kent County for future park development. II-6 = " "- �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I • Corrrnercial Land Use There are an e<;timated 335 acres of land devoted to commercial use within the Tovrnship. The major areas of commercial activity are along the Plainfield Avenue Corridor from Four f1ile Road to Airway and from Coit to Northland Drive. This same commercial corridor extends from Pl ai nfi el d Avenue to the Grand River along Northland Drive. Additional areas of commercial activity lie along West River Drive in Comstock Park, as well as near Wakefield and Abrigador Trail. Less significant commercial areas in terms of spatial extent are located in Belmont and on Ten Nile road near U.S.-131. Of the 335 acres of developed commercial land, approximately 50 acres have developed in areas not presently zoned or planned for commercial use. Several of the uses are located in the industrial zone in Comstock Park and along West River Drive. The largest single holding of non-conforming commercial land is the Drive-In-Theater complex off Plainfield Avenue. This complex involves approximately 30 acres and is located within a single family residential district. The Townships Parks and Recreation Plan s11ggests that this site be considered for future community park development. Excluding areas zoned exclusively for office 445 acres of land zoned for commercial use. mercial use and 95 acres are devoted to residential. Roughly 65 acres remain vacant use, there is an estimated total of Of this, 285 acres are put to comother uses, such as extraction and or uncommitted. Of the acreage within the various cof!l11ercial zones that are devoted to uses other than commercial, the majority are used for residential purposes. f1any of these residences are older homes which, over time, can be expected to be adapted or redeveloped to commercial use. The major areas of residential/commercial land use mix include areas along Plainfield Avenue from Coit to Northland Drive, along West River Drive near Wakefield, in Comstock Park, and to lessor degree in Belmont. Several public and quasi public uses such as churches, fire stations and parks are also located within commercial districts. The inventory of vacant commercially zoned land is comprised of approximately 10 acres of highway commercial land in the U.S.-131/Post Drive interchange area, 17 acres at U.S.-131/Ten t1ile Road and 4 acres at the Division St./West River Drive intersection in Comstock Park. Other vacant commercial land includes approximately 6 acres on West River Drive near Wakefield and 25 acres within the Plainfield Avenue/Northland Drive corridor. The majority of vacant land in the Plainfield/Northland Drive corridor lies east of Coit Avenue and coincides with many of the older residential uses presently located in this commercial area. A11 of the existing commercially zoned 1and with the exception of the tlirn northern highway commercial zones have been provided with public sewer and or water. II-7 �-,' Office Land Use Office uses are provided for througllout much of the commercially zoned areas of the Township as well as in exclusive office zones. The office zone consist of approximately 73 acres distributed in several locations throughout the urbanized area of Plainfield Tovmship. They have been established primarily as transitional areas between more intensive commercial uses and residential areas as \t/ell as between heavily traveled arterials and residential areas. Approximately 20 acres of the office zone has been developed and put to office use and 9 acres to residential or other use. There remains approximately 44 acres of vacant office land. The largest parcel of vacant land consist of 32 acres located adjacent to U.S.131 at West River Drive and Wakefield. Other vacant office land is located in two locations off Plainfield Avenue. These include roughly 4 acres adjacent to the Meijers Thrifty Acres store and approximately 4 acres just south of the Rockhill Condominiums. There are approximately 3 acres along Division Avenue in Comstock Park and roughly 5 acres on the East Beltline north of Grand River Drive. With the exception of the East Beltline site, all of the vacant office land is presently serviceable by public water and sewer. Surrmary Table 3, summarizes the existing land uses in Plainfield Township by total acres. Map 3, graphically depicts existing land use. Tables 4 and 5 illustrate the relative magnitude of recent construction activity within the Township. \ II-8 II II II II II II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP TABLE 3 Existing Land Use Summary USE ACRES PERCENT Open Agri cultura 1 8,792 2,611 42 12.9 Residential One-Family Two-Family Multi-Family Mobile Home Park 6,199 30 27.4 .1 1.2 1.1 5,700 30 255 224 91.1 .5 4.7 3.6 100 % Mixed Commercial Office Industrial Mineral Extraction Sanitary Landfill Public (Exel. Parks) Outdoor Recreation Quasi-Public (Church) TOTAL* * 1.6 335 20 268 1.3 1.7 1.2 356 250 1,063 235 3.4 4.6 1.1 20,800 100 % ** 710 Numbers are approximate. Total does not include \tater bodies but may or may not include highway rights-of-way, which account for approximately 2000 acres. Total area of Township is 22848 acres. ** Total does not equal 100 due to rounding. II-9 �l"""! II II II PLAINFIELD TOWN~HIP EXISTING LAND USE C==1 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (UP TO 3.5DU/AC) ~ MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDl!NTIAL(3 . 5-6DU/AC) ~MH-MOBILE HOME PARK c:::J HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (7+DU / AC) ~ MIXED COMMERCIAL l-:•:•:•:-:l OFFICE IIBID INDUSTRIAL c=J OPEN E? AGRICULTURAL ~ b·-P.;~ I OUTDOOR P7,u.iZ;J ~ O RECREATION IC SEMI PUBL / PUBLIC S- SCHOOL ~ EXTRACTION ~ LANDFILL ~MILLER ASSOCIATES f' MAP 3 28 N . MONROE, ROCKFORD, Ml 49J41 616-866-1183 1987 " "II - �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - PLA INFIELD TOv/fJSHIP Construction Activity 1980 - 1986 TABLE 4 Type of Bldg. 1980 1 Single Family 95 Two Family 8 8 !1ul ti-Family Mobile Homes N/A Amusement & Rec. Church & Religious Bldgs. 5 Industrial Office, Banks & Professional Bldgs. 2 Service Stations & 0 Auto Garages Public Works & Utilities 0 Store & Other !1ercantile 6 Note: 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Total 59 24 26 45 83 2 89 6 116 6 153 26 136 1 5 3 1 1 4 2 8 7 -5 640 70 186 0 6 4 33 2 5 1 7 1 18 3 1 2 21 2 2 36 1 2 1 1 5 Does not include additions to existing structures, private garages and miscellaneous structures. Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau Plainfield Twp. Building Dept. PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Value of Construction 1980 - 1986 TABLE 5 Total Permits 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Total 1980 - 1986 Total Value 333 311 231 296 336 434 527 $ 8,563,200 $ 9,784,100 $ '1,675,150 $ 7,687,800 $12,831,416 $18,282,388 $23,420,532 2,468 $85,244,586 Note: Includes all new construction, remodeling, additions etc. Source: Plainfield Twp. Building Dept. II-11 �-II SOCIO-ECONffi1IC CHARACTERISTICS To further the understanding of Plainfield Tovmship as it exists today and its future prospects, the fo 11 owing demographic profi 1e has been provided. The analysis has been presented for the community as a whole and for sub-areas to help further distinguish population, economic and social patterns. Sub-areas are delineated on 11ap 4. II Ill Population The 1980 Census recorded a population of 20,611 persons in Plainfield Township. A special census conducted by the Tovmship in 1987 shows an increase of 3,885 persons and a total of 24,496. This in an increase of 18.9 percent. Figures for the Plainfield Township Sub-Areas are shown in the following tab}e. PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Population Change by Sub-Area TABLE 6 1970 Total Area Area Area Area #1 #2 #3 #4 Source: 1980 1970-80 # Inc. 1970-80 % Inc. 1987 16,915 20,611 3,696 21.8 3,195 3,123 4,403 6,194 4,252 4,237 4,085 8,037 1,057 1,114 - 318 1,843 33.1 35.7 -7.2 29.7 1970 and 1980 US Census and 1987 Special Census by Plainfield Township \ 1980-87 # Inc. 1980-87 % Inc. 24,496 3,885 18.9 4,800 5,600 4,219 9,889 548 1,363 134 1,852 12.9 32.1 3.3 23.0 Ill Ill Ill Ill 1111 1111 II-12 • • �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ SUB-AREA +2 .__.,-, I ' "' l I 'n 8-AREA +1 ~J l - ='I .. . II ~ -- ,'--, +4 . PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP H ' ,,, ~ V8 ~ V2 MIL ES SUB-AREAS . - �These figures indicate that the overall grm,,th rate for the Tovmship has been healthy and relatively consistent during the last t\-10 decades v!ith the 1980's showing an increase of 0.5 percent in the average annual rate of growth (2.7 percent vs. 2.2 percent) The figures also indicate that relative growth in the areas south of the river is continuing to be out paced by the grm,th in the north. In the 1970's the annual grov1th rate in the south \'las 1.4 percent compared to 3.4 percent in the north. The present growth rates stand at 2.3 percent per year in the south and 3.2 percent in the north. Further analysis shows that three of the four sub-areas of the Township have actually experienced what can be termed rapid growth rates. The exception is area #3 in the south portion of the Township. During the 1970's this area experienced a population loss. Recent years have, however, shown a reversal of this trend and the population is once again increasing at a slow 0.5 percent annual rate. The highest grm·1th rates for the sub-areas are in areas two and four. Area Two has seen its annual rate of grmtth increase from 3.3 percent in the 1970 s to nearly 4.6 percent in the 1980's. Area four's rate of growth has increased from 3.0 percent to 3.3 percent. A modest decline has been seen in area one where the growth rate no1:1 stands at 1.8 percent as compared to 3.3 percent in the 1970's. 1 In terms of actual numerical increases, population gains north and south of the Grand River have been nearly identical with the southern area still supporting the highest number of people (57 percent). Nonetheless development trends indicate that the percentage of people residing north of the Grand River should be nearly equal to that in the south by the end of the 20 year planning period. Housing Table 7, sho\'Js the estimated number of persons residing in the various housing types represented . in the Township by sub-area. It shows that in 1987 approximately 84 percent of the population resided in single and two-family dv1ellings, 9.5 percent in multi-family dwelling units and 6.4 percent in mobile homes. \ Table n, compares the composition of the types of housing units for the years 1980 and 1987. It shows that during this time period the housing mix for the Township as a whole has remained relatively constant. • • • •II Ill Ill .. 'IIII II II Ill 11111 11111 Ill II-14 • • �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I PLAI~FIELD TOWNSHIP Population By Type Of Housing 1987 TABLE 7 Single &Two Family 11ultiFami ly t1obi 1e Home 24,496 20,599 2,332 1,571 4,800 5,600 4,219 9,889 4,093 4,910 3,599 7,997 440 1,892 100 84.1 9.5 Total Area Area Area Area #1 #2 #3 #4 % Of Total 1987 Source: 707 690 174 6.4 1980 U.S. Census & 1987 Plainfield Twp. Special Census PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Housing Types 1980 - 1987 TABLE 8 1980 1987 % Inc. % Of Total # # Inc. Single Family (2) 5,398 Two Family (2) 214 t1ulti-Family (2) 995 Mobile Homes (1) 601 75.5 3.0 14.0 8.4 6,038 284 1,181 601 640 70 186 0 11.8 32.7 18.6 0 74.5 3.5 14.6 7.4 Total 100 8,104 896 12.0 100 # (1) Source: 7,150 1980 U.S. Census & Plainfield Twp. Building Inspector (1) 1980 U.S. Census Total Count (2) 1980 U.S. Sample Count II-15 % Of Total �Age Composition As in most areas of the county, the population of Plainfield Tm-1nship is grmJing older. During the 1970's the median age rose from 23.5 years to 28.2. Table 9, illustrates this point and shov,s that v1hile the overall 1980 population was still comprised of a high percentage of adults in the family rearing year, the percentage of preschool and school age children declined considerably and the percentage of middle ciged and senior citizen's rose. Table 10, shm-1s the age breakdown by sub-area. Although current data estimates of the age mix are not available, it is assumed that given the high percentage of population that was in the family forming years in 1980, the Township is now in the midst of a mini baby boom that will serve to temper the increase in the median age through the rest of the 20 year planning period. II II II II 11111 11111 II Migration General migration rates can be determined by taking the 1970 age groups and shifting them ten years. For example, a person in the 20-24 age group in 1970 would be in the 30-40 age group in 1980 if they stayed in Plainfield Tm•mship. The total for each age group shifted ten years can then be compared with the actual numbers for 1980. The difference in these numbers generally represent either a net in-migration or net out-migration as illustrated in Table 11. The results pinpoint the 1980's trend of young families moving into the Township by showing sharp increases in the number of children under 9 years of age as v1ell as for adults in the family forming age bracket of between 25 and 44. The results for Kent County are somev1hat similar. Interestingly, the net increase in the number of adults age 25 to 34 in Plainfield represents nearly one half of the increase in the same age bracket for the entire County. II 1111 I II II 1111 Race Ninety-nine percent of the residents in Plainfield Township in 1980 were of the white race. About seven tenths of a percent were black and the remainder were of Spanish, Asian decent. \ ll-16 " I �I I PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP 1970 - 1980 Age Group Comparisons I TABLE 9 I I I I I I I I I I I I I Age Groups Plainfield Township 1970 1980 1970 Number 1980 % Number % % % Under 5 1,668 9.8 1,504 7.3 9.1 8.1 5 - 9 2,335 13.8 1,671 8.1 10.6 7.5 10 -14 2,108 12.4 2,053 9.9 11.2 8.3 15 - 19 1,697 10.0 2,251 10.9 10.1 9.9 20 - 24 939 5.5 1,726 8.3 7.9 10.4 25 - 29 1,231 7.2 1,669 8.1 6.5 9.4 30 - 34 1,126 6.6 1,677 8.1 5.3 7.5 35 - 44 2,296 13.5 2,771 13.4 10.9 10.5 45 - 54 1,600 9.4 2,307 11.2 10.6 9.5 55 - 64 1,120 6.6 1,553 7.5 8.3 8.6 782 4.6 1,399 6.8 9.3 10.2 65 - Over Median Age Source: 23.5 28.2 1980 U.S. Census I I - Kent County 11-17 25.8 28.0 �PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Age Group Comparisons By Sub Area - 1900 TABLE 10 Age Gr~p_ -I ►-' 0:, 1980 AREA# 1 1980 1970 # % % Under 5 282 5.9 0.5 5 - g 334 7.1 10 - 14 415 15 - 19 1980 # AREA I! 2 1980 1970 1980 # AREA# 3 1900 1970 AREA# 4 1980 % % # 251 6.1 9.3 11.2 279 6.8 13.4 349 441 10.4 · 10.4 4.7 433 10.2 13.6 13.8 729 574 12.2 13.0 45 - 54 478 10.1 55 - 64 370 65 - Over 463 l1edi an Age 31.5 % % 371 8.7 9.3 13.9 368 8.6 8.8 12.9 387 9.1 440 9.3 9.3 20 - 24 272 5.8 25 - 34 642 35 - 44 Source: 1980 U.S. Census 1980 .,, 1970 -- % 597 7.9 9.9 12.6 658 8.7 13.1 8.5 12.4 859 11.4 13.1 479 11.7 9.8 055 11. 3 9.7 6.4 396 9.6 8.3 594 7.8 6.1 17.1 12.1 610 15.1 13.0 1,292 17.1 13.9 539 12.7 12.4 471 11.5 12.7 1,138 15.1 13.7 10.6 425 10.0 11.4 499 12.2 10.7 853 11.3 10.0 7.0 4.5 319 7.5 4.3 389 7.0 3.6 435 5.7 3.5 9.8 8.8 243 5.7 372 9.0 7.6 278 3.8 7.0 ., 26.5 9.1 29.6 26.8 IO �~~~---------------PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP 1970 - 1980 tligration TABLE 11 PLAINFIELD Age Group 1970 Population Shifted 10 Years 0 - 9 TOWNSHIP KENT 1980 Population Increase Decrease 3,175 + 3,175 1970 Population Shifted 10 Years COUNTY 1980 Population I ncrease Decrease 69,463 + 69, 463 ..... ..... 10 - 14 1,668 2,053 + 385 37,499 3G,756 - 743 ►~ 15 - 19 2,335 2,251 - 84 43,845 43,970 + 125 20 - 24 2,108 1,726 - 382 45,902 46,305 + 403 25 - 34 2,636 3,336 + 700 74,012 75,520 + 1,503 35 - 44 3,357 2,771 + 414 48,767 46,751 - 2, 01G 45 - 54 2,296 2,307 + 11 44,824 4-2, 129 - 2, 695 55 -64 1,600 1,553 - 47 43,843 38,1 98 - 5, 695 65 - Over 1,902 1,399 - 503 72,251 45, 414 - 26,837 16,935 20,611 + 3,676 411,044 444,506 + 33 , 462 I 1.0 Total Source: 1980 U.S. Census �SUMMARY OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TRENDS The observations listed below are presented as a broad overvie~, of the conditions, both natural and man made which must be considered in establishing a long range development plan. Based on these factors and limitations as well as other planning dimensions, recommendations relating to the desired long range pl an a re ma de. Environmental Limitations The areas depicted on t1ap 5 are characterized by excessive topographic conditions, flood hazards and high ground water v,hi ch make urban type of development very costly, and in many cases unfeasible. They also represent many of the nautural features contained 1-lithin the Township which give it its unique environmental quality and appearance. Natural Resources 1. The Grand River and Rogue River and their floodplains are valuable assets which are considered irreplacable from an environmental standpoint. In addition, and potentially equally important, they are attributes which, from a community development standpoint, should be protected for their existing and potential value in providing extensive green areas and buffers to development. 2. The northwest portion of the Township with its several inland lakes, together with the topography in several other portions of the Tovmship offer abundant natural, scenic opportunities. 3. The majority of the Townships prime agricultural land has been lost to urban and suburban development. The largest areas of prime agricultural lands not presently experiencing suburban encroachment are in the northwest portion of the Township. Bui 1ding Trends ~ 1. From a numerical standpoint the area south of the Grand River is no longer experiencing the greatest amount of new residential construction. 2. t1ost apartment construction is occurring south of the Grand River. 3. Most new single-family housing is being built north of the Grand River. Land Use Trends 1. The majority of new construction is residential. 2. Over 70 percent of the residential construction is single-family homes. 3. Urban type growth is generally confined to the Belmont area the Grand River west of East Beltline Avenue. II-20 and south of �I I I I I I ·- ,r -- I I I - I I I I I I ~. ~ '"!I PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP I I I I 1/8 112 MILES ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS AREAS CONTAINING SLOPES OF 18% OR GREATER c=J AREAS OF POTENTIAL FLOOD HAZARD AND/OR HIGH GROUND WATER .....~MILLER ASSOCIATES SOURCE: KENT CO . SOIL SURVEY, 1983 , ISS. 1986 MAP 5 -.,., 2~ N. MONt<OE, ROCKFOl<ll, MI 493~ 616-Boo-lltll 1987 �4. Floodplain areas are remaining relatively undeveloped. 5. Industrial development is occuring but not at the rate being experienced in other sectors of the metropolitan area. 6. There is considerable demand for one acre or larger homesites . Streets and Highways 1. Traffic flow crossings. across the Grand River is impaired due to a lack of bridge 2. The Plainfield Avenue/Northland Drive corridor suffers use and traffic conflicts. 3. Travel from east to west at desirable intervals is interrupted by an incomplete pattern of major streets thus causing increased congestion on those routes which must be used. \ 11-22 from intense land �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CHAPTER III PLANNING DH1ENSIONS Planning dimensions are guidelines which become the basic framework for the development of the Comprehensive Plan. For plans to be ~eaningful and valuable in guiding future growth and development, they must first represent the needs and aspirations of the community's citizenry and, second, they must be realistic and within the community's financial capability. This is assured by the use of planning dimensions which set forth both the qualitative and quantitative requirements of the community for the planning period. Planning dimensions include a General Grm·tth Policy, Goals, Population Projections and an estimate of Future Land Needs. In preparing these Planning Dimensions, the Plainfield Township Planning Commission has relied on several types of information. The Commission has undertaken a number of basic studies which, together, provide a factual background relating to the past and present development of the Township. These studies also are of value in determining the physical limits and opportunities of future development. All of this data is reflected in the following Planning Dimensions. GENERAL GROWTH POLICY It is recognized that Plainfield Township is an integral part of the Grand Rapids f1etropol itan Area. t1any i nterrel ati onships exist and these, most importantly, include land use, transportation, including the freeway system and major highways, recreation and employment centers. Past and future development of the Township has been and wi 11 continue to be greatly influenced by these various relationships. Plainfield Township, therefore, realizes that it cannot plan for its future development in complete isolation of the needs and growth trends of the balance of the metropolitan area. Within this general framework, ho\'tever, the Township also realizes that it is a separate community and is obligated to plan for its future in accordance with the needs and desires of the local residents. The following brief statements form the overall growth policy and are based on recognition of both the Township's areawide responsibilities as \•tell as responsibilities to the residents and landmmers within the Township. * While the Township recognizes the need to accommodate future growth and development, it is not the desire or goal of the Township to encourage development for the sake of development alone. * All future development should be long-range plan for the Township. * All development should consider available services and facilities necessary to assure the continual protection of the public health, safety and welfare of all Township residents. in accordance \'lith the goals and The following specific goals and objectives further define policy of the Township. III-1 the overall growth �GOALS Planning goals are statements that express the community's long-range desires and, therefore, provide direction for planning activity. In the preparation of the Comprehensive Plan, various plan alternatives were evaluated on the basis of ho\'/ well they could contribute to the achiever.ient of thesP. goals. The goals that are considered most important include the following: General To establish a pattern of land uses Hhich will promote the highest degree of health, safety, and general v,elfare for all segments of the community. To preserve and protect the natural resources of the area 11hile maintaining necessary balance between the social and economic needs of the region. the To encourage planned grov,th in order that facilities and utilities may be logically programmed. To promote, develop and maintain a transportation network 1·1hich provides for the safe and convenient movement of people and goods. To maintain the residential character of the community while providing adequate employment, shopping and service opportunities for the residents. To coordinate region. land use decisions with adjacent communities and with the entire To provide a balanced range of housing types while maintaining a relatively lm1density but non-sprawling environment. To maintain and enforce restrictions necessary to insure proper maintenance property values. of To provide a range of high quality and effective public services and facilities for the residents of the Township. To assess the environmental impact of all characteristics of the area. \ developraent based on the physical To maintain the natural beauty of the area by preventing floodplain development and by preserving existing woodland areas to the fullest extent possible. Further, 1-1hile the economic benefits of mineral resources within the Township must be recognized, it is equally important that these areas be properly contoured and readied for a desirable ultimate use once the minerals have been extracted. In addition to the above general goals the following relate specifically to major functional components of the community. the Corrmercial Land Use It is the goal of Plainfield Township III-2 to permit commercial development in �planned, logical areas which are i ntended to primarily serve residents of the surrounding area. It is specifically not the goal of the Township to encourage additional regional shopping f acilities th at would conflict with or duplicate existing regional facilities located along Plainfield Avenue and Northland Drive. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to limit cor.1mercial development to concentrated areas which are best suited to satisfying shopping needs. a fev, It is the goal of Plainfield Tovmship to prevent strip commercial de velopment along major thoroughfares that would conflict with the movement of traffic or other land use. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to provide separation betv,een commercial areas and low density residential uses by permitting transitional uses such as offices and/or higher density residential uses. Industrial Land Uses In Plainfield Township, there are few large undeveloped areas which, or ideal sites for industrial development. I -I I I I I II' II II are prime It is the goal of Plainfield Township to discourage industrial development in certain areas previously planned for industrial development but now considered undesirable for such use and to encourage industrial development in the remaining previously planned, strategic locations. Residential Land Use It is patible limited density the goal of Plainfield To\'mship to continue a residential pattern comwith existing development. Higher density residential uses should be to areas that have been previously planned but not developed for high use and to areas requiring a transitional use. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to ensure that residential uses requiring public utilities are planned and located where these services can be economically and efficiently provided. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to ensure that future residential developments consider the natural 1imitations ,mposed by existing topography, and that filling, grading and erosion are minimized. Transportation It is the goal of Plainfield Township to promote an efficient network of streets consisting of the following elements. 1. Freeways and controlled access arterials providing little or no land access devoted entirely to the task of traffic movement at relatively high speeds. 2. t1ajor arterials designed to serve major traffic movements with a secondary function of providing land access. III-3 �3. t1inor arterials to serve local or shorter distance traffic 1-1ith ciple function of providing local access to major arterials. 4. Collector streets to serve internal traffic movements and land access within specific areas and to connect those areas with arterials. 5. Local streets with the sole function mediately adjacent property. of the providing land access prin- to im- It is the goal of Plainfield T0vmship to ensure the capacity and function of ex- isting arterials and collector streets and to minimize the conflicts between their functions, by regulating land uses, building setbacks anrt driveway openings and 1-1here appropriate by encouraging the development of front or rear access service drives. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to prevent traffic conflicts along proposed new major arterials by promoting controlled access provisions as part of their design. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to discourage extended through traffic movement on local streets by promoting the development of curvilineal and culde-sac streets. Public Facilities It is the goal of Plainfield Township to provide an adequate level of public services and facilities to protect the public health, safety and welfare. An orderly land use pattern will permit the economic and efficient provision of police protection, fire protection and public sewer, water and storm drainage systems. It is the goal of Plainfield Township to make a wide range of leisure tivity centers residents. and recreational facilities available for use time acby Township It is the goal of Plainfield Township to acquire public facility sites for use in advance of actual need to assure that sites will be available as the need for additional facilities arise, and to minimize public expenditures. ~ POPULATION PROJECTIONS Determination of reasonable future population growth is important in a planning program as it provides a general basis for determining land needs for future development and future corrnnunity facility and improvement needs. The 1975 Comprehensive Plan projected that the Township population would be approximately 23,700 persons in 1980, 26,200 in 1987 an~ 27,300 by 1990. The 1987 population based on the recent special census is 24,502. This figure is approximately 7 percent less than projected. This slower rate of growth can be explained by the downturns in the national economy which occurred in the mid seventies and early eighties. The growth rate nm·, being experienced in the Township is, hm·1ever, sharply increased from the average rate of growth witnessed in the last decade. Indications are that this rate of growth is likely to continue over the next few III-4 I I I I �• • • • "I I I I I I I I I I I I - years, and place the Township's projected in the 1975 Plan. 1990 population 1·/ithin close range of that In tracing the historical growth rate of the Township and comparing it with the grm·1th rate of Kent County as a \'/hole, a clear pattern in the relationship between the tv,o populations is evident. This pattern shows that beb,een the years 1960 thru 1987, the population of Plainfield has risen at a higher rate in proportion to that of the County. During this period, Plainfield's share of the total County population increased from 3.2 percent to 5.2 percent. This trend, when plotted, shol'IS remarkable consistency and if projected to the year 2010 would result in a Tovmship population of 7 percent of the County 2010 population. This rate of growth would be equivalent to adding approximately 555 new residents per year, and a 2010 population of 37,300 persons. It is expected that major influences such as the Steelcase expansions and the proposed Southbelt will have the effect of reducing the number of people moving into Plainfield Township that might otherwise do so. Table 12, takes these factors into consideration and indicates a 2010 population of 36,000 people. The projection assumes adding 800 persons per year until 1990 (1985 to 1987 growth rate) and an average of 455 persons per year thereafter. As a benchmark the growth rate projected between 1990 and 2010 v,ould be almost identical to the average historical rate witnessed in years 1970 to 1987. PLAHJFIELD TOI-IIJSHIP Projected Population By Area TABLE 12 1987 1990 1993 1995 2000 2005 2010 Area #1 4,800 5,560 6,310 6,544 7,246 7,948 8,650 Area #2 5,600 6,410 6,732 6,975 7,666 8,358 9,050 Area #3 4,213 4,280 4,403 4,520 4,950 5,343 5,700 Area #4 9,889 10,650 10,834 11,136 11,588 12,076 12,600 24,496 26,900 28,279 29,175 31,450 33,725 36,000 Total Source: t1i 11 er Associates III-5 �I LAND NEEDS Based on the Land Use Survey, approximately 12,000 acres in Plainfield To\'mship are committed to a specific use. Of this amount roughly 2,600 acres are devoted to agriculture and 2,600 acres to a variety of public, semi-public uses and mineral extraction. The balance, 7,400 acres, is devoted to the three development categories of residential, commercial and industrial land use. The combined developed acreage of residential, commercial and industrial land uses for the year 2010 is expected to be approximately 10,700 acres. A breakdown of the projected residential, commercial and industrial land needs is as follows. Residential Land Needs Table 13, illustrates the projected land needs to satisfy an increase of 11,500 persons by the year 2010. The estimates are based on several assumptions which include; 1. That the present mix of the various residential tively constant during the planning period. types vlill remain rela- 2. That persons per household will rise from the present estimate of 3.02 P/H.H. to 3.2 in 1995 and taper off to 2.9 P/H.H. in 2010. 3. That densities per acre for the various housing types will tent with existing densities. remain consis- TABLE 13 Projected Residential Land Needs Dwe 11 i ng Uni ts Single-family (74.5%) 3232 Acres \ 2991 (1.08 DU/AC) Urban ( 89%) 2877 1783 ( 1.6 DU/AC) Rural ( 11%) 355 1208 (.29 DU/AC) Two-family (3.5%) 151 40 (4 DU/AC) Multi-family (14.6 %) 630 84 (7.5 DU/AC) 318 64 (5 DU/AC) 4331 3179 f1obi le Home TOTAL (7.4%) III-6 I I I II I - �• -I I I I I I I Coll'lllercial and Office Land Needs The existing commercial developr.,ent within Plainfield Tmmship presently serves a market area holding approximatley 60,000 people. By the year 2010 this population is expected to increase by roughly 27,000 people, with the majority of that increase being in or closely associated with southern Plainfield Township, Comstock Park and Belmont. This increase in population l~ill result in the need for 80 to 135 additional acres of commercial land, or 3 to 5 acres per 1000 people. Because of its location and where growth is expected to occur, Plainfield Township can expect to see a demand for approximately 75 percent of the total market area's commercial land needs. Plainfield Tovmship should therefore see between 60 and 100 additional acres of land put to commercial use by 2010. The demand for office space within Plainfield Township is difficult to predict. One measure of need is to determine the amount of acreage now devoted to office use on a per capita basis, and simply project future need based on expected population increase. Using this method would result in the need for an additional 9 acres of land. However, given the national and regional trends toward economies based more on personal and professional services, the demand is expected to be some\'1hat greater. Added to this trend are more local influences such as the proposed improvements to the East Beltine betv1een I-96 and Plainfield Avenue which could make the corridor an attractive setting for planned office parks. The occurance of new office complexes already being located along this corridor in Grand Rapids Township give credence to this observation. It is therefore anticipated that if allowed to occur in a planned office park fashion, there could be a demand for approximatley 50 acres of office space. Industrial Land Needs I I I Based on existing trends and population increases in surrounding areas it is estimated that Plainfield Township could accommodate a demand for well over 70 acres of industrial land if this type of activity is promoted. However, because the Township does not have an abundance of raw land considered to be prime for industrial development the demand within the Township is not considered high. Therefore, it is estimated there will be a need to accommodate between 40 and 50 acres of nevi industrial development. I I The amount of land that will be devoted to mineral extraction is difficult to predict. Hm·1ever, based on the existance of desirable sand and gravel deposits within the Township and a high metropolitan demand for these resources, it is expected that additional mining operations will be started to replace some of the operations which overtime vlill become depleted. For the purpose of estimating a projected land allocation for these uses, it is assumed that depleted operations will be converted to an alternative use and that a similar amount of new land area made available for extraction. It is therefore estimated that approximately 350 acres of land will remain devoted to mineral extraction. I - Other Land Needs III-7 �Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill The land needs for the various public and semi-public uses such as schools, community facilities and outdoor recreation are addressed in Chapters V thru VI I I. Sull111ary The following Table summarizes the projected land needs for residential, commercial and industrial uses. Excluded are public, and recreational land needs. the various semi-public TABLE 14 PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP Projected Land Needs* 1987 Acres Developed Residential 6,199 Si ngl e-fami ly 1987 - 2010 Additional Acres Needed 3,179 2,991 5,700 1987 Acres Zoned ~ 19,456 ~ 18,709 Urban (R-1) 3,470 1,783 7,823 Rural (Ag) 2,230 1,208 10,811 30 40 42 • 255 84 375 224 64 423 Two-family Multi-family f1obi 1e Home Cornnercial & Office 355 60 - 100 518 Industrial ** 145 (268) 40 - 50 615 Total ~ ~ 3,329 * Excludes lands devoted to or held for public and semi-public uses such as recreation and landfills and private lands devoted to mineral extraction and sanitary landfill. In 1987 these uses collectivley represented approximately 2,600 acres of developed land. ** It is estimated that of the total amount of committed industrial land acres), 145 acres are developed and the remainder is considered residual, in association with existing establishments. 111-8 ~ (268 held ~ �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II CHAPTER IV GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Plan Concepts Research described in previous sections of this report has concluded will not be sufficient growth during the foreseeable future (15 to 20 warrant complete development of the entire Township. Therefore, it sary to determine development priorities for various lands within the that there years) to was necesTownship. A second major concept of the Plan is that ample areas should be proposed for a balanced variety of residential types including rural, rural estate, low, medium and high density. The third major concept of the Plan involves the goal to discourage additional regionally oriented types of land use, while accommodating the demands for additional locally oriented shopping, service and employ~ent opportunities. By limiting new commercial and industrial development to a fev-1 strategically located areas it is envisioned that an overall balance in the orientation of businesses located within the Township can be achieved and future traffic increases and conflicts along arterial streets minimized. Plan Proposals Based on the three major Plan Concepts - coordinated development in certain areas as opposed to scattered development throughout, balanced residential character rather than strictly suburban residential growth, and locally oriented future commercial and industrial growth, the follm'ling maps graphically illustrate the specific orientation and distribution of the various proposed land uses. The General Development Plan depicts both desirable and anticipated locations for general land use categories over the long-range planning period. It is in effect a means of illustrating hov, the community can best be developed to provide harmony between its major functional components of housing, commerce, industry and open space. It is designed to achieve a practical and functional relationship between the various land uses in the hopes of promoting a high standard of livability. Its utility is in its ability to be used as a guide for determining the appropriate locations for new private developments and public facilities and for making public improvements in an economically efficient manner. The following illustrated. text describes and explains the proposals and recommendations Development Staging The demand for additional developable land and utility services within Plainfield Township will continue. Because of this, a majo~ objective of the General Development Plan is to direct development into the areas best able to support it and conversely to deliniate the areas that are not suited for major development within the planning period. To promote the efficient provision of public IV-1 ~ ------ -- services, maintain the rural �-~ ..l!..!J""v""'~)----_;;;;;,_.-1------1 PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP DEVELOPMENT STAGING PLAN ,,--v·-,,-:-:,···ec;;-w 20 YEAR URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY {.K,;~i1,~~~ CONSERVANCY AR EA S :s: . ,,, ~ rve- 112 MILES .#,~MILLER ASSOCIATES °W MAP 6 2b I< "40NROE, ROCKfORO,M I ◄ 93 ◄ 616•666•11fj3 19B7 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ character and to control sprawl development situations, it is necessary that the highest densities of future development be encouraged to locate within areas already served by utility services or which are capable of being economically served. To that end it is important that the extension of utility services to accommodate new development be incremental and based on demand. Furthermore, in consideration of the anticipated practical limits of utility extenti ons, future hi ghv,ay improvements, existing development patterns, anticipated land needs and the goal to conserve certain natural land eleMents, the Development Staging Plan establishes an urban growth boundary. It epresents the approximate extent to which urban types of services and or development should occur within the planning period. Within this area it is anticipated that sufficient land exists to meet the projected demands for most types of future development. Also included on the Development Staging Plan is the delination of lands which should appropriately be left in a natural or semi-natural state. The conservancy area designation has been given primarily to the floodplains of the Grand and Rogue Rivers. These areas are generally intended to support only the least intensive types of development activity, such as very low density residential, recreation and conservancy uses. RESIDENTIAL LAND USE PLAN Plainfield Township is presently witnessing and has witnessed in the past a healthy rate of residential growth. Based on studies of the local and metropolitan area there is no reason to believe that future growth will be diminished. As Plainfield continues to grow, the greater portion of the developed land \'lill be taken up by residential uses. In itself this fact is an important planning consideration, however, the primary concern must be the realization that the living environment is the real heart of the community, and, therefore, a major basis upon which to formulate major land use decisions. The Residential Land Use Plan is a set of gui-delines which if implemented are capable of producing safe, convenient, and pleasant neighborhoods for the mutual benefit of all Township residents. The Plan is based on the following objectives and influence factors. Objectives 1. To offer a broad range of choice among the living areas; 2. To utilize natural features to create attractive residential areas; 3. To allow the development of different housing types to accommodate varying lifestyles. 4. To assure traffic safety and privacy of residential design of streets that discourage through traffic. 5. To locate residential areas through the areas in such relation to other land use types and IV-3 �community facilities as will best contribute to the overall desirability of the community. 6. To stablilize property values by protecting encroachment of imcompatible land use types. residential areas from the 7. Assure public health and safety by permitting intensive residential growth in only those areas which can be adequately served by either private or public utilities. 8. Provide a variety of lot sizes and shapes to meet the varing desires of all persons in the community. Influence Factors In every community there are various factors that influence and in some instances dictate how land can be developed. In Plainfield To\'mship, these most importantly include the following: Public Utility Systems. As in many rapidly urbanizing areas one of the largest limitations to development is the inadequacy or lack of public utility systems. Soils. Soil characteristics are extremely important when considering residential development. Soils must be capable of supporting urban structures, and in areas where public utilities are not available, they must be conducive to the safe and efficient operation of private utility systems. Plainfield is fortunate in that much of the Township has sandy soil, well suited for the operation of private utility systems. Hm-1ever, because of excessive soil permeability in some areas, local ground water contamination by septic systems is a hazard to be guarded against. Relief. 11uch of the land area in Plainfield is made up of very steep hills and deep river va 11 eys \'thi ch pro vi de many extremely attractive homes i tes. Because of these factors, however, the density of development in much of the Township will be very low. Rivers. Lands in Plainfield Tm-,nship are divided to the north and south by the Grand River and to the east and v,est by the Rogu~ River which create accessibility problems within the Township. There is only one bridge within the To\'mship which provides access across the Grand River. While a need already exists for a second bridge, it will greatly increase as further development occurs north of the river. There are five bridges located within the Township which cross the Rogue River . While there is not an immediate need for a new bridge across the Rogue, east/west circulation could be improved through the extension of House Street to Childsdale Avenue, thereby increasing the utility of the Childsdale Avenue Bridge. Another major development consideration with respect to the rivers is the adjacent floodplains. Although some development presently exists in these areas, it should be limited in the future to uses which are not adversely affected by frequent flooding or ,-,hi ch wi 11 not affect the fl ow of flood waters. IV-4 • • • • • • ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ �I I I I I I I I I -I I I I I - Accessibility: U.S. 131, is the major regional highway serving Township residents. This route provides direct access to the central city as well as to the I-96 freeway. The U.S. 131 freeway extends north through the Township. With respect to residential development, this has greatly reduced commuting time to the central city from residences in the northern portion of the To\'/nship. Future improvements such as the proposed new north-south river crossing leading into the Belmont area and improvements to the East Beltline will have s·milar effects. Following are descriptions and recommended components comprising the Residential Land Use Plan. Rural Conservation Area The rural conservation planning area includes agricultural and major wooded areas lying outside of the urban gro\'/th boundary. Intended land uses are primarily large unplatted residential lots, agricultural uses and private open space. The regulations presently governing the use of this land coincide with the existing Agricultural Zone. However, because much of this area includes lands having steep slopes, wetlands and other environmental limitations and because the economical provision of sewer and water into the area is not foreseen well beyond the end of the planning period, it is recommended that additional measures be enacted to discourage intensive d~velopment. These include a larger minimum lot size requirement such as 2.5 acres and other restrictive platting requirements, such as the existing 200 foot minimum lot frontage requirement. Staging It is recommended that the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning t1ap be ammended early on in the planning period to incorporate the provisions necessary to promote the desired land use pattern and to maintain the character of this area. Rural Estate Residential Area Based on an analysis of areas lying within the urban growth boundary several areas vlithin the Township stand out for their uniqueness in terms of topography, location and the development trends occurring within them. They are characterized by expensive homes on lots larger than one acre. They also in clude areas near utilities and are experiencing growth pressure. Because of the proximity to utilities and growth trends it is not reasonable to assume that they could successfully be excluded from the urban growth boundary for the enti re planning period. On the other hand efforts to ensure their rural and unique environmental qualities are warranted. For these reasons, the Plan proposes the delineation of several Rural Estate Residential Districts which in many \1ays serve as transitional areas between the more traditional low density residential areas and the rural conservation area. For platted lots, a minimum of 40,000 square feet with at least 150 feet of road frontage is recommended to achieve the maximum desired density of one unit per acre. IV - 5 �Y;. • • • • • • • • • • • - ~ "v"J"" Q ,;,... _. J PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP ~ ~ ~ ~ RURAL CONSERVATION AREA VB 1/2 MILES ~\MILLER ASSOCIATES MAP 7 ~ 28 N. MONROE, ROCKFORO,MI ~934 616-866-1183 1987 ~ ~ �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP ~ RURAL ESTATE AREA ~· i VB V2 MILES MA p a ~.~MILLER ASSOCIATES W 28 N. MONROE, ROCKFORO,MI 4934 616-866-1183 1987 �Staging It is the recolil1llendation of this Plan that early on in the planning period, the Zoning Ordinance and Map be ammended to incorporate conventional zoning provisions necessary to promote the desired land uses and pattern of development in these areas. Low Density Residential Area The low density residential areas outlined are for the most part inclusive of the area previously planned and zoned for that use. They also include some area presently zoned for agriculture but which could experience development pressure at some point within the 20 year planning period. Most of the areas having severe environmental limitations have been encompassed in the rural estate classification The maximum density of development recommended for the low density residential areas is 3.50 dwelling units per acre. However, public sewer and water utilities are considered necessary to support this density. Therefore if this density is to be achieved, it is recommended that all proposed developments be encouraged to locate in areas where the utilities can be initially provided. If development is to occur in areas where both utilities cannot be provided at the time of development, it is recomnended that housing densities be further limited to ensure an adequate level of public health and water resource protection. It is envisioned that most of the areas planned for low density residential use can be developed using conventional zoning techniques. There are several areas however, that in order to take advantage of topographic conditions or to preserve a woodlot, floodplain or wetland it may be beneficial to utilize planned unit development zoning. By this technique homesites could be clustered or reduced in size in order to preserve various natural features while maintaining overall desired densities. Staging It is recommended that the extension of public ~tilities be systematically programmed based on demand to serve both exi~ting and future low density residential developments. It is further recommended that rezoning of planned low density areas not presently zoned for such use be staged only in conjunction with utility extensions and when an overall need for additional low density land is present. Medium Density Residential Area There are several types of medium density housing that have gained popularity in the Grand Rapids area within the last few years which include the following; 1. Single-family attached homes. 2. Duplexes and four plexes designed to appear like single-family homes. 3. Homes constructed under the zero lot line concept. II ill Ill II II II II II II II "Ill " �I I I I I I ~ ...:::;.,_,ii,:== ~ · fi ~ 1t--t-~~---:--< l'-~-----~~--"""'~-1 ' I I I I I I I I I I I -I - PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP ----J' LOW DENSITY RESIDEN T IAL AREA ~·i VB V2 MILES 6.~ MILLER ASSOCIATES W MAP 9 28 N WOHNOE, HOCKFOhO,MI 4936lb · bbo-lldl 1987 �- II II II II Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill ' '-Hi"1l'fr!,~~9'11""'"fff---=:....----14-_r--_4--.+-.:~ . Ill Ill Ill Ill PLAINFIELD. TOWNSHIP MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREA *-MOBILE HOME PARK VB V2 MILES •~~MILLER ASSOCIATES MA p 1 0 W 28 N MONH0E 0 H0CKF0llD,MI 493~ 616··861i·ll13l �i i i i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - 4. Conventional density. apartments 5. f1obi 1e Home Parks. and condominiums built at a relatively lov, In order to accormnodate a variety of housing types and to maintain a relatively low, overall density of development in most areas, the Plan proposes that these types of housing be permitted as transitional uses separating existing and planned commercial and industrial areas an<i major thoroughfares from low density residences. For the most part, the areas sho\'m on the Plan are those already zoned for such use or which have been previously depicted on the 1975 Plan. It should be noted, however, that this Plan designates considerably fewer acres for these types of uses than depicted on the previous Plan. Lands being allocated are intended to satisfy the anticipated demand while maintaining the present overall mix of housing types. Intended densities are 3.5 to 6 units per acre. Staging With respect to mobile home parks, Plainfield Township has an abundance of existing and approved areas. For this reason the Plan depicts only those areas \'lhich have already received mobile home park zoning status. One exception, and a deviation of this Plan from current zoning is the designation of the roughly 80 acre site on Cannonsburg Road, presently zoned for mobile home park use, to low density residential use. The rational for the promotion of the alternate use is the desire to discourage further inefficient leap frog and sprawl characteristics from occurring in the area. It is felt that the location of an additional development in this area at urban densities would greatly exacerbate these conditions. The follo\.'/ing are also seen as justification for discouraging the medium density residential use of this site. 1. Given the existing character and planned uses of adjacent properties there is little justification for a medium density transitional use to be located on the site. 2. Projections show a need for roughly 65 acres of additional developed acres of mobile home park land by the year 2010. This need can easily be satisfied at the alternative, previously planned and zoned locations, v,hich fro~ a comprehensive planning standpoint are considered better suited for mobile home park development. As eluded to above, the areas depicted on the Plan i1ap for mobile home park use are v,ell suited for this type of housing and their collective acreages are Foreseen to be capable of readily accormnodating the needs ~ttributable to that segment of the local population desiring to live in a mobile home park environment. It is the intent of this Plan to encourage mobile home park development only in those strategic locations illustrated. It is anticipated that both conventional and PUD zoning ~echanisms \till be utilized throughout the plan ning period in the development of the other various IV-11 �• -· I II II II II __J ill ill- Ill Ill Ill I "\ \ --.i-1-----,-----"1,---!-' . ill ill PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP - HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREA VB 1/2 MILES ~~~MILLER ASSOCIATES MA p ill ill ill 11 W 2& N MON.,OE , ROCKFO~O,MI 493.; 616 · 1161o·ll~l 1987 �I i i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - medium density housing types. Because of the density factor it is recommended that all medium density housing be served by public se\-1er and water, and that their provision be a condition in the grant of any necessary rezonings. High Density Residential Area Lands designated for high density residential use are intended for condominiums and apartments. Because of their demands on public utilities, police and fire protection and the road system it is recommended that they not exceed 6 to 10 units per acre. The areas depicted include areas already developed for such use, those already zoned but not developed and a few additional areas. Locational parameters include: 1) Proximity to major arteries. 2) Proximity to existing and planned commercial areas. 3) Ability to be served by public water and sewer. 4) Ability to serve as transitional uses between commercial areas and lower density developments as well as a transition from high traffic arterials to low density residential uses. Based on the above factors the Plan designates several new areas to satisfy demand for this type of housing. the Staging The proposed additional areas have been designated as future- high density areas because of their locations with respect to both existing and planned commercial areas and high traffic arterials and/or existing high density uses. For these reasons their suitability for low density housing is seen as being diminished. Nonetheless, it is the intent of this Plan that the necessary rezonings for the additional high density areas be staged only when adequate public utilities can be made available and there is a demonstrated need on a parcel by parcel basis. For these reasons it is further recommended that the planned unit development concept be utilized in obtaining and granting the necessary approvals. Agricultural Land Use The Plan proposes to designate approximately 740 acres in the northwest portion of the Township to an exclusive agricultural district. This area, located in portions of sections 6, 7 and 18 are actively farmed at the present time and consists of soils considered prime for agricultural purposes. Because of their existing use and location these areas are not seen as having tremendous pressure for development. Hov,ever, because of their value as farmland, the Tovmship should take measures to assure their long-range preservation. Enrollment in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act and very restrictive lot and platting requirements are ways that the Township could promote this. IV-13 �Staging Because of the limited area and the limited number of property owners involved, it is suggested that unilateral measures by the Township not be attempted but that the desires of the property owners be considered to insure their cooperation. The end result of this effort may be that all, portions, or none of the areas designated on the Plan Map are ultimately included. For those parcels or areas that are not included, the Plan would recommend their inclusion in the Rural Conservation District. For these reasons it is recommended that efforts to preserve the designated prime agricultural lands be made early on in the planning period, in conjuction with the timing of Zoning alTDllendments relating to the Rural Conservation District. • • • • • "- - \ IV-14 - �I I I i I i ·-· I _u I I I I· I I N --lf--e::ir.r-4-7~~~~-'t'S'----=::..--........!!=4---,r---+-~'~ N I I I I I PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP ~ PRIME AGRICULTURAL AREA l5I I - ~! VB ~ V2 I i MILES ~.~MILLER ASSOCIATES MA p 1 2 -- W 28 N. M0MH0E, II0Cl<F0R0,MI 493,. 616-IH,b·lh.ll 1987 - - - - - -- -- ---- �Cot1MERCIAL LAND USE PLAN One of the greatest problems facing the Tovmship concerns activity and traffic flow. It is this factor which has the greatest effect upon influencing commercial development. Traditionally, business establishments have sought to locate in those areas which have the greatest potential for experiencing a large degree of activity. Since one of the greatest generators of activity is the automobile, commercial development attempts to locate in the areas where the greatest number of people congregate or pass by. Thus, strip commercial and shopping center developments have evolved. Plainfield Township has very high levels of activity in certain areas, and in other areas, very little activity. Commercial development in the Tm·mship is in direct proportion to the level of activity found in the specific area. One of the areas with the highest level of activity is found along Plainfield Avenue in the southern portion of the Township. As one of the major transportation routes of the region, this street has experienced high levels of activity resulting with various types of commercial development ranging from the small individual stores up through the full-scale shopping center. The problems associated with this area vary. Inadequate zoning and regulatory measures in the past have resulted in an unplanned atmosphere because the different centers of activity have been located without respect to each other. Blight, as yet, has not evidenced itself to any great degree; however, this type of development is particularly susceptible to blight; and thus it is apt to occur quite rapidly unless adequate preventive measures are instituted. Conversely, it should also be pointed out, that the sky-rocketing value of commercial property has resulted in the redevelopment of some of the older, less desirable businesses and homes. t1ore of these structures \•!ill be razed in the future as the land is put to a higher and better use. Another major problem of this area, which has presented itself, is too much activity. As traffic and congestion have incr~ased, an unpleasant environment has been created. Commercial development is affected because the amount of activity is no longer conducive to the attraction of shoppers as they find it. increasingly difficult and hazardous to perform the shopping function. It is obvious from the above that Plainfield Township has some problems related to commercial development. The objective of this report is to provide an understanding of existing and potential problems and also to provide a guide for future cor.imercial development 1-1hich will provide residents \'Jith an adequate level of commercial facilities in an environment which is pleasing, healthful and conducive to the overall \'1ell-being of the comr.iunity. Shopping Centers The planned shopping center concept ~as evolved as a natural outgrowth of the mobility of the modern shopper and his desire for convenience. The result is a group of stores functioning as a unit, planned and designed for its specific IV-16 II II II II II II II Ill " 1111 1111 II II Ill �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ site, and reflecting its trade area by location, size and type of stores. Offstreet parking is incorporated an an integral part of the unit. The commercial facilities, thus developed can be considered as one land use, in contrast with the miscellaneous string of stores found in commercial areas which "just happened". Two basic type of centers exist - convenience and comparison. The convenience center is designed to provide the day-to-day household needs by offering such goods as groceries, drugs and services while the comparison center offers goods purchased less frequently - for example, apparel, appliances, and furnishings. In addition to these general classifications, shopping centers can categorized into the following basic functional types: be further Neighborhood Shopping Center: Oriented toward the neighborhood, this center provides those convenience goods and services necessary for day-to-day living and serves a trade area equal to approximately one neighborhood. Community Shopping Center: In addition to providing those items offered by the neighborhood center, this facility is expanded to include comparison shopping goods on a limited scale. The trade area is generally composed of several neighborhoods. Regional Shopping Center: This center provides service similar to the community center, but on an enlarged scale. The trade area is generally all or a large portion of the community and may include areas outside of the community proper. TABLE 15 Shopping Center Characteristics Neighborhood Community Size (in acres) Less than 10 10 - 30 30 + f1ajor Tenant Grocery Store Supermarket Jr. Dept. store At least one large dept. store Trade area Variable based on density Several neighborhood Several Communities Parking Ratio 3:1 IV-17 3:1 Regional 3:1 �Planning Principles The following principles should be used to guide shopping center development in order to maximize their benefits and minimize their effects on the Tovmship. 1. The center should be centrally located with respect to its trade area. 2. Ready vehicular access from major streets should be available. streets should not disect the center, if it can be avoided. 3. The design should emphasize the pedestrian's convenience. 4. The center others. 5. The site size should be adequate to provide for possible expansion. 6. The design should create an attractive atmosphere . 7. Vehicular and pedestrian conflicts should be kept to a minimum. 8. Proper buffering should be provided betv1een adj acent uses. These should be a compact unit in which each segment compliments the the fol- Competition: Location and the effect of competing areas upon each other are very important factors in the development of commercial facilities. Therefore, every effort has been made to insure each shopping center an adequate area from which to generate business without adversely affecting other facilities. Design: Nev, centers offer virtually unlimited opportunities to create areas which are efficient and pleasing and which do not contain the mistakes made in earlier developments; hm-1ever, established area~ present different problems. Their redesign is limited by their location and existing site limitations. The rehabilitation of these areas, however, should incorporate many of the elements of a new center such as a pleasant environment, adequate off-street parking, good vehicular and pedestrian circulation patterns, and building modernization. Two distinct fields of action are necessary to provide Plainfield Tovmship with the necessary commercial facilities. First, there are the areas of the community which 1-1i 11 require new shopping centers in accordance \'Ji th the neighborhood plans; secondly, there are the existing shopping centers, several of which are in need of some type of improvement. Before any of this new development or rehabilitation can market necessary to support these areas must be realized. IV-18 be II II Proposals In the determination of specific recommendations for shopping centers, l ovli ng factors were taken into consideration. • • • •II undertaken, the �Existing Shopping and Service Facilities Regional Shopping Center j I I I i I I I I i During the past feH years Plainfield Avenue has been transformed from a highv,ay oriented commercial strip to a regional commercial center. This is due primarily to the construction of North Kent Mall which served as a catalyst to other development. 11 11 Indepth discussion and recommendations relating to the Plainfield Avenue Corridor are included in the transportation element of this Plan. Neighborhood Shopping Centers Only one real neighborhood shopping area now exists in the Township; this is in Comstock Park. This shopping area was developed many years ago as the service center for village residents and persons living in the outlying rural area. There are numerous individual businesses located in this area, the majority of which provide convenience goods such as groceries, drugs, gasoline, and various services such as dry cleaning and beauty and barber shops. To meet changing conditions, various improvements in the business district will be necessary. To attract shoppers, the area will have to be competitive with new modern centers in terms of attractiveness, convenience, and parking. Some of the buildings that were in poor structural condition have been removed; others should be remodeled. New structures should be integrated with existing businesses to provide additional shopper convenience. Because of a variety of factors, much growth can be anticipated in the Belmont Area. As this growth occurs, provision's could be made for the ultimate development of a neighborhood shopping area. A more detailed discussion of this concept is included at the end of this chapter. Plan Recorranendations In an effort to reduce potential land use conflicts as well as to encourage a more desirable land use pattern, the Plan recommends the removal of approximately 5 acres of vacant commercially zoned land in the Post Drive/US-131 area and 5 acres along West River Drive, adjacent to the Brookhaven r1obile Home Park. This will leave approximately 193 acres of existing commercial zoned land available to meet a variety of projected commercial demands. Of this acreage, roughly 100 acres is presently devoted to other uses such as residences and mineral extraction. Assuming that roughly one half (1/2) of the existing acreage now put to these uses become available for redevelopment, the actual available stock of existing zoned commercial land is anticipated to be approximately 130 acres. Based on the previously identified future demand of 60 to 100 acres pected there will be a 2010 reserve of between 30 and 70 acres. IV-19 it is ex- �In order to accommodate and promote desirable neighborhood commercial and office types of development the Plan recommends certain long-range additions and changes to the existing commercial stock. These include: 1. The addition of 5 acres of office land along Plainfield Avenue near Airway to provide a transition between existing commercial establishments and the Rockhill Condominiums. 2. The conversion of approximately 3 to 5 acres of residential land on the west side of the East Beltline at Grand River to office/service uses. It is specifically not recommended that these parcels be put to intensive retail use due to potential traffic conflicts . 3. The addition of approximately 140 acres of land on the east side of the East Beltline, south of Five t1ile Road for office park development. 4. Consideration of long range provisions to accommodate neighborhood shopping and service area development in the Belmont area as discussed at the end of this chapter. Staging With respect to the rezonings of land in the Post Drive/US-131 interchange and the West River Drive area, it is recommended that the Zoning t1ap be amended early on in the planning period to reflect the desired residential uses illustrated on the Residential Plan. It is recommended that rezoning of the lands described by 1 thru 4 above be staged in response to market demands and the availability of the necessary utilities and street improvements. It is anticipated that both conventional and PUD zoning techniques will be utilized in bringing about the programmed changes. \ IV-20 Ill Ill Ill �I I I --· _j I I I I I I I I I I I I I I . PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP COMMERCIAL LAND USE PLAN GENERAL COMMERCIAL - OFFICE l5l I I ~ -- "" VB ~ V2 MILES ~~ MILLER ASSOCIATES MA p 1 3 W 28 N . MOMHOE , ROCKYORO,MI 493~ 6 16 - 866• 11a1 1987 �INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PLAN Industrial development is necessary in the modern community to help provide a sound and diversified economic base. It has become recognized as an integral element of the community structure and practically every community is seeking industrial development. There are several significant factors, both negative and positive which greatly influence industrial development in Plainfield Township. Accessibility The I-96 freev,ay and US-131 freeway through the Tm·mship provide good accessibility. Utilities At the present time, Plainfield Township is providing a water distribution system and wastewater collection system which serves the urban portions of the Township. Provision of these systems is a major factor Hith respect to industrial development. Land Availability There is more than enough land available in Plainfield Tovmship to anticipated development needs of the next 20 years. satisfy the Suburban Setting In seeking a location, industry is concerned not only with its own particular site needs but also with the general desirability of the entire area. In this respect, Plainfield has much to offer industry. The residential and commercial development that is taking place in the Tovmship would be an asset in any community and such things as the excellent school systems, utility systems, and the natural attractiveness of the area also contribute to the desirability of Plainfield Township. \ Regional Location Plainfield is located in the Grand Rapids l1etropolitan area, the most diversified and stable economies in the state. which has one of Along with the positive factors regarding industrial development, there are also certain limiting factors which must be considered. These most importantly include the following: 1. rluch of the most accessible land in the To\'mship has soil conditions or topographic characteristics unfavorable for industrial develop~ent. Increased development cost would have to be balanced by lov, unimproved land cost. 2. There is rigid competition throughout the metropolitan area for ne\'1 industry. IV-22 attracting • • • • • •Ill Ill Ill 1111 Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill 1111 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3. Additional industrial development south of the river would tend to compound existing traffic problems. 4. There is a limited supply of unskilled or low-wage labor that would likely be attracted to the area at competitive wages. Industrial Plan Objectives 1. To accommodate industry by making provisions for strategically located attractive industrial areas which offer a wide variety of sites and which can best satisfy the site requirements of many types of industry. 2. To develop a well-balanced community by accommodating new industry to further diversify and stabilize the economy of the Township. Industrial Development Sites The specific requirements of a site vary somewhat for each particular type of industry; however, the follm-1ing general considerations pertain to practically all types. The site should be: 1. Reasonably level. 2. Flood-free, well-drained, and capable of bearing heavy loads. 3. Accessible to major transportation hi gtw,ays. 4. Free of encumbrances and conflicting easements. 5. Protected by zoning from encroachment of incompatible land use types. 6. Available in parcels large enough for modern, adequate parking facilities and loading areas. 7. Served by or capable of being economically provided with all necessary utilities - most importantly water, wastewater collection, storm drainage, natural gas, telephone, and electric power. 8. Reasonable in price relative to values in the area. 9. Located so that prevailing winds will not carry odor, smoke, etc., to other developed portions of the community. 10. In a location where industrial traffic will not be routed through tial or commercial areas. facilities including rail, air, and horizontal plants with residen- Industrial Areas In Plainfield To\'mship, there are few reasonably large areas which truly stand out as being prime or ideal sites for industrial development. There are several IV-23 �areas, however, now being developed into desirable industrial sites. West River Road Area As shown on map 13, this area generally includes lands along West River Road from the south Township boundary, northeast to Samrick. With respect to vehicular accessibility, this is perhaps the best location in the Township for industry. The freeway interchange at West River Road provides excellent service to this area. It is also advantageous from the standpoint that heavy industrial traffic is not routed through the Township. Another major consideration is that public utilities, particularly water and sanitary sewer, has been provided to much of this area. These services are essential to most types of industrial operations. A major problem in this area, however, is the fact that mL1ch of the land now zoned is low and will require considerable fill to make it suitable for industrial development. Plainfield Avenue - Northland Drive Area This area generally includes lands west of the commercial development along Northland Drive north of Plainfield Avenue. These two major arterial streets provide good accessibility to the area. There is some degree of industrial development in this area at the present time and there appears to be some limited potential for additional industrial uses. Ten f1ile Road - Belmont Avenue - US-131 This area includes the existing Graphic Drive Planned Industrial District. has ideal access to the freeway system and contains over 30 vacant acres. major deficiency is the lack of public sewer and water. It The Childsdale Avenue/Rogue River This area involves land presently owned by/or associated with the Rockford Paper Mill. Because of poor access and its location with respect to the Rogue River and other desirable natural attributes, this area is considered to be a poor site for additional industrial development. \ Plan Recormnendations While intending to accommodate a demand for between 40 to 50 acres of nevi industrial development, the Plan proposes the removal of 120 acres of vacant Grand River Floodplain land from the industrial zone as well as 50 to 60 acres of land in the Childsdale/Rogue River area. It is recommended that these lands be retained in a natural or semi-natural state and put to recreational or open space use. Removal of these lands would leave a balance of roughly 135 acres of land capable of supporting expansions and new industrial enterprises. Staging It is recommended that the rezoning of the identified areas be initiated early on in the planning period. IV-24 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - PLAINFIELD· TOWNSHIP INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PLAN INDUSTRIAL LAND USE ve v2 MILES IU IV'I Ap 14 ~~~MILLER ASSOCIATES w 211N . MONROE,liOCKfORD,M l 49)• 616-866-IIB) 1987 �mont will be the proposed river crossing, 1·1hich is not expected to occur until the end of the 20 year planning period. However, in designating the Belmont SDA v1ell in advance of actual bridge construction, the Tovmship is recognizing the need to implement measures that 1;1ill ensure an appropriate roadv,ay alignment as 1·1ell the availability of lands now seen to be best suited to satisfy the long range shopping and service needs of local and outlying residents. Plan Recommendations 1. An important aspect of the Belmont SDA is the specific Belmont Avenue bypass alignment proposed in the Major Street Plan. This alignment is intended to avoid potential land use/traffic conflicts which would otherwise occur along Belmont Avenue by separating the majority of through traffic from local traffic. This alignment is also intended to promote the creation of a more efficient land use pattern better suited to accommodate the broad range of land uses expected to be attracted to the area. 2. To help satisfy the future demand for additional commercial and service oriented development north of the Grand River, while discouraging strip commercial development along such existing corridors as Belmont Avenue, West River Drive and Northland Drive, a neighborhood shopping center area in Belmont is recommended. It is suggested that this area ultimately consist of approximately 25 acres including approximately 5 acres for office and service uses. Assuming development of the bypass road, the most appropriate location appears to be south of Post Drive, west of the existing Township Offices. 11ajor access would be provided by the proposed bypass. As proposed on the t1ajor Street Plan, it is also recommended that the Tovrnship encourage development of a collector street from Samrick Avenue to Belmont Avenue. This wouldd facilitate local circulation to the commercial center. 3. As the Township's population increases, there is likely to be a demand for additional community and cultural facilities. Because of Belmont's central location and the long range prospects for improved accessibility it is recommended that such facilities be located in Belmont with direct linkage to the existing Township offices. Anticipated long range demands are foreseen to include a branch library, additional administrative offices, maintenance facilities and a multi purpose community building for senior citizens and other group activities. The land needs for these faciljties could total approximately 10 acres. 4. In close proximity to the shopping and service area and as a transition to low density residential uses, it is recommended that sufficient land area be designated to accommodate the need for senior citizen housing and medium density residential uses. 5. The range of uses suggested for ultimate inclusion in the Belmont SDA lend themselves to development under a central theme, involving architecture, pedestrian ways and green space. It is recom~ended that this approach be promoted in an effort to create a unique village identity and a functional and pleasing environment. IV-26 II II II II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I BELMONT SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA Considerable growth can be expected in the general vicinity of Belmont. influence factors include the following: t1ajor 1. The existing trend of residential development River, both east and west of the Rogue River. north of the Grand 2. The undeveloped area is of substantial size and has sandy soils which are conducive to development. 3. Topography of the land is such that it does not impose severe development limitations. 4. Sewer and water utilities are nearby and are available for expansion. 5. A proposed, new highway extending from Plainfield Avenue across the Grand River to Post Drive will improve north south circulation within the Tmmship. This proposal, outlined in the t1ajor Street Plan (Chapter VII), will reduce commuting time and increase through traffic in the Belmont Area. As a result, it is expected that residential developmenu will be accelerated and the demands for commercial development increased. 6. Continued population grm,th and development in the Belmont Area as well as in other parts of the Township is expected to result in the need for the eventual development of a new library and other community and civic facilities such as additional administrative offices and multi-purpose facilities for senior citizens and other group activities. This will have the effect of securing Belmont as the Townships civic and cultural center and add to the areas attractiveness for other types of urban growth. It is obvious from the combination of the above influences that future growth in the Belmont Area requires considerable forethought and advance planning to ensure that the area will develop in a concise, integrated and harmonious fashion. It is also recognized that accommodating the expected growth in a manner which minimizes the problems faced by other urbanized centers will require considerable initiative on the part of the Township and the Kent County Road Commission and the cooperation of property owners and developers. To this end a Special Development Area (SDA) has been outlined and designated which encompasses the immediate vicinity of Belmont. The purpose of this designation is to establish a long range area concept which embodies basic parameters relative to a desired general mix and arrangement of land uses. W1th the exception of the immediate need to establish a specific bypass roadv,ay alignment, as outlined in the t1ajor Street Plan, this component of the Comprehensive plan is not intended to represent a detailed development plan. Rather, it is intended to provide, at an early date, a guide for future decision making and to serve as the basis for the eventual development of more detailed development strategies. It is recognized that a major contributor to the increased urbanization of Bel- IV-27 �Staging Because townships have some1·1hat limited authority to regulate development \'1ithin areas proposed for public acquisition it is essential that the Township and the Kent County Road Commission coordinate the acquisition of the Belmont bypass right-of-way as soon as possible. This will assure that additional private development does not encroach l'lithin the roadway 1 s path, thereby ensuring lower acquisition costs. In the short range, lands not having existing street frontage will require additional local and collector streets to support development. It is reco1m1ended that approval of plats and other major residential developments within the SDA conform with existing zoning and the principles and general layout of streets as contained in the Major Street Plan. Subsequent to the acquisition of the bypass right-of-way by the Kent County Road Commission, and well in advance of actual road\'JaY construction, it is recommended that the Township develop and implement specific zoning regulations and other mechanisms designed to assure the integrated develop~ent of a desired mix of uses. It is also recommended that a detailed Sub-Area Plan encompassing all or portions of the Belmont SDA be developed. Such a plan which identifies the precise location of minor streets, land uses, the arrangement of buildings and open space is enabled by state statute and would have the effect of zoning. Alternatively, there exists some potential that private developers could find merit in proposing commercial development along the proposed bypass route and the construction of segments of the roadway prior to a construction schedule established by the Kent County Road Commission and prior to the implementation of specific regulatory mechanisms by the Township. Should such a situation arise, it is recommended that existing zoning and planned unit development techniques be utilized to assure compliance with the general SDA land use proposals outlined in this Plan. \ IV-28 Ill Ill Ill Ill �--- -----------------> "O :rJ I/ ', ICLRICK DR. RIVER m "O )> a, 0 u, m :: )>s: ~ 0 z C C: 0 u, C I "O :rJ en c,::.z,,-- IZI GCOIIGE ANN :rJ o \ :.-:.-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ - , - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - ► r- -< > u, m r z < .,, -I ...... .0 01 V, u, RD. 0 z )> :rJ • 0 )> C: -I m MAKSIMOWSKI ~,._ r- "' 0 ?> I I I I --- ----- - -- ---~r------ - AVc. L-, I , I I I I I L-----' ------------ ------, I I I I 1 I 1 I I I I I I 1----------' ~----- - - - - - - -1- - -,--- - , I 1 I 1 I I I I I L---- L----- l------ I I I I :: I I 11 I --r-- --1 I I ., I r--1 I ,-- - --,-- ' I 1-..._-,-T.!.,-. I t ! t .i , --r I ---t -,---~ I I ,IOAHO I AVE. tit.UC -- ····· .. ·..··- :. lit H~ !:,,, ··- , :~ :,.,_ i :..:::S ,.., I I I --------1I --------,I 7----- -----------m-------,, ~ :r $ V, -t \ �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ CHAPTER V COMMUNITY FACIL !TIES PLAN Community facilities constitute one of the most important elements of the community. Not only are they essential for the satisfaction of individual and family needs, but these various public and semi-public components comprise and determine, to a large extent, the general environment of the community. Thus, the prov1s1on of adequate of community facilities and services becomes a must in attaining the objectives of Plainfield Township and its residents. CHURCHES Churches play an important role in the community. Not only do they provide space for religious activities, but also for social, cultural and recreational activities as well. In addition, architecturally many churches have established themselves as focal points of the community • . t1any churches exist within Plainfield Township and many more are available within reasonable driving distances. Because of the varied religious interests of the population, no attempt has been made to evaluate the adequacy of services. New church sites, however, deserve evaluation, to ensure sufficient size to adequately provide desired amenities. As an aid to future church developed: development, the follmting principles have been 1. Sites should easily be accessible to the congregation they serve and should be on or near an arterial street. 2. Sites adjacent to, but not within commercial areas are desirable. sites can serve as a buffer use. 3. Corner sites are desirable in order to provide a full view of the and to allow for greatest layout flexibility and traffic access. Such building The size of a church site varies greatly with the location, population served, number of facilities, and extent of activities. In Plainfield Townshi~, the following standards are suggested as basic site size determinants: Site size Parking 3 - acre minimum - 1 space for each 3 seats FIRE STATIONS The level of fire protection service offered by a community is of prime importance to the ordinary citizen, as well as business establishments. Public safety andd \'lelfare are most important. There also is an economic factor in that fire insurance rates are, to some extent, determined by the adequacy of service. V-1 - �The following stations: principles and standards should be utilized in planning for fire Site: As a general rule, the average fire station should have a minimum site A location near, but not directly on, the intersection of major streets is desirable to assure access to all points in the service district. The site should not be at a signalized intersection where vehicle line-up might block egress, nor near railroad crossings 1-1here train passage may block routes. Although the service district is the primary area of coverage, all stations must be capable of serving adjacent districts in order to assist on multiple-alarm fires. sTze of one acre. Service Radius: Optimum standards suggest that fire stations be located within one mile of high value commercial, industrial and institutional areas and within two miles of residential areas. Equally important, hov,ever, in determining fire station locations are barriers that impede quick and efficient response times. In Plainfield Township these barriers include the Grand River, Rogue River, steep topography and the US-131 ExpressHay. Heavy traffic on major arterials such as Plainfield Avenue and Northland Drive can also serve as barriers. Inventory Three fire stations now provide fire Plainfield Tovmship: protection emergency 1. Plainfield Avenue and Five t1ile Road 2. Comstock Park 3. Belmont rescue service to In addition, fire fighting and rescue aid can be obtained from nearby communities under mutual aid. The existing inventory of major fire apparatus includes: 3 Heavy duty pumper trucks 1 65 ft. aerial/pumper combination 3 Light duty pumper trucks \ 1 Tanker 2 Grass fire trucks 1 Rescue squad vehicle New Facilities Because of increased residential growth in the Blythefield Area and the fact that the Rogue River impedes response times from the Belmont Fire Station, a new fire station is recommended to be constructed in the general area of Kuttshill and Childsdale Avenue. It is recommended that the specific site be selected as soon as possible and that construction be completed within three to five years. V-2 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ Future Planning The Township is presently in the process of developing a Fire Department !laster Plan which will further delineate the ten year needs of the Township in terms of facilities, manpower and equipment. LIBRARIES Good public libraries rank as an important asset to every community. Besides providing a source for education and information, libraries, particularly in view of increasing leisure time, function as a source of recreation and cultural enrichment. Plainfield Township has, at present, two public libraries \tithin its boundaries; one is located in Comstock Park, and the other is situated on Five Mile Road near Plainfield Avenue. In addition, Krause 11emorial Library in Rockford serves many northern residents of the Tovmsllip and the Township has contributed to its support and expansion. These facilities, as branches of the Kent County Library system, provide Plainfield residents with a vlide range of library services . . As a basis utilized: for determining future needs, the following guides have been Principles 1. Public libraries should be developed separately from those provided by schools because of different requirements and various disadvantages such as location, accessibility, administration, size, function, and psychological barriers. 2. Sufficient land must be provided for the setting of the building, off-street parking, and possible expansion. 3. Libraries should be readily accessible. 4. Sites adjoining, but not a part of, commercial areas are desirable because of similarity in requirements and because of their use as buffering agents. 5. Future advances in communication technology will reduce the need for regional libraries and make smaller brach facilities more desirable. adequate large Standards 1. The site size should not be less than one acre. 2. A minimum population of 15,000 persons is necessary to adequately support a branch 1 i bra ry. Future Needs The Plainfield Library, located on Five Mile Road near Plainfield Avenue serves what is nm-J the major concentration of population in the Township. Erected in V-3 �1978 this library consists of approximately 6,000 square feet. Because the use of this library is great, the need for short range expansion is readily apparent. The Comstock Park Library is located in the extreme southwest corner of the Township. It is estimated that less than 25 percent of this small library's usage is by Plainfield residents, with the majority of usage coming from Alpine Township and the City of Walker residents. To serve a larger segment of Plainfield Tmmship residents the future development of a more centrally located branch facility would appear more effective than expansions to the Comstock Park facility. II II II II Recommendations This Plan recommends that in the short range the Township undertake plans to expand the existing Plainfield Library. Toward the end of the planning period, and as demands north of the Grand River increase, it is recommended that a new branch library located in Belmont, be considered. REFUSE DISPOSAL In the daily life of the community, many forms of refuse are generated. Means for disposal of this refuse must be available for purposes of public health, convenience and esthetics. Plainfield Township residents and businesses now contract with private haulers for the collection of solid waste. Generally, adequate service at reasonable costs has been available through these private haulers. Kent County has the primary governmental responsibility for future solid \'laste planning and management. Through its efforts as well as private enterprise several landfills continue to provide the primary means of disposal. Landfills located in southern Kent County, Ottawa County and t1ontcalm County presently are being utilized for the disposal of refuse generated in Plainfield Township. A major incineration unit relying on refuse to generate steam and electrical power is noH under construction within the City of Grand Rapids to lessen the reliance on landfills. Resource recovery and recycling are other means of dealing with the refuse problem that are being encouraged ir\ the Kent County's Solid Haste 11anagement Plan. It is expected that as the public becomes more aware of the refuse problem, acceptance and use of these alternative disposal methods will become more significant than at present. The Kent County Solid Waste f1anagement Plan also calls for the eventual development of a transfer station to serve northern Kent County residents. This would allow smaller collection vehicles to transfer refuse to larger more efficient trucks to carry the refuse to the major disposal and recycling sites. The closed Ten f1ile Road Landfill site, in Plainfield Township, is under consideration for the location of the transfer station. The ultimate decision on the best location for this facility has not yet been made. Its construction wi 11 be based on future needs and close cooperation between Kent County and several individual communities that would rely on the facility. V-4 II 11 • .. .. • .. 11 II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -II - EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES Plainfield Township is served by four separate school districts. Northview, Comstock Park, Rockford and Kenowa Hills. These include, Future Needs It is estimated that the population of Plainfield Township will increase to approximately 36,000 by 2010. This represents an increase from the present popuJation of roughly 11,000 persons. In response to existing and projected increases in enrollments as well as to replace obsolete structures, the Comstock Park, Northview and Rockford School districts are presently planning for both short-range and long-range construction. t1ost of these new facilities will be located on lands presently ovmed by the school districts or expansions of existing sites. One major expansion now being considered by the Rockford School District entails the acquisition of additional land west of the existing junior high school located on Kroes Street. Another is the eventual construction of a new Comstock Park High School on ex; sting school district property 1ocated on North Di vision Avenue, south of Six Mile Road. Recommendations While the major responsibility for future planning and construction of educational facilities rest with the school districts, it is the recommendation of this Plan that the Township v10rk closely with the various districts to ensure that necessary road and infrastructure improvements necessary to support school facilities are made in a coordinated manner. As the population of Plainfield Tov,nship increases, consideration must be given to the acquisition of sites in advance of the actual time needed for development. This procedure will insure that sites are available when needed at a much lower cost to the taxpayers, not only in monetary values, but also in benefits resulting from advance planning. To assist the school districts, a special provision has been included in the Township's subdivision regulations. If private rlevelopment is proposed in the vicinity of a future mapped school site, the appropriate school board wi 11 be given an opportunity to make arrangements for acquisition of the site. This gives the school boards the opportunity to acquire sites before development occurs and before land prices greatly increase. Lands not n0'1I mmed by the school di stri c-~s but which are presently un<1er consideration for possible acquisition have been mapped in addition to existing school lands. It is important that the Tm,nship and school districts work closely to ensure that future lands that may come under consid1=ration are included in future Comprehensive Plan updates. V-5 �... l -. . - II . . . , .., ' - • •, - L1-~....-~~~--;..--17~fftr====•~-·=r_Jd!:===r~nll I 1J ~~~.+--.a--,J •"': .. I. -I I • -...__, '1 • II ' / ~J l - . 0 • • PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY FACILITIES PLAN EXfSTING PROPOSED • A ■ ta II II II Q 6 □ 0 SCHOOL FIRE STATION LIBRARY . COMMUNITY BUILDING N TOWNSHIP OFFICES CEMETERY 64' V8 ~ V2 MILES MAP 1 6 ~at.MILLER ASSOCIATES W 28N MONRO(,ROCKFORO , M I -4934 616-866-118) 1987 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II CHAPTER VI UTILITIES PLAN The utilities of water service, wastewater collection, and storm drainage are prime factors in shaping land development patterns. Because of stringent standards for environmental protection, effective utility syste~s are vital. The three basic goals for a utility system can be stated as follm-1s: 1. To provide maximum protection of the health, fare of the residents served. 2. To provide adequate levels of service to those the service. 3. To equitably distribute from the public system. safety, and general welland areas requiring the costs based upon the benefits received WATER SYSTEM Plainfield Township presently has its own water system with the supply coming from a series of eleven wells located adjacent to the Grand River on both sides of Northland Drive. Originally established in 1964, the water system is designed to ultimately serve the entire Township. Portions of Alpine Township, Grand Rapids Township and a small portion of the City of Walker are also served by the system. These communities are under water service agreements with the Township. The present tlaster Plan for \'later completed in 1986 indicates that while the Hater system is designed to ultimately serve the entire Township, population densities must be great enough to make it feasible for extension of the system. At the present time all of the major developed areas of the Township are being served, with the total number of Township customers placed at roughly 4,000. The total number of customers served by the system including Alpine, Walker and Grand Rapids To\'mship customers is estimated to be approximately 5,400. The Water Plan projects that revenues generated by the system are financing minor controlled expansions without borroving. capable of The present maximum capacity of the water system is 8 million gallons per day. Based on 1986 projections, the rlaster Plan For Water has identified a need to expand the Township's water treatment capacity in the early 1990 1 s and total water plant capacity around the year 2000. These improvements have been anticipated and the Tm·mship has acquired the necessary 1and adjacent to the existing plant to support these expansions. Based on population projections contained within this Comprehensive Plan it is projected that by the year 2010 there will be approximately 9,300 potential residential equivalent customers within the delineated urban growth boundary. It is estimated that provision of public water service to 100 percent of these VI-1 �customers (excluding Alpine, Walker and Grand Rapids Township) would require at least a 45 percent expansion of the water system's capacity. This projection is approximately 15 percent higher than that projected in the t1aster Plan for vlater. It should be pointed out, however, that the Water Plan does not assume 100 percent of the potential custo~ers actually being served. Other major future 1-Jater system improvements outlined in the Water Plan include: Ill Ill Ill 1111 Looping of water lines in the Rogue River-Belmont-Packer Drive area. Looping of water lines in the Seven t1ile-Brev1er, Cannonsburg Drive area. Construction of a pumping station in the Kuttshill Drive-Childsdale area in conjunction with an elevated storage tank in the Kroes Street-Northland Drive area. Development of a watermain loop in the Woodworth Street-Coit Avenue area to the Hunsberger Avenue-Airway Street area. Eventual (20 years) development of an elevated tank in the Little Pine Island Lake area. All of these improvements are intended to be accomplished incrementally on a demand basis. The General Development Plan has taken the Water Plan projections into account when establishing the extent of the projected 20 year urban growth boundary and assumes necessary expansions of the overall systems capacity at approximately midway through the planning period. Problems of Source Recent developments have arisen which put the continued safety and availability of the Township's present water supply in jeopardy. Tests of private wells in the area of the Township's wellfield and test results at four of the Township's wells indicate contamination by a hazardous chemical. The source of the contamination is felt to be from former waste disposal sites located north of Four Mile road near the East Beltline. In depth study of the situation is presently underw\y to determine the extent of the problem and its ultimate ramifications on the Township's \'later system. Depending on the study's findings relating to the expected future extent of contamination, it may be necessary to pursue one or more options to insure an adequate and safe supply. The options include: development of additional well fields; additional treatment at the water pl ant; pretreatment or ground1·1 ater decontamination within the aquifer or other treatment processes; or connection of the system to the Grand Rapids water system. To insure public health, production at the contaminated well sites has been stopped causing an overall reduction in the system's capacity. This could result in temporary \'later shortages during peak demand periods, until alternative sources are brought on line. None-the-less alleviation of the problem is expected to result in considerable added public expense and the possibility of some short range inconvenience to water customers should the situation require individual efforts to reduce water consumption. VI-2 II II II II II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I • WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEl1 Overview The waste1<1ater collection system servicing Plainfield Township is referred to as the North Kent Sewage Disposal System. It is operated by the Kent County Department of Public Works and from an engineering standpoint is an extension of a system serving the City of Grand Rapids and numerous other metropolitan area corranunities. Sewage treatment is carried out under service agreements with the City of Grand Rapids at a facility located within the City. In addition to Plainfield Township, other areas sharing common elements of the North Kent System include the City of Rockford, and portions of Alpine, Cannon and Courtland Townships. The original service agreements pertaining to the North Kent System indicate provision of service for a projected population of 50,000 persons in addition to the major industries of Wolverine Worldwide and Rockford Paper Hill. The ultimate service area includes all of Plainfield Township as well as all or portions of the aforementioned cormiunities. The capacity necessary to collect and treat wastewater generated within this service area is assured by service agreements originally effective until the year 2008. The overall capacity of the North Kent Se1<1age Disposal System is intended to accommodate allocated waste flows of up to 18 million gallons per day(t1GD). The original allocations included in the 1975 Plainfield Township Facilities Plan are as follows: Alpine Township Plainfield Township Rockford 2 MGD - 14 t1GD 2 MGD Since that time Cannon Township has purchased some capacity from Plainfield Township, and some of that allocation has subsequently been purchased by Courtland Township. Plainfield's allocation presently stands at approximately 12 MGD. The Plainfield Township Facilities Plan last amended in 1978 made several recommendations for ultimate improvements to the North Kent Disposal System in order to accommodate future needs, up to, and beyond the year 1998. These includ~: 1. The by-passing of pumping stations located at Forest Ridge and Boyd Avenues into 30 and 36 inch intercepter sewers running parallel to the Penn Central Railroad tracks from West River Drive to an existing River crossing at Lamoreaux Drive extended. This improvement has been made and was accomplished by the construction of a 30 inch gravity sewer along the Penn Central Rail line from Belmont Avenue to West River Drive. This resulted in the sewage from the City of Rockford and the northern portion of Plainfield To~mship being directed to the Four t1ile Road/Willm-, Street lift station. Effluent from Cannon Township, Courtland Tmmship and the Blythefield area of Plainfield Continues to be routed through the Forest Ridge and Boyd Avenue pump stations. 2. To accommodate projected 20 year floHs (1998) north of the Grand River, VI-3 �construct a 30 inch relief sewer to augment the existing 30 inch sewer along the Penn Central Railway from West river Ori ve, 5100 feet to the southwest to connect with the existing 3G inch sewer, and; 3. Construct an additional 24 inch relief sewer under the Grand River at Lamoreaux Drive extended to augment the existing 24 inch river crossing, and construct a 36 inch sewer along Willow Drive to the Four t1ile Lift Station to augment the existing 36 inch sewer presently in service. It was projected at the time of the 1978 Facilities Plan Amendment that the existing system, would accommodate demands for 15 to 20 years, placing the need for recommended improvements at around 1993 to 1998. Wastewater Flow Projections The Plainfield Township Facilities Plan, contains a 20 year projection of wastev-1ater flows within the Township. The projections indicate a population equivalent of 30,000 persons generating a maximum flow of 7.8 million gallons per day by 1998. The Plan assumes that this flow \ttould originate within a defined area generally consistent with the urban growth boundary established in this Comprehensive Plan. The Facility Plan projections are based on 75 percent of the flow being generated by residential sources and the balance by commercial and industrial sources. By applying the same methodology to ascertain potential flows within the urban service boundary based on the growth projections of this Comprehensive Plan, the continued applicability of the 1978 Facility Plan's projections and recommendations can be determined. Based on current projections of roughly 9,300 potential customers, or an equivalent population of 32,707 persons for the year 1998, it is estimated that the potential maximum daily flow would be 8 million gallons per day. This compares favorably with the 7.8 t1GD projected in the Facilities Plan. The 2010 estimate for wastewater flow based on a population equivalent of 36,000 persons is 9.3 MGD. The 2010 peak flow projections for the north and south sides of the Grand River are 3.75 and 5.05 MGD resp,ctively. On the north side of the Grand River it is projected that by 1998 there will be a potential population equivalent of 14,000 people generating 2.8 MGD in Plainfield Township. Based on the 1978 Facilities Plan, Alpine, Rockford and Cannon Township will contribute an additional 6.8 MGD. With respect to the recommended downstream improvements, it is nm,, estimated that by 1998 approximately 9 to 10 MGD will reach the river crossing. The present capacity of this segment is placed at 8 t1GD, or 11.52 t1GD if allowed to function at a surcharged rate. The results of these projections tend to confirm the projections and recommendations of the 1978 Facilities Plan and point to the potential need for improvements to the collection system serving the north side of the Grand River within this planning period. VI-4 Ill Ill �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I • Current Problems: One major problem of the waste water collection system is the apparent lack of capacity within gravity portion of the trunkline extending from Belmont to the City of Rockford. Originally designed to accommodate up to 2.5 million gallons per day, this trunkline has experienced chronic problems of sedimentation and scaling which have effectively reduced its capacity by at least 36 percent. With peak flows in excess of 2 million gallons per day entering the system, several over flows have occurred resulting in the discharge of effluent directly into the Rogue River. An engineering study has concluded that removal of .the sediment and scale will increase the capacity to near the design capacity, but that other efforts are needed to eliminate or control the sedimentation problem. Reductions in the rate of infiltration into the system is also recommended. Importantly, the study points out that attempts to restore and maintain the design capacity will not result in the capacity necessary to accommodate additional significant growth in the Rockford area. The study therefore recommends the immediate commencement of efforts to determine a long range solution for sanitary sewer service in the area. While the primary user of the trunkline is presently the City of Rockford, the northeast portion of Plainfield Township is also affected. Until such time that a long range solution is implemented, the ability to incrementally extend sanitary service to affected areas of Plainfield Township does not appear possible. Furthermore, depending on the overall implications of the long range solution implemented, it may be necessary in the future to reassess the long range service boundaries for sanitary service within this area of the Township. It is expected that the implementation of a long range solution such as the construction of a new parallel force main or gravity sewer line will take a minimum of three to five years. Reconmendations: The General Development Plan makes several recommendations with respect to sewer extensions being necessary to support future urban densities of development. It is recommended that the Township Sewer Facility Plan be updated in the near. future to more accurately identify the timing of needed improvements to the systems intercepters and pumping stations. It is also recommended that the Facilities Plan address the staging of minor extensions of the systems. Because the incremental extensions of sanitary sewer into areas that require the service is a significant aspect to the implementation of the General Development Plan, the availability of the historical capacities of the North Kent System allocated to Plainfield Township is important. For this reason Plainfield Township must work closely with the Kent County Department of Public Works and the City of Rockford during the planning and implementation of system improvements northeast of Belmont. It is recommended that any significant deviations from allocated capacities resulting from this process be reviewed by the Planning Commission in terms of the potential effects such deviation might have on the long range implementation of the General Development Plan for the area . VI-5 �II Map 17 illustrates the areas presently served by public sewer and water. STORl1 DRAINAGE The Kent County Drain Commission has the primary responsibility for storm drainage and numerous improvements have been made in the Township in past years. The areawide approach given by the Drain Commission is appropriate to the overall drainage situation due to the common dependency that many communities may have on a single drainage course. Under the current system, however, County involvement is usually geared toward specific improvements to relieve or prevent a particular problem. Ill Ill Ill - 1 It is therefore recommended that the Township pursue the preparation of a long range drainage plan so that improvements can be planned and scheduled well in advance of actual need. Such a plan should consider the reservation of natural drainage courses as drainage easements prior to development. The possibility of using such drainage easements for the added role of open space preservation should also be considered. \ 1111 1111 VI-6 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I PLAINFIELD' TOWNSHIP EXISTING WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES AREAS SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER AREAS SERVED BY PUBLIC SEWER AREAS SERVED BY BOTH PUBLIC UTILITIES 20 YEAR URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY '-- 0 1/ 4 1/B 1/2 MILES ~~MILLER ASSOCIATES MA p 1 7 ''ff 28 N. MONROE, ROCKFORD, Ml 4934 616·B66•11Bl 1987 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -II CHAPTER VI I t~JOR STREET PLAN The street system forms the framevJOrk for grov,th and development of the community. By providing a means for internal and external circulation, it serves the community by helping shape the intensity of land use. Thus, this costly and long-lasting element becomes one of the most dynamic forces of the community. Street Classification The street system serving Plainfield T0vmship can be classified as follo~1s: Freeways and Contrell ed Access Arterials These facilities performs little or no land service function but instead is devoted entirely to the task of traffic movement by providing for large volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds. It is characterized by limited access, multi-lane, divided highvrnys. t1aj or Arterials This class of street serves major movements of traffic within or through the area. r1ainly designed to move traffic, the secondary function is to provide land service. t1i nor Arterials This class of street serves primarily local or shorter distance traffic and provides a limited degree of continuity. Their principal function is providing local land access in connection with major arterials. Collector Streets These streets serve the internal traffic movement within specific areas and connect those areas 1·tith the major and minor arterial system. Generally, they are not continuous for any great length. The collector street is intended to supply abutting property with the ·same degree of access as a local street, while at the same time serving local traffic movement. Traffic control devices may be installed to protect and facilitate movement of traffic; hm,ever, these devices would not be as elaborate as those on arterial streets. Local Streets The sole function of these streets is to provide access to immediately adjacent property. They make up the major percentage of the streets of the community, but carry a small proportion of the vehicle-miles of travel. VII-1 �Objective The primary objective of the r1ajor Street Plan for Plainfield Tovmship is to provide a street network 1-1l1ich 11ill encourage the most logical development of the area while providing for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. Principles The following principles have been used as guides in developing streets. this plan for 1. The street system should be designed so that each segment relates to the total network. 2. A variety of streets, each designed to serve a particular function, be provided. 3. Street design should take advantage of natural features. 4. f1ajor activity centers should be readily accessible. 5. Residential areas should be residential traffic. protected from should the encroachment of non- Problems Plainfield Township is served by several major federal and state transportation arteries including US-131, M-44 (East Beltline/Northland Drive) and Plainfield Avenue. These highways coupled with the Tovmship's location within the Grand Rapi _ds Metropolitan Area and its own commercial attractions, make the Tovmship a "stepping stone" in and out of the more concentrated urban center of Grand Rapids. The Township is also served satisfactorily by a local street network. There are however several problems affecting traffic circulation which if· not addressed will become increasingly more evident. 1. The Grand River and to a lesser degree, the ~ogue River, interrupt the local road network and hamper the convenient fiow of traffic betHeen the sectors of the Township. These barriers can only be crossed at a fev-1 strategic locations. The worst case involves the Grand River where the Northland Drive Bridge serves as the only "direct" link between the northern and southern portions of the Tol'lnship. As the population north and south of the Grand River continues to grow, this is likely to result in inefficiencies and or duplication in the provision of community facilities and services. The problem is expected to be most pronounced when attempting to provide additional police and fire protection as well as certain recreation and cultural facilities such as libraries and community activity centers. 2. The major high1-1ay arteries l'lithin the Township receive a great deal of metropolitan through traffic. As a result of the disruption of the local street net1-1ork by the Grand and Rogue rivers, this through traffic is forced to mix with a high amount of local traffic which must also rely on these roads. This coupled with existing commercial strip development along VII-2 I I I I I I I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - certa in corridors has caused severe t raffic congestion. 3. The topography of the Tovmship also presents problems in certain areas. Excessive slopes ma ke construction of streets possible only afte r considerable expense and difficulty. This i s rea dily evident in several existing streets \\lhich v-J ith their many hills and sharp curves, are neither efficient nor safe from a traffic movement s~andpoint. 4. Uninterrupted travel within the Township in an east-west direction 1 s virtually impossible. This causes inconvenience and a lack of smooth traffic flow. MAJOR STREETS The majority of the proposals contained in this report are concerned mainly with improving circulation. Since many of the streets are already established as to their functions, official designation may help in controlling and guiding future development . With this in mind, the following streets are proposed for .official designation. It is recommended that subdivision control policies and Zoning Ordinance Regulations be specifically tailored to recognized the hierarchy of the street network. Freeways & Controlled Access Arterials 1. US-131 2. Wolverine Blvd. fli nor Arteri a1s 1. 2. 3. 4. Plajor Arterials 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Four 11ile Road (Coit Ave. to Dean Lake) Four Plile Road (West of West River Dr.) Five t1ile Road (West of East Beltline) Lamoreaux Drive Six 11ile Road Seven Mile Road (East of Pine Island) Ten t1ile Road Post Drive West River Drive Coit Avenue Plainfield Avenue Grand River Drive Pine Island Drive Belmont Avenue East Beltline Northland Dr. (south of 7-11ile) Division Ave. (south of 6-Mile) Proposed Jupiter Extension/ Belmont Bypass VII-3 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Four Hile Road (east) Woo~'lorth Street nuth Drive Rogue River Drive Northland Drive (north) Kroes Street Nine Hile Road House/Herrington Ave. (north) Division Ave. (north of Six llile) Samrick Avenue Hunsberger Avenue Kuttshill/Childsdale Proposed House St. east improved Proposed Childsdale extended Proposed Five 11ile Rd. E. extended Collector Streets 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Wakefield Avenue Hayes Street English Avenue (north) Chandler Dr./Herrington Avenue Packer Drive Jericho Brewer Avenue Kuttshill (Childsdale to Northland Drive) Courtland Drive Chauncey Drive Ain-iay Street Webber Ave./Hordyk Street Proposed Fuller Ave. Extension Proposed Ail'\-1ay Extension Proposed Hayes St. Extension (Samrick to Belmont Bypass) �Proposed Improvements Belmont to Plainfield Avenue: One major improvement intended to alleviate some of the problems inherent to the disrupted local street net\--rnrk is the construction of a bridge crossing west of the existing Northland Drive Bridge. This crossing has been debated for many years and has been included in the tv,o previous !laster Plans dating back to the mid 1960's. It has also been the focus of recent special studies conducted by the Grand Rapids and Environs Transportation Study (GRETS) and a local Citizen Advisory Group. The results of these studies show strong justification to place the crossing at a point that would connect either Hunsberger Avenue or Jupiter Avenue in the south \lith Belmont Avenue in the north. Based on its inclusion in the 1975 f1aster Plan, previous right-of-Hay acquisitions by the Kent County Road Comr.,ission and a more desirable traffic circulation pattern, this Plan proposes that the southern corridor consist of an alignment extending Jupiter Avenue northward roughly mi dv✓ ay bet~·,een Hunsberger and Plainfield Avenue. It is further proposed that the northern corridor approaching the new crossing consist of a ne\'/ bypass roadv✓ ay \11est of Belmont. This roadv1ay would begin at West River Drive and extend northHard to Post Drive. Its construction will have the effects of separating local and through traffic in the areas north of the Grand River, reducing land use/traffic conflicts and could promote a more efficient and desirable long range land use pattern in the Belmont Area. Because this corridor will pass through existing residential areas, it is imperative that the roadvrny be designed to minimize adverse effects on residents and property values. The following design features and associated measures are therefore recommended. 1. Controlled Access: Access should be provided only existing streets and at pre-planned intervals. at intersections with 2. Bouleval"'d or Parkway Cross-Section: Based on traffic volume projections, the roadway may initially be constructed with a two lane cross-section. In anticipation of a long-range need for addi~ional traffic lanes, it is recommended that the initial design include 120 foot right-of-way width with provisions for eventual boulevard construction, rather than the standard four or five lane configuration. 3. Visual and Noise Impacts: To reduce the visual and noise impacts of the roadway it is recommended that the roadway grade be depressed as much as possible relative to surrounding grades. It is also recommended that a minimum of 50 feet be required as the building setback line from the rightof-way. 4. Bikeway: It is suggested that the ultimate design include provisions for the development of a separate bikeway along the entire corridor's length. 5. Buffer Strip: It is recommended that the precise right-of-\1ay be determined as soon as possible. Once established, it is recommended that a program sponsored by the Kent County Road Commission and/or Plainfield Township be implemented to provide tree seedlings to those property ovmers VII-4 -I I I I I I I I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - who may \tish to establish a natural buffer on their affected property. If instituted early on, the buffer strip could be \·Jell established by the time of roadvtay construction and help to minimize the potentially adverse effects of the project. It is also considered imperative that additional acquisition of the right-of-\'Jay be completed as soon as possible to insure that development does not encroach within its path. It must be pointed out that in terms of the Northland Drive Bridge, even \lith the construction of the new Jupiter/Belmont corridor long-range service levels at the existing crossing are expected to be marginal at best. Once the bridges' life expectancy has been reached, road,·1ay and bridge expansion v1ould be in order. Alternatively, it is suggested that GRETS, t1DOT and the Kent County Road Commission begin studying the need and feasibility for a new north/south corridor located further to the east, which would more directly tie the increasing residential development in the north east portion of the metropolitan area and with employment centers in the south east. It is expected that even with the proposed Jupiter/Belmont corridor, the convenient flow of local traffic within the western portion of the Township across the Grand River will continue to be impeded. None-the-less projected traffic volumes do not yet justify in-depth consideration for a second westerly river crossing. East Beltline Improvements: One improvement which is much more imminent is the reconstruction of the East Beltline from I-96 south of the ToHnship, to Northland Drive. This improvement will result in a 4 lane boulevard and will help to alleviate existing through traffic congestion from north to south in the southeastern portion of the Township. Reconstruction is expected to be completed in the early 199O's. Five Mile Road Extension: It is proposed that as development pressures increase in the southeast portion of the Township, Five t1ile Road be extended east\lard to Grand River Drive. It is felt that this extension will promote a more orderly development pattern and improve east/west circulation from Grand River Drive to Plainfield Avenue. Additional congestion in the Grand River Drive/East Beltline/Plainfield Avenue intersection area, \thich might othen-1ise occur, could be reduced by this proposal. House Street/Childsdale Avenue: It is proposed that Childsdale Avenue north of the Rogue River Bridge be improved and extended northward to Ten Mile Road. In addition, House Street, east of Belmont Avenue should be improved and extended through to intersect with Childsdale Avenue. If and when the old Penn Central Railroad is abandoned and its right-of-way becomes available, it is proposed that House Street be further extended parallel to the railroad right-of-\'lay to connect with the existing easterly alignment of Childsdale Avenue. This would result in the elimination of the need for the existing railroad bridge. These improvements would improve north/south traffic circulation Hithin the area and promote a more efficient and orderly residential land use pattern on lands betHeen Belmont Avenue and the City of Rockford. In addition, completion of House Street along with the extension of Childsdale would create a VIl-5 �House/Childsdale/Kroes St. corridor providing a needed additional east/west route for traffic circulation in this portion of the Township. It would afford an additional east/v,est crossing of the Rogue River \'lhich is nm-1 only accomplished at three southerly locations and at Ten tlile road in Rockford. Ultimately, the further extension of House Street, eastward within the railroad right-of-way would also enhance circulation. Under this proposal, a portion of existing Childsdale south of the railroad bridge could be abandoned and the remainder converted to an access road serving a future park and the existing paper mill. This realignment would provide a high degree of controlled access for the county park. West River Drive: West River Drive from the US-131 Interchange, to Belmont Avenue is nov, experiencing rapid development and increased traffic volumes. The road\-1ay as nm·t constructed consists of 4 lanes, which are adequate to handle projected uninterrupted traffic volumes. However, because of increased turning movements associated with developing land uses, traffic fl ow and safety are beginning to be impeded. It is recommended that Kent County Road Commission consider providing center left turn lanes at street intersections and in front of the major commercial and industrial activity centers. COLLECTOR & LOCAL STREETS Many collector and local streets will be necessary in the future street system. Their precise alignment cannot nov, be determined and their development rests with the private land developer. Every effort possible, should be directed toward the encouragement of such streets in locations where they can best serve their function and also best relate to the total circulation system. Proposed Improvements Examples of collector street extensions considered most crucial to this plan in bringing about the desired pattern of land development and traffic circulation include: Auburn Avenue North of Woodworth Extension: As res'idential development occurs ,n the area north of Woodworth Avenue, the development of a single through street or at a minimum, interconnected local streets northward to Coit Avenue would be highly beneficial as a means of minimizing future traffic problems on existing streets in the area. Airway Extension: Considered in conjunction \'tith the Auburn Avenue proposal, extension of Airway, west to intersect with Auburn Avenue would help to balance out future traffic increases on segments of existing streets and provide new developments within area, more direct access to the proposed Jupiter Avenue/Belmont Avenue corridor. Belmont Area: As development occurs west of the Village of Belmont, it is recommended that a single through collector street be encouraged to connect Samrick Avenue with the proposed Belmont bypass arterial and on through to Belmont Avenue. This street would be intended to offset future traffic increases on Samrick Avenue and to promote more efficient east/west traffic flow in the Belmont area. VII-6 -I I I I I I -I I I I I I I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP I - l5l 0 .,, (;- ■■■ I • ■ ,..,_,_,A - • • • t ••••• ___ ,, __ Controlled Access Arterials Major Arterials Minor Arterials Collector Streets Proposed Major Arterials Proposed Minor Arterials Proposed Collector Streets ~ STREET PLAN MAP 1 8 ~&~M ILLER ASSOCIATES W2BN MONROE,ROCKFORO , M1 4~34 6 16-866 -11 0) 1987 �I I SPECIAL PROBLEM AREAS There are several areas of the Township where there are existing and foreseen problems with the existing street system. It is the general recommendation of this plan that the Township, Kent County Road Commission and t1DOT continue to work closely to address these problems and in anticipation of other on-going roadway maintenance and improvement needs. Rogue River/Kuttshill Intersection: The intersection of Rogue River Drive and Kuttshill Avenue is situated very close to the Rogue River Drive/Uorthland Drive intersection and is seeing increasing amounts of congestion due to increased residential traffic. With little eastbound stacking room between the intersections, the problem is expected to worsen. It is recommended that the Tovmship cooperate with the Kent County Road Commission and MOOT to study and implement the necessary geometric and or signalization improvements. East Beltline/Webber Avenue: This intersection has long been viewed as being in need of correction. It is expected that improvements made as part of the East Beltline corridor improvement project will alleviate this situation as well as other intersections and turning movement problems along the East Beltline from Four tti 1e Road northv1ard. Kroes Street/Northland Drive Intersection: The development of new or expanded school facilities are presently being considered on Kroes and Brewer Streets near the existing Rockford Junior High School. Depending on the type of school or schools constructed, there is potential for a considerable increase in the amount of traffic using this intersection. While the overall capacity of streets in the area can be expected to adequately handle the potential increases, additional school development could result in congestion at this intersection and a left turn hazard should be expected. It is recommended that as additional school facilities are developed, additional turn lanes and traffic controls such as a four-\-1ay stop or signalization during A.t1. and P.rt. peaks be considered. Plainfield Avenue/Northland Drive Corridor: The following discussion and recommendations have been excerpted from a Special Study CQnducted by GRETS. In its edited format it provides a framework for addressing the needs and problems associated with the corridor as well as general guidelines which are applicable elsewhere in the Township. VII-8 II II II I I -I I I I I I I I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -, PLAINFIELD AVENUE/NORTHLAND DRIVE CORRIDOR The magnitude of the traffic/land use problems of the Plainfield Avenue/Northland Drive corridor result in the need for a wide range of solutions. The traffic and land use solutions cannot be separated. Roadway iMprovements will solve some current problems, but unless coordinated with the land use solutions some probl~ms \'Jill re-occur in the future. The key to long lasting improvements to traffic conditions is regulating and controlling land use. Land use patterns should reflect economic and social needs of Plainfield Township, but must be governed by the ability of the corridor to accommodate 1ocal ly generated traffic as well as through traffic. Although some trade-offs cannot be avoided, the following recommendations are intended to maintain a balance of through and local traffic. Street Capacity At the present time, the corridor is designed to accommodate approximately 24,000 vehicles per day. Volumes in many segments of the corridor exceed this limit. (Plainfield from Four !1ile to Jupiter). Working within the right-of-way limits and with minimal changes to the road1trny, street capacity can be increased. Provide additional left-turn lanes. Additional left-turn lanes can be implemented at intersection approaches on Plainfield from Airway to Northland Drive. This vJOuld make the left-turn maneuver in this area easier and safer during peak hours of travel. Prohibit left turns from driveways at major intersections. Prohibiting left-turn ingress/egress of drive\'✓ ays within at least 200 feet of major intersections is recommended by the Federal Hi gh\',ay Administration's "Access flanagement for Streets and Highv1ays 11 • Following this guideline, left-turns in and out should be prohibited on Plainfield Avenue near Four Mile, and Five f1ile intersections. This can be accomplished by closing driveways and or restricting the left-turn maneuver with a channelizing island in the driveway throat. The objective of this technique is to reduce the number of conflict points by limiting crossing conflicts. Provide right-turn shoulder lanes. Vehicles making right turns into abutting drive\-1ays interfere vlith efficient through movement. Where deceleration lanes exist, the approach distances are not sufficient to allow vehicles to exit without slowing and disrupting traffic in the through lane. In order to provide a greater distance for deceleration, additional right-turn shoulders should be provided along the following segments: Plainfield: tlorth 1and: Four f1ile to Jupiter Plainfield to Walnut Park (west side) VII-9 �I II Alternative Access On some segments of the corridor, it is difficult for vehicles to enter or exit abutting drive\'/ays. This situation occurs near high traffic generating uses and \-Jhere traffic volumes are hig h and driveway spacing or location is poor. Such is the case a 1 ong the corridor from Four f1i1 e to Jupiter and on Northland fror.i Plainfield to Halnut Park. It is also difficult for vehicles to exit driveways and merge with the high speed traffic, as on Plainfield from Grand River Drive to Vernor Road. Alternative access to properties in the above mentioned situations should be provided when possible. An access control technique used to provide an alternative access to a development is locating drive\-1ays on collector streets instead of the arterial roadv,ay. This technique is aimed at maintaining average driveway spacing and relieving existing congested driveways. This technique can be applied on Woodfield Court. Frontage or service roads can also provide alternative access by segregating loca 1 traffic from higher speed through traffic and connecting dri ve\'tays of abutting commercial developments. Frontage and service roads help preserve the through character of arterial roadway by allO\·ting land use access while relieving congestion on the roadv,ay. Service roads should be constructed \·there possible in the following areas: Plainfield: North of Four f1ile (east side) to Kool Chevrolet Plainfield: Grand River to Vernor (east and west side) Plainfield/Northland Drive intersection (west side) Northland: Plainfield to Walnut Park (east side) Driveway Spacing Controlling the number, location, and spacing of drive\'1ays is an important access control measure. Driveway spacing is based on several factors, including function of the roadway, road\-1ay speed, and ingress/egress driveway volumes. One objective of driveway spacing is to cl~rly identify 111hich property the drivev,ay is serving. Another is to leave adequate distance for an exiting vehicle to accelerate to the speed of the through traffic stream. Adequate spacing will also decrease the delay time for vehicles entering a drivev1ay. The technique of regulating dri vev,ay spacing reduces frequency of conflict points by separating adjacent basic conflict areas and limiting the number of conflict points a 1ong a roadway. Regulating driveway spacing should be app 1 i ed on the corridor where possible. On Plainfield Avenue from Four f1ile to Five t1ile there is a need for basic drive\'/ay spacing standards. Several drive,,.rnys in this commercial area are too closely spaced (50 to 100 feet). Table 8 lists recommended dri ve\-1ay spacing by road\-1ay speed limit. VII-10 I II I I -I I I I I I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I TABLE 16 Desirable Separation of Adjacent Driveways Roadway Speed r1inimum Spacing (feet) mph mph mph mph 40 mph 45 mph 50 mph 20 25 30 35 Source: 85 105 125 150 185 230 275 Access f1anagement for Streets and Highways, U.S. D0T/FHWA, 1982 While these represent desirable spacing, it is not always possible to follow these guidelines in practice, particularly \·1hen trying to implement access control along a developed street. Since speed limits on the corridor range from 40 mph to 55 mph, drivev,ays should be spaced 185 to 275 feet apart. However, other factors to consider are the width of property frontage and driveway volume. When driveways serve more than 5,000 vehicles per day, an additional driveway is warranted. When frontages are less than 200 feet other measures, such as service drives and shared drivev1ays, must be considered. Land Use An area of critical concern is from Coit Avenue to Northland Drive. All of the property along this area is presently zoned for commercial and industrial use. While the residential uses scattered in this area are not likely to remain, a complete conversion to high traffic generating commercial use is not warranted. Three areas on Figure 1 are designated as having an office/service orientation. Regulating these areas for less intensive development would help reduce overall traffic volumes and reduce turning movements. The segment east of the East Beltline/Plainfield intersection should be carefully managed because of the high traffic volumes and intersection activity present. Developing this area with office/service uses would lessen the intensive activity in this area and provide a land use buffer to residential development south along the East Beltline. Implementation of these recommendations will take time. place soon in specific locations as improvements are made. provements can be expected to take years to implement. Some change can take But other major im- Access Control Regulation There are three key elements to successful access control along Plainfield VII-11 �I I I I I I COIT AVE. .,.,. ••t:o«Y(LOHilllNT •OfF1C1 ,sr•vter 0 .. l(NT&ttON l~L COOOM DOtLCl••11( ORllNT&TtOM ~t---..;.A..;.I_RW_A_Y_D;;..R.;,;•~--1 ~ a: "'0 a: "'Illm · z :, X SMILE RD. a: "' t: II. ,:, WOODWORTH ST. 4 MILE RO. LAND USE RECOMMENDATIONS \ PLAINFIELD AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY 1-H KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN SCALE: 1~=2000' THE WBDC ·. CROUP . ·" JANUARY, 1987 ,o.....,_,.,a~tt UN'O"""IA ,.,JJ,...xo MJ(.Nl(.A.... 4'S0) nu"°"' .. FIGURE 1 I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - Avenue. The first element is the formulation of a plan to be used as the guide for reviewing proposed development along the corridor. The more specific the plan, the more enforceable it becomes. The second key is the formulation of enforcement regulations, either in the Zoning Ordinance or a separate access control ordinance. Finally, there must be consistent application by all parties involved in the process. This includes staff, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Township Board. Without consistent and fair application of the Plan and Zoning Ordinance the process of access control cannot succeed. Finally, it is important to note that the control of access is a policy that must be pursued over a long period of time in order to affect changes. This is particularly true in the areas of Plainfield Avenue that are heavily developed. In order to effectively implement a corridor wide improvements along Plainfield Avenue, it is necessary that the Township have the legal and policy documents that set forth both the direction and the specifics of implementation. In addition to the foundation for development controls intended to be laid down within this document, the other primary tools used to accomplish this are the Subdivision Control Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance, Site Plan Review and Special Sub-Area Plans. Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinances In an attempt to improve the TOl'lnships ability to better control access and reduce driver confusion Plainfield Avenue and other arterials the following recommendations are made which pertain to the existing Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinances. Subdivision Control Ordinance: Access on state hi gh\'lays restrictive. and county primary roads should be less The provision allowing the Planning Commission to limit access to state highways and county primary roads to one in each 1,320 feet is restrictive and invites appeal or, at least, reluctance to enforce. A lesser requirement may be more easily applied or a more general statement allowing flexibility may be more appropriate. Use of marginal access streets should be specified. The provision requiring marginal access streets is in need of review. At times land requirements added to the cost of construction will create some reluctance to construct marginal access streets. More specific standards relating to the situations in which such a drive would be required, may therefore be appropriate. For example, the Subdivision Ordinance refers to an "arterial" street as the instance when a marginal access drive may be required. The Comprehensive Plan's Arterial Street Plan indicates a number of arterial streets, many of which would not necessarily need these drives. It may be preferable to specify locations or thresholds of present or future traffic as the "trigger" to require service drives. VIl-13 �I I Zoning Ordinance: Delete the 300 foot spacing requirement in the C-1, C-2 and C-3 Districts. The only specific standard pertaining to access control within the Zoning Ordinance is the 300 feet between driveways in the C-1, C-2 and C-3 Districts. In the more heavily developed areas of Plainfield this requirement is difficult, if not impossible, to enforce and invites either lax enforcement or routine granting of variance requests. Therefore this approach, while desirable in theory, is impractical. A lesser requirement or a more discretionary standard, such as that noted in the next recommendation may be more appropriate. Improve site plan review standards and procedures. Another weakness of the existing Zoning Ordinance is the lack of specificity in the site plan review standards. Standards that relate more directly to the impacts that a proposed development may have should be included. For instance, rather than a statement on harmony, safety, or welfare, a standard should relate more directly, among other items, to traffic and circulation, such as: "Drives, Parking, and Circulation: With respect to vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including \'ialkways, interior drives and parking, special attention shall be given to location and number of access points, general interior circulation, separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and arrangement of parking areas that are safe and convenient and, insofar as practicable, do not detract from the design of the proposed buildings and structures and the neighboring properties." It is recommended that site plan review authority be given to the Planning Commission in order to ensure more consistent application of access control policies. Sub-area Access Control Guidelines And Recommendat\ons This section identifies two sub-areas of the Plainfield Avenue/Northland .drive corridor which serve as examples of how access management can be implemented in order to reduce or prevent the traffic/land use conflicts that have previously been discussed. Plainfield Avenue: Grand River Drive to Vernor - Figure 2 This segment has a 1985 estimated traffic volume of 15,000 vehicles per day. By 2010, traffic volumes are projected to be 19,800. The accident rate is 1.65 accidents per one million vehicle miles of travel per year, which is relatively low compared to other segments on the corridor. This is more of an area of probable future development where access control can prevent similar conflicts that occur in other segments of the corridor. This segment of the Plainfield Avenue arterial has a speed limit of 55 mph. With a high speed arterial, severe accidents may occur if access control is not implemented. VII-14 I I ~ ~ II II II II II II ~ ~ ~ �~ --- 11111 '11111111 .... .a~~ ...... ' ',, ~ ,' ' ... ,, I', ■ ',, // -, ~ ' ~. I Q~ /I ,' (!; } ', - ', )' ' / ,I -., ',,!, , • t-' /',~,' ~ Vi• , I , ,, , ,v I ,' ,,◊: -~ /I I , ,' , ,-' ,'~ , , ►f• ~~ I I I . ,I , ,, I I I I I ,I I I ' I I I t ( .... ', I ' .... ,I ', ..,, I ,I I . / KI-J..t.., I I .......... ', 0· . . I I ,, ~ '."' I I • f'...... I ', I I ,'/; I ', w1,..1,.. ' ... , ', I (U~D~ t.P ' '• I I I •,, I I I I I LEGEND I I "·· ......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SHARED DRIVE CLOSE DRIVE -' ' ' ', ' .... -' ' .... SERVICE DRIVE ' .... ' ..,, I I REAR ACCESS ,I •' -. NEW ENTRANCE h /'),, -, . . , REDO INTERSECTION 'd •e ~, I PROHIBIT LEFT TURNS ' ', ', ', .~/0 I FIGURE 2 ~ THE •r-r-:5,·: •-..•::.1 WBDC :f,: 11 • ~ : ~, :t~:• CROUP ~ . 1'"~:~~- �The location of future driveways on this section of Plainfield Avenue should be preplanned on developed as well as undeveloped properties. Where there are undeveloped parcels, planning driveway placement can ensure maximum spacing of approximately 275 feet and prevent potentially hazardous situations while still providing land access to properties. In those areas v,here development has occurred and driveways are in place, relocation or elimination of existing drives is possible. As mentioned earlier, unnecessary and hazardous drives should be removed whenever possible. Widening of driveways or the reconstruction of intersections is recommended when the existing drivev1ay or intersection does not adequately serve the traffic which uses it. This is the case for the driveway at the Grand River Drive/Plainfield intersection serving the Vanderv,erf Die Design and Auto Body Shop. Larger vehicles and trucks (gravel and delivery trucks) use these access points. Therefore, the intersection and driveway should be made \'/ide enough to better serve these vehicles. Such driveways should be 40 to 50 feet in width instead of the 20 to 30 foot width that currently exists. The intersection should also be made more visible from Plainfield Avenue. In situations involving high-volume, high-speed arterials, the construction of frontage or rear service roads should be considered. Frontage and service roads allow for control of access to the arterial and provide for loading and parking off of the high speed roach·rny. Where space and topography permit, it is often feasible to consider the construction of frontage or service roads. This is the case for the undeveloped area from Grand River to Vernor. DeWitt Street can serve as a rear service road for the east side of the segment and would involve minimum construction cost since the roadway already exists. In summary, include: recommendations on Plainfield Avenue from Grand River to Vernor Use of a rear service drive for the east side of the segment (boundaries). Use of a frontage road on the west side of the segment (boundaries). Reconstruction intersection. of the Grand River/Plainfield \ Avenue (west side) Construction of a nev, dri vev1ay on Woodfield Court road for the Auto Body and Vander\lerf Die Design Shops. Consolidation of closely spaced drive\'1ays. Plainfield Avenue/East Beltline/Northland Drive Intersection - Figure 3 The Plainfield Avenue/East Beltline/Northland Drive intersection area is a location where access control is needed. This is an extremely high conflict area, especially on the elbow curve where Plainfield turns into Northland Drive. From Plainfield Avenue to Halnut Park there v,ere 91 accidents from 1981 to 1984. The accident rate is 6.17 \'lhich is extremely high for a stretch of road11ay just under 1/2 mile. There Here 40 accidents on the elbo11 curve alone. VII-16 -I -II ~ ~ • • • • • • " " • �-,.. ,.... J 11111 ~ 11111 11111 1111111 1111111 .. .. ,.. .. ,.. .. .. .. 111111 1111111 I ·•~r.,, ~ a t: J EAST BELTLINE I t1 GJ D INGRESS/ EGRESS I I I I I I I I I I I I ---..,.--L-T-- - -~- 3 I ---1 I I I I ~ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1-- • - I: ~ : I I I I I I ARCHER AVE . I : [:] I _. ___________ fJI :I I I I I I I I I I :f-- • I ------~--------- ~1 • r---- : I I ,---- - - - - - -1. - - _.J_ L -t- --7 I I L----- ------ -- ... - SHARED DRIVE 'I -0 I r CLOSE DRIVE )> SERVICE DRIVE .,,z m REAR ACCESS I I I l - - --l 1 LEGEND ' :I I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I I r 0 I I I I ---------L I I I L----.----1 NEW ENTRANCE ~ m I . I I I REDO INTERSECTION I I ---¥------------1 ___ _ I PROHIBIT LEFT TURNS @ THE , .. •·. FIGURE 3 WBDC ;e::.:_•9::~, CROUP ~~ ~\~~. �The majority of these accidents v,ere of the rear-end, angle, and drivevrny type. A major cause of the accidents on the elbo1-1 resulted because of poor sightdistance visibility for exiting vehicles. The sight distance should be sufficient to avoid a collision betv,een a vehicle starting from the "stop" position to cross the road\'1ay and a vehicle on the through roadway operating at the design speed and appearing after the crossing movement has started. According to the Institute of Traffic Engineers, the desirable sight distance visibility time for exiting vehicles is 10 seconds, with a minimum time of 7 seconds. The current sight distance visibility time of the elbow is approximately 4 seconds. Since the sight distance requirement cannot be met for exiting vehicles, consolidation of drivev,ays on the elbm·, curve is recommended. The existing rear service road connecting with Plainfield Avenue and Northland Drive can provide access to land uses along this curve after their drive\-1ays are closed. A nev, access driveway by Daane's onto Northland Drive should be constructed to provide more direct routing to this rear access drive. However, due to the proximity of this drive to the signalized intersection it should be restricted to right turn ingress/egress only. Vehicle conflict in the elbow area is also a result of the median crossover and u-turns. The current median cut would not be needed if the drives on the elbow were closed. Reconstructing the southwest end of the median from a semicircular end to a bullet-nose end would provide a better storage for southbound 1eft-turn maneuvers onto Archer street. Federal highway standards recommend a bu11et-nose end design for medians with greater than 4 feet 1-1idth. The current median is approximately 50 feet in width. Consolidation of drive1-1ays along the south portion of Plainfield Avenue from Vernor to Archer should be implemented where existing space is inadequate or the driveway is unnecessary. Access to the Two J's Grocery is undefined; vehicles can enter and exit along approximately 200 feet of frontage. Having undefined access increases the distance for conflicts to occur. Installation of a physical barrier such as plantings or curbs adjacent to the roadHay or shoulder is needed. This technique reduces the total area of conflict and the number of possible conflict points by controlling and defining drivevrny openings. By closing off access from Plainfield Avenue and construction of a single driveway from Archer, driver confusion and possible conflicts can be avoided. \ In summary, recommendations for the Plainfield Avenue/East Beltline/Northland Drive intersection include: Closing of all drives on the elbow. Construction of a new drive from Northland to serve current rear service drives for uses on the elbow (right turn ingress/egress only). Closing off the median cut. Reconstructing S.W. end point of merlian from semi-circular to bullet-nose. Consolidation of drive1·1ays 1-111ere needed. Constructing nev, drive1>1ay off Archer for Two J's Grocery. VII-18 II II II II II II 1111 II Ill II II •Ill • • • • �I I I I I -I I I I I I I I ,' Street signs identifying the intersection of the Plainfield Avenue. rear service drive and Northland Drive Service Drive - Figure 4 Plainfield Charter Township has shown interest in the construction of a service drive along the east side of the East Beltline south of the intersection of the tl-44 connector (Plainfield Avenue) (see Figure 4). This service drive would make it easier for southbound vehicles to gain access from Northland Drive commercial developments to the East Beltline. This service drive, if used by vehicles to gain access to Plainfield Avenue, would possibly cause congestion on the Plainfield Avenue/East Beltline connector and for southbound traffic on the East Beltline. If several vehicles attempt this maneuver at the same time, the connector would fill and waiting vehicles would start a queue on the East Beltl i nes through lane which can cause rear-end type accidents. Angle-type acci dents could also occur at the service drive/East Beltline intersection (if no signal is implemented) when vehicles attempting to travel south on the East Beltline cross the northbound East Beltline through lanes. The t1ichigan Department of Transportation (r!DOT) completed a feasibility study of rl-44 from Plainfield Avenue to Seven llile road in June of 1986. The study investigated potential improvement alternatives. f1DOT 1 s findings revealed that Plainfield Avenue to the south Grand river bridge approach have operational deficiencies associated with lack of roadway capacity and the amount of leftturn movements into commercial outlets. t1DOT s recommendation is to reconstruct the present five-lane roadway to a four-lane boulevard centered along the existing pavement center line. This proposal vrnuld incorporate a 60-foot median with four specifically located directional turns. 1 The recommendation would not greatly add to the capacity of the existing roadway. However, channelizing of left-turning vehicles to specifically designed locations will significantly improve vehicular flow and reduce the accidents experienced in the area. It is recommended that the Township pursue this improvement. The recent construction of a ground loop in the northeast quadrant of the Northland Drive/Cannonsburg intersection which allows north-to1>1estbound 1eft-turn vehicles the opportunity to go \·1est on West River Drive on a straight through movement from Cannonsburg Road will relieve much of the congestion in this area caused by the lack of roadway capacity. Conclusion Sub-Areas shown in Figures occurring throughout the several areas. 2 thru 4 represent several of the problems that are corridor and the recommendations are applicable in Planning is an important first step in implementing the recommendations of this study. It is important that redevelopment of the corridor be based upon comprehensive assessment of problems and needs which exist along the corridor, as \.'Jell as the reality of implementing suggested recommendations. Once the problems and needs have been identified and recommendations stated, a plan and implementation strategy can be formulated. Therefore, in order to assist viith implementation of recommendations of this study, it is recommended that tlDOT include Plainfield Avenue from I-96 to VII-19 �I kl PROPOSED _J o •.,-•i,,O SERVICE DRIVE I ••••••••• ~·················· I I •• •• EAST BELTLINE ~ NORTHLAND DR PLAINFIELD AVE/ EAST BELTLINE r:7 CONNECTOR t.:J nt]• :: ----- : : I □ •I I I I I - ---.- _L_T ___ -~ I ~ ~ t ~ I I I I I I I I I I I f---'1 r- I I I I --i?"i----·1, ki ; 1 ~ ; I ARCHER AVE I I I I I ' I I 8 I I I I ,- --·- J--- I ~_,'i----!1 ,r-1 ! 'I -~-- ____ J_ -- --- --- C:] -----1 g ~---- ------- I ~----l --, I I -----L---.J- I I I L----------- -- ~- 'I I ., .,,,.. ► I I I -- ____________ JI z "",.. ;;; I --- ---------- ------ -. --- --- _L 0 ~ - - - - - - + - - , "' I I L----r---t I I I I I I ~ PROPOSED SERVICE DRIVE (EAST SIDE) EAST BELTLINE SOUTH TO PLAINFIELD INTERSECTION THE · WBDC ~~ ftA'~ CROUP "•7 ~~~ FIGURE 4 .. .. �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Northland Drive as one of their corridor studies in the near future. This study should be a catalyst for change and improvement of the corridor, while future planning efforts should promote implementation of the corridor plan. 'I VII-21 �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - CHAPTER VIII PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN ANALYSIS OF NEEDS Recreational needs vary drastically from one community to another as a result of numerous interrelated factors. These most importantly include such things as density of development, housing types, climate, age structure of the community, existing facilities and availability of school and other public facilities for joint use. In analyzing the recreational needs of the community, the Parks and Recreation Committee looked at all of the above factors in addition to information and input from the following sources: 1. A comparison of the existing system of parks and recreation lands and facilities located within the Township to accepted State Recreation Opportunity Standards and IJational Recreation and Park Association definitions and guidelines. 2. The previous Plainfield Township Parks and Recreation Plan. 3. The Kent County Parks and Recreation and Natura 1 Area r1aster Pl an. 4. The input and recommendations of key individuals charged with administering and coordinating recreation and leisure time activities and programs, throughout the Township and the three school districts serving the Township. These most importantly included the Community Education Directors for the Northview, Rockford and Comstock Park School Districts and the Senior Citizen Coordinators for each school district. 5. Public input from the Kent County Parks and Recreation and Natural Area t1aster Plan Survey and public hearings. The survey conducted in 1985 involving random telephone interview of Kent County residents, is considered generally applicable at the local level as well. The results show the types of facilities most used by County residents as \·tell as those types of additional facilities requested. (Table 17). TABLE 17 Facilities t1ost Used Picnic Areas Softball Fields Playgrounds Hiking/Skiing La\'tn Games Additional Facilities Requested Ball Fields Shelters Playground Equipment S1·/immi ng Aeas Tennis 68% 19% 10% 10% 5% VII 1-1 12% 5% 4% 2% 1% �II 6. As means of relating the Plainfield Township needs to regional and statel'.ri de needs, the 11i chi gan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) was utilized. That Plan designates the following types of facilities as being generally deficient in Kent County. - Bicycle Trails Outdoor Ice Rinks Playgrounds Soccer Fields Outdoor Swimming Pools Fishing Access X-Country Ski Trails Hiking Trails Nature Trails Horse Trails Off-Road Vehicle Trails II II II II II II Ill Principles The following principals were used in assessing the existing parks and recreation facilities in addition to accepted State and National Standards. They also formed the basis on which a workable plan for addressing deficiencies and needs was formulated. 1111 Ill Ill 1. Park sites should be readily accessible to the people they are intended to serve. 2. All age groups should be considered in the provision of facilities. 3. Facilities shoulrl provide opportunities for seasons of the year. 4. The school-park concept should be employed whenever possible. 5. The provision of parks should be helpfu' in preserving areas of historic significance or where natural features provide a pleasing or particularly attractive environment. II II II 6. The type and size of recreational facilities should be related the size and age groupings of the population to be served. to II 7. Schools, county parks, state facilities and private facilities should be encouraged and relied upon to satisfy an appropriate level of the overall need . II recreation during all Land Area Needs While numerous national standards have been developed they can only be used as general quidelines. The nichigan Recreation Opportunity Standards (r1ROS) suggest that a minimum of ten (10) acres of "local" park land be provided for each VIII-2 II II II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ',' , 1000 persons . Several of the existing parks and recreational facilities within Plainfield Tm·mship are operated by Kent County and the State of t1ichigan. Among these is Donald Lamoreaux Park operated by Kent County. Because of its size (248 acres) and ownership it is designed and intended to serve a regional or metropolitan \~ide population. It has therefore been excluded in the assessment of local needs. Also excluded from the assessment of ''local" needs is the abandoned Fish Hatchery property (40 acres) near Belmont and the roadside park (5 acres) on Northland Drive. For the purpose of this plan the Fish Hatchery site has been classified as regional conservancy and the roadside park as a regional special use. There are also several existing school playgrounds and athletic facilities located in Plainfield Township, however, these sites are only available for nonschool use on a "permission basis" which tends to limit their use for general recreation. Also, the Township is served by three separate school districts and facilities are generally only available for use by members of each respective school district. This further limits their ijVailability for public use. Excluding the above facilities from the initial analysis and then applying the State Standard of 10 acres of local park land for leach 1000 persons results in a projected 2010 need for 360 acres of local park land. This compares to approximately 296 acres presently classified as local park land. An apparent deficiency of 64 acres is therefore projected. The following Table depicts existing and projected local parr. land deficiencies by sub-areas within the Township based on the State Standards and projected populations. AREA ,,.2 AREA fl4 VIII-3 �II PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP Existing and Projected Total Local Park land Need TABLE 1987 Existing Acres Area #1 * Area #2 Area #3 -- ** < Area #4 77 Need -48 18 2010 1993 Def./Surplus + 29 Existing Need - Def./Surplus Existing 199 63 + 134 199 Need - Def./Surplus 86.5 + 112. 5 - 40.4 56 - 16 40.4 67 - 27 40.4 90.5 10 42 - 32 10 44 - 34 10 57 46.5 98 - 51.5 46.5 108 - 61 46.5 282 + 12 50 47 126 - 79.5 360 - 64 I .i:,. 174 TOTAL 244 - 70 296 296 ,, * Excludes 120 acres of planned park land at the Plainfield landfill site presently unavailable for development but which will be available within the short-range. acres of DNR land classified as Regional Conservancy. ** - - - Also excludes 5 acres of roadside park land and 40 Excludes 248 acres of Regional/Metropolitan park land within the Donald Lamoreaux County Park. - . .. . . . . ,a . . _.. • • • • • . _ . _ _ . _ _ . _ �I I I I I I I I I I I I From a practical standpoint some reduction may be possible as a result of the private, regional and school facilities presently available. A common sense approach is therefore appropriate and the strategies designed to satisfy sub-area land and facility needs will take the existence of these facilities into consideration. Recreational Area ~leeds t1ost generally recreational activities may be categorized into two basic forms: 1. Active Active recreational areas are intended for exertive type sports or play. Necessary features include playground equipment, open areas for organized sports or special provisions for various energetic games. 2. Passive Passive recreation areas are intended for quiet relaxation or recreational activities not requiring intensive exertion . Necessary features include areas of open lawn, shrubbery, trees, benches and special facilities for those sports of a quiet and non-strenuous nature. The following major types of facilities are normally provided to satisfy the two basic types of activities mentioned above. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. I. 11i ni Parks Neighborhood Parks/Playgrounds Community Parks/Playfields Regional/t1etropolitan Parks Linear Parks Special Use Conservancy t1i ni -Parks Service Area - Less than 1/4 ~ile Size - One acre or less Facilities - Specialized facilities that serve a concentrated or limited population or specific group such as tots or senior citizens. Desirable Site Characteristics Within neighborhoods and in close proximity to apartment complexes, townhouse developments or housing for the elderly. There are presently five private developments \'lithi n the Township v1hi ch provide playground, swimming pools, open space and or community buildings to serve specific population groups. These include mobile home parks and apartment complexes. VIII-5 �As the Township is presently zoned, and as the Township's f1aster Plan proposes, areas designated for future high density residential uses are not generally in close proximity to existing public parks. As a result some new high density residential developments are likely to create or exacerbate localized recreational land and facility deficiencies. Through t~e implementation of existing zoning and subdivision regulations, the Township can re qui re new developments to fi 11 at least a portion of recreational needs and deficiencies that the development may create. In the attempt to identify and address these potential deficiencies, Township Officials should evaluate each proposed high density development with respect to the following: 1. Age composition of the development. residents 2. Size of the development. 3. Proximity to existing recreational facilities. 4. The type of facilities in close proximity 5. The recreation development. needs 6. The impact of opportunities. the of the most likely on reside in the to the development. residents development to within existing the proposed recreational Upon completion of this evaluation, the Township should encourage the developers to provide those types of recreational opportunities which have been identified as being deficient as a result of the development and which are best suited to be located within the development under the Mini Park Concept outlined in the previous section. Under this approach, the development of mini parks can be useful in augmenting a balanced network of recreational opportunities in compliance with the seven principles stated above. For single-family housing densities of less than four units per acre, it is generally not necessary to consider the r1ini Par~ Concept due to private yard space and open areas provided in such developments. II. Neighborhood Parks/Playgrounds Service area persons. - 1/4 to 1/2 mile radius to serve a population Size - r1inimurn of 15 acres, 1 to 2 acre/1000 population of 5000 Facilities - Area for intense recreational activities, such as field games, court games, crafts, playground apparatus area, skating, picnicking, wading pools, etc. Desirable Site Characteristics - Suited for intense development. Easily accessible to neighborhood population - geographically centered with safe walking and bike access. VIII-6 Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill • • • •Ill Ill "II II II II II II I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I Existing Facilities - At the present time there are eight parks within the Township classified as neighborhood parks and six school sites also providing neighborhood park utility. By sub-area these include: Sub-Area #1. t1ap Key Size Blythefield Park (Private) Rockford Jr. High School 5.7 Acres (limited utility) 20 Acres+ (limited utility) #17 #22 Sub-Area #2 Belmont Elementary School Assumption School #36 #39 5 Acres+ 5 Acres+ Sub-Area #3 El don Ho 11 ow West Oakview Elementary #5 #34 3 Acres 10 Acres Sub-Area #4 Holtman Park Dean Lake Park Northgate Park Airway Park Plainfield Senior Citizen Center Northville Park (private) Highlands lliddle School East Oakview School #2 #3 #6 #7 2 Acres 1.5 Acres .85 Acres 2 Acres 3.4 27.2 28.8 13.5 #8 #16 #32 #33 Acres Acres Acres Acres Needs and Deficiencies: Using the standard of two acres per 1000 population, the acreage needed for neighborhood parks is presented in the following table. Total Plainfield Township SubArea #1 SubArea #2 SubArea #3 SubArea #4 -, Population 1987 Acres Needed 4,800 9.6 5,600 11.2 4,213 8.4 9,889 19.8 24,496 50.0 Population 1993 Acres Needed 6,310 12.6 6,732 13.4 4,403 9.0 10,834 21.6 28,279 56.5 Population 2010 Acres Needed 8,650 17. 2 9.050 18.0 5,700 11.4 12,600 25.2 36,000 72.0 ~ Existing Acreage Deficiency Excluding schools Including schools 20.7 10.0 13.0 77 .o 120. 7 13. 7 None 18.0 10.0 8.4 None 7.5 tJone 47.6 None VIII-7 �The above figures indicate neighborhood park needs vary within each sub-area of the Township. The following analysis attempts to put these into better perspective. Sub-Area #1 While the Blythefield Park can be classified as a neighborhood park, it is in fact held in private ownership and intended to serve a limited population. While it is well situated to serve its intended population, the need for continued maintenance and facility upgrading is evident. In the same light, the facilities located at Rockford Junior High School also have limited neighborhood utility do to its location, the facilities present and the fact that their use for programmed school activities has priority. As a result, application of the seven previously outlined planning principles results in the need for a new park strategically located to serve growth area within Sub-Area #1. Taking into account the existence of the Rockford- School and Blythefield Park as well as community parks located within the Sub-Area, it is recommended that the park should be in the 10 to 12 acre size range. Suggested locational options include: 1. 2. Develop in conjunction with a new fire station being contemplated in the general area of Kuttshill and Brewer Avenue, or Develop under the school park concept in conjunction with anticipated construction of a new senior high school located west of the existing Rockford Junior High. Other Considerations: Another consideration for addressing neighborhood park needs within the Sub-Area would be the eventual purchase or leasing of the Blythefield Park by the Township. This could help to assure its long term existence and upgrading and augment the neighborhood park concept by formally allowing its use to be available to a larger population. An additional consideration involves the use of reserve Tovmship Cemetery land located on Packer Drive, north of Gold Dust Street. This 3.2 acre parcel has already been utilized for a neighborhood ball field and there remains potential area for playground, tennis court and picnic area development. If formally earmarked for park use, this alternative could be useful in filling short-range localized needs. Implementation would hov,ever result in the need for the Tm·mship to acquire additional lands for cemetery use in an alternate location. Another alternative is the acquisition and park development of vacant lands cated at the extreme east end of Gold Oust Street. lo- Sub-Area #2 Sub-Area #2 presently contains only two school sites containing a total of 10 acres which can be classified as serving neighborhood needs. Each of these has limited utility rlue to programmed school activities. Applying the seven basic principles as well as the NRPA Standards results in identified need for 10 to 18 acres of additional park land. To best serve population centers the need could VI II-8 II II II II II II II II II II II II II II II " "II II �I I I I I I I I I I I I I -, , ,, be satisfied by the purchase of 10 to 12 acres in the Samrick or Buth Drive areas. An additional consideration would be the use of the school park concept to provide playground equipment at the future site of the Comstock Park High School located off Division Avenue, south of Six Mile Road. Sub-Area #3 Sub-Area #3 presently contains approximately 13 acres of neighborhood recreation land, of which only a portion is developed. Nonetheless, community parks (Ambrose) and nearby neighborhood parks in the adjacent Sub-Area #4 along with school facilities appear adequate to serve both short and long-range neighborhood park needs for the eastern portion of the Sub-Area. The most apparent deficiencies exists in the western portion of the Sub-Area and for potential new populations that may occur in the undeveloped lands north of Woodworth Avenue. To satisfy the existing deficiencies in the \'test and longrange needs, the following approach is suggesterl. Short-Range: Encourage and cooperate with the Kent County Parks Commission to install playground equipment within the Lamoreaux Park, near the existing softball diamond. Long-Range: Acquire at least 10 additional acres of land along the Grand River, at the east end of Lamoreaux Park, for eventual neighborhood park development. While neighborhood park facilities could potentially be installed within the existing eastern portion of Lamoreaux Park, the goal of preserving additional floodplain land has merit (see also the discussion of community park needs for the Sub-Area). Sub-Area #4 This Sub-Area presently contains the highest population and the greatest amount of developed neighborhood park land. Hm·1ever, several v,eaknesses were identified within the Sub-Area and are as follows: 1. The majority of neighborhood park facility needs are being met at school sites. These sites have some\1hat limited utility due to the programmed school activities that take place throughout the year. 2. Plainfield Avenue and Five f1ile access. 3. Existing parks are generally poorly located and of to small size to meet the needs of growth areas and the need for major facility expansions. To address acquired in Wabash/Coit could serve (see also Beltline it these needs it is recommended that an additional 10 to 12 acres be the Bonneville/Plainfield Avenue area and a like amount in the Avenue or Rockhill Acres area. Purchase of lands off Coit Avenue the dual function of enhancing and maintaining the floodplain area community park needs). As development occurs east of the East is recommended that land purchase or school park development also be VII 1-9 Road serve as barriers to park �considered in the Five t1ile Road area near or on the land holding. present Northview School III. Community Parks/Playfields Service Area - Several neighborhoods - 1 to 2 mile radius. Size - Minimum of 25 acres, 5 to 8 ~ Acres/1000 population Facilities - Area of diverse environmental quality. t1ay include areas for intense recreational facilities, such as athletic complexes, large swimming pools. t1ay be an area of natural quality for outdoor recreation, such as walking, viewing, sitting, picnicking . Desirable Site Characteristics - f1ay include natural features, such as water bodies and areas suited for intense development. Easily accessible to neighborhood served. Existing Facilities: There are presently 5 developed community parks located in the Township. They have been classified as community parks for reason of their size, facility present, and/or the geographic area for which they serve. In addition several school sites can be classified as a community park although they too have limited utility for use by the general public . The breakdown of these facilities by Sub-Area is as follows: Sub-Area #1 Size Rogue River Park (County) DNR Boat Launch (State) 62.15 Acres 15.0 Acres ttap Key #11 #14 Sub-Area #2 Comstock Park/Rotary Field (School) 10.0 Acres Dwight Lydell Park (County) 40.4 Acres #38 \ #9 Sub-Area #3 Northview High/Hills & Dales Middle School/North Oakvie\'I Complex Ambrose Park (Township) 73.0 /\cres #31 7.0 Acres #4 10.0 Acres #1 Needs and Deficiencies Using the standard of 8 acres per 1000 population the acreages needed for munity parks a re presented as follows: VIII-IO ~ II -I I I Sub-Area #4 Versluis Park (Township) ' "' ' com- I I �I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ', ' Total Plainfield Township SubArea #1 SubArea #2 SubArea #3 SubArea #4 Population 1987 Acres Needed 4,800 38.4 5,600 45.0 4,213 33.6 9,889 79.1 24,496 195.9 Population 1993 Acres Needed 6,310 50.5 6,732 54.0 4,403 35.0 10,834 86.5 28,279 226.2 Population 2010 Acres fleeded 8,650 69.0 9,050 72.0 5,700 45.0 12,600 100.0 36,000 288.0 77.1 50.4 80.0 10.0 217.5 None None 32.0 22.0 38.0 none 90.0 90.0 70.5 154.0 Existing Acres Deficiency Excluding Schools Including Schools As can be seen from the above Table each of the Sub-Areas with the exception of Sub-Area #1 shows a long-range deficiency in land needed for community parks if you subtract school property. By including school property, areas #2 and #4 sti 11 show a long-range deficiency. Upon further analysis it must be recognized that community parks are intended to serve several neighborhoods and for practical reasons of high mobility among most of Plainfield Township residents, the service radius of these types of parks can be expected to be somewhat greater than the one to two mile radius suggested by the NRPA guidelines. With these factors in mind it is significant that several of the existing community parks have effective service radii which extend well into adjacent Sub-Areas. The recommendations intended to satisfy long-range community park land and facility needs take these factors into account. Sub-Area #1 Sub-Area #1 is presently served by Rogue River Park and the DNR Boat Launch. Also serving portion of the Sub-Area is Versluis Park located in Sub-Area #1. In addition, there is also park land that will become available as a result of the creation of a regional park near the Ten Mile Road Landfill. These parks, if supported by facility improvements and recommended improvements to the neighborhood parks system, should more than satisfy the recreational opportunity needs of the Sub-Area. Sub-Area #2 Application of the NRPA Acreage Stannard to the projected population of Area #2 indicates a slight short-range deficiency and long-range deficiency of 32 acres if one excludes school facilities, 22 acres if school facilities are included. Due to the close proximity of Rogue River Park and the DNR Boat Launch the needs of neighborhoods in the eastern portion of the Sub-Area are presently being met. The needs of persons in the extreme western portion of the Sub-Area are also being met by Dwight Lydell Park in Comstock Park. VI II-11 �" = II I Options to satisfying long-range community park needs for the Sub-Area include: Acquisition of at least 25 acres of Grand River Floodplain Abrigador Trail or as far east as St. Lawrence Street. Land along Acquisition of at least 25 acres in the north1·1est portion of the Tovmship, preferably on or near one of several inland lakes to take advantage of potential water based recreational opportunities. Sub-Area #3 Application of the NRPA Standards to the projected population of Sub-Area #3 indicates a short and long-range need for additional community park areas if school facilities are excluded. From a practical standpoint this is supported by the high level of programmed use that the school faci 1iti es receive. Ho\'1ever, taking into account the fact that the school facilities do have utility to a large portion of the Sub-Area and the existence of the regionally classified Lamoreaux Park off Coit Avenue, it is estimated that an addition of 15 to 25 acres of additional commllnity park land would satisfy long-range needs. To satisfy both short and long-range neerls the following approach is recommended. Acquisition Park, or; of an additional 5 to 10 acres of land adjacent to Ambrose Acquisition of 10 to 15 acres of Grand River Floodplain land off Coit Avenue in conjunction with and in addition to recommended acquisitions to meet the neighborhood park needs, previously identified. It is felt that if appropriately developed, such a park containing at least 20 to 25 acres could adequately meet both neighborhood and community park needs of a major portion of the Sub-Area. As previously indicated, the option of developing park facilities within the eastern portion of Kent County's Lamoreaux Park may a1so ex i st. Sub-Area #4 \ As application of the NRPA Standards indicate there is an apparent shortage of park land with acreages and facilities capable of meeting both short and longrange needs. From a practical standpoint, the numerous neighborhood parks, school facilities and private parks near and within the Sub-Area make shortrange needs less apparent. To address the short and long-range deficiencies in community wide park facilities the following approach is suggested: Short-Range: Continue development of Versluis Park Acquire additional land in the Plainfield Avenue/Bonneville area. The acquisition of 20 to 30 acres in this area (potentially the old drive-in theater complex could be developed to serve both neighborhood park and community park needs). VI 11-12 II II II II ~ ~ • ' 'l l l -, -, �" ",- Long-Range: Acquire additional land north of Coit, within the floodplain to be developed solely as a community park or in conjunction with attempts to fill neighborhood park needs of northcentral portion of the SubArea. Approximately 20 to 30 acres is recommended. Cooperate with the Northview School District to develop at least a portion of the 60 acre school property presently owned off Five t1i 1e Road east of the East Beltline. Using the school park concept this could be developed to serve both neighborhood and community park needs for the eventual residential development expected in the area. Minimum size: 20 acres. Explore the potential for the acquisition of floodplain lands east of Versluis Park along the Grand River for conservancy use and linear park development. IV. Regional/Metropolitan Park Service Area - Several communities. Size - One hour driving time. 200 Acres plus. Facilities - Area of natural or ornamental quality for outdoor recreation such as picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, camping and trail uses; may include play area. Desirable Characteristics resources. Contiguous to or encompassing natural In addition to the 10 acres of local park land for each 1000 persons, NRPA recommends 5 to 10 acres of regional or metropolitan park for each 1000 persons. Based on the following discussion it can be seen that in terms of land area, Plainfield Tm·mship contains an abundance of this type of park land. Existing Facilities Existing regional park land located in Plainfield Township includes: Donald Lamoreaux Park, containing Avenue in Sub-Area #3 U-tap Key #10) roughly 250 acres, located off Coit A minimum of 200 acres associated with the completed landfill operation located on Ten t1ile Road in the extreme northcentral portion of the Township (t1ap Key #12). Both of these land holdings are in the o\'lnership of Kent County and the combined acreages (450 plus) more than satisfies the 360 acres of regional park land that is suggested to be available for the projected Plainfield Township population. In addition there are numerous other regional type parks within one hour driving time of the Township. VIII-13 �11 11 Opportunities The regional parks situated within the Township offer unique opportunities to the Township in its attempts to provide balanced recreational opportunities for its residents. These include: Cooperating with Kent County for utilization of regional park lands to augment or supplement neighborhood and community park lands. The recommendation to install playground facilities within the Donald Lamoreaux Park to meet a localized neighborhood playground deficiency is one example. The preservation of significant acreages of local environmentally sensitive and unique lands. A major aspect relating to regional park land that must be addressed in this document involves the Ten Mile Road Landfill and land to the southeast along the Rogue River. Under an agreement between the Kent County Department of Public Works and Plainfield Township, approximately 200 acres of land including and adjacent to the actual landfill area has been designated for ultimate park development. Land not devoted to actual fill area approximates 120 acres. This land is to be made available for park development within one year after the cessation of landfill operations. Since operations ceased at the end of 1986, the land is potentially available at the time of this writing. In addition to lands being made available, the agreement also specifies that a minimum of $50,000 generated from landfill revenues be allocated to Plainfield Township for park development and that a matching amount be allocated to the County for the same use. This has resulted in a minimum of $100,000 being made available for development of the park. An alternative to the intensive recreational development of the landfill property as previously planned is now being considered. This would entail the shifting of efforts and allocated funds toward the <\cquisition of adjacent lands located to the southeast. These lands include areas on both sides of the Rogue River in the vicinity of the Rockford Paper t1ill. They include prime areas for fishing and boating access to the Rogue River as well as potential sites for picnicking and playground/playfield development. Areas well suited for nonmotorized trail development are also included. Whi 1e many important detai 1s remain to be \1/orked out and negotiated, the feasibility of pursuing this alternative appears high. Map 19 illustrates the properties that have been identified for potential aquisition should this alternative be pursued. The total amount of land under consideration for acquisition exceeds 300 acres. This Plan fully supports park land development in this general area to the follm·ling as justification. 1. and points The existing Township population, especially persons in the northern sections as well as future populations would benefit from recreational opporVIII-14 II II • • • -1 1 1 1 1 1 �• • " ",- tunities located in the area. Such opportunities should be in the form of playgrounds, playfields, tennis courts, trails, picnicking and a wide-range of passive activities. 2. From an aesthetic and environmental standpoint, much if not most of the lands under study offer unique resources worthy of incorporation into the overall park and open space system and worthy of preservation. 3. The properties under consideration are in close proximity to an expanding metropolitan wide population and in the long term could be of great benefit in satisfying future metropolitan parks and open space needs. V. Linear Parks Service Area Size maximum use. - No applicable standard. - Sufficient width to protect the resource and to provide Desirable Characteristics - Built or natural conditions such as utility rights-of-way, bluff lines, vegetation patterns and roads that link other components of the system or community facilities such as schools, libraries, commercial areas and other park areas. There are several unique characteristics of the Township as well as potential opportunities which point to the desirability if not the long-range need of adding a system of linear parks to the system of parks located in and ultimately planned for the Township. These include: The Old Penn Central Railway enters the Township in Comstock Park in the southwest and exits in the northeast at Rockford. This railway parallels the Grand River for several miles, passes through the Village of Belmont, and separates the Rogue River Park from the DNR Fish Hatchery land northeast of Belmont. It also passes directly through the Rockford Paper f1ill lands nm-1 under consideration for acquisition and future park development. Along most of its path are found valued scenic vistas, wetlands and limited development. While the rail line has been inactive for several years its ultimate use as a rail line is still uncertain. Nonetheless, this rail line is recognized as a potential resource that could in the long-range be wholly or partially developed into a linear park containing non-motorized trails \'lhich connect a series of employment, cultural and recreational VII 1-15 �II 10 Mil ··--IF I: , r" ·········•···················• RD. I •~-'.-:,:-:-:-:,:-:,:-:,;,:,:,:•;-;,;.;,;._.;.,._,;,;-~-;-;-:-:-:.:::::::::::::::::: :-:-:,:•;•:•:•.•:•:•J ,,,,;,;,.;i;f~~-Ti~;t,,~·~·3-1-t·~;Mi:·~;.~ ii; \..J L_ _, ,I, 71 • r--i ~ U~..._1·_ :--,r--ir ~ it Q "· ') \ ... ,t 0 PACKER ..,:l_, ID DR. g . ? . 1r· ., \.... \\ -,:. '' : I \ X u i II: ~ ~ OR. ~~..... r,li tlllO 11 ........... 1 ~) - K E NT COUNTY L A ND S N "'_, ~ t .J u ~ POTENTIAL REGIONAL PARK LAND 1:--'......... -U.~~.r..... ~J.!'f.~.::: ........ i '?T]t'--\ ..... 0 o• Lu......y 1000' ' ~ PRIVATE LANDS ~~'k,~~~~fig~ 1:::!::::]::::::::!1!'! ~!7E7~ ~ l32I lo/& MAP 19 10001 1000' 1 J Prepared by MILLER ASSOC . ~I~I- I- I- I- I_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l �".. ",- centers, while in and of itself providing a unique recreational opportunity. The Grand River traverses the southern portion of the Township from east to west. On either side of the river is extensive floodplain that at this point in time is relatively unrleveloped. Some of these floodplain areas are already included within parks, and previous recommendations relative to addressing local park needs point to the desirability of acquiring additional park lands within the rivers floodplain. In addition the goals outlined in the Township's Comprehensive Plan and this Recreation Pl an both elude to the desirability of discouraging intensive floodplain development and preserving it utilitarian and aesthetic qualities. The ultimate develop~ent of linear parks that would connect existing and future park lands located within the floodplain should therefore be considered a logical and desirable component of efforts to achieve those goals. VI. Special Use Recreational Opportunities Special use recreational opportunities include golf courses, nature centers, zoo's, conservatories, downhill ski area, arenas, plazas and squares and a variety of specialized or single purpose recreational activities. Existing Facilities Plainfield Township is fortunate enough to have several special use facilities located within its boundaries, or very nearby. These include several golf courses, the Cannonsburg and Pando Ski areas, private campgrounds etc. These faci 1iti es nm-1 serve and should continue to serve the more obvious speci a1 use needs of the Township. Needs Based on projected populations to the year 2010 and application of NRPA Standards no special use needs have been identified for long-range planning purposes. However based on input received from individuals involved with seninr citizen and community education programs there is an apparent need for indoor activity and meeting room space within the Township. The suggested approach to addressing the short and long-range needs for this type of facility is as follows. Short-Range: Cooperate with the Comstock Park School District, Kent County and Senior Citizen groups for the development of a Community Center/Senior Citizen Center in association with Dwight Lydell Park. Consider Expansions to the existing Senior Citizen Center located on River Drive in Sub-Area #1. Grand Long-Range: Consider additional land acquisition and community center development adjacent to existing Township facilities in Belmont. VI II-17 �i VII. Conservancy Conservancy areas are intended for the protection and management of the natural and cultural environment with recreational use as a secondary objective. There are no set standards to arrive at needs, and the land areas devoted to such use varies depending on the resource being protected. Existing Facilities: The DtJR Fish Hatchery site is the only site presently class1f1ed by the Township as conservancy, although portion of the landfill site, Lamoreaux Park and potentially, the Paper t1ill site could be classified as such. Needs The Township's Comprehensive Plan suggests that the actual fill area of the Ten t1ile Landfill be classified as conservancy since it is apparent that it can be put to no useful purpose in the foreseeable future. It is also recognized that the acquisition of floodplain lands over and above those necessary to satisfy long-range recreational needs is desirable in attempts to protect the resource. Areas given for priority consideration have been previously identified. To further protect identified resources and to ensure desirable open space in areas that are not publically acquired, zoning mechanisms designed to ensure low intensities of use are warranted. Activity Needs The following analysis attempts to identify the facilities that are needed to satisfy existing, short-range and long-range activity needs. These include the need for facilities to accommodate a wide range of basic activities which are presently deficient or unavailable to all or some of Plainfield Township residents. The need to provide facilities capable of satisfying basic recreational activities also lend suppo~t to the land needs previous outlined. Ball Fields There are presently nine improved ball fields within the Township that are located on school or private property. Application of t1ichigan Recreation portunity Standards, the survey of Kent County residents and input from various local school and To\'/nship Officials result in the identification of following needs. Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area Total #1 #2 #3 #4 Existing Faci 1iti es ShortRange Need LongRange Need Total Need 5 1 1 2 2 1 8 1 1 1 1 2 4 5 18 0 9 VIII-18 3 2 5 not Opthe the I I I I I I I I I I I 1 ] 1 l �• ",, Outdoor Basketball Courts There are Township Standards needs are Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area presently only two outdoor basketball courts located within the that are not on school property. Based on application of the MROS and input from Township Officials and citizens, current and projected as follows. #1 #2 #3 #4 Total Existing Facilities ShortRange Need 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 0 LongRange Need Total Need 2 3 0 2 0 2 1 4 4 10 Tennis Courts There are presently only Four tennis courts available \'lithin the Township for general public use. Based on t1ROS Standard and input from school and elected officials the needs are as follows. Existing Facilities Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area #1 #2 #3 #4 Total Note: 2 2 ShortRange Need LongRange Need Total Need 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 4 2 3 4 5 3 12 1 1 Existing tennis courts in Sub-Areas #1 and #2 have limited local utility due to their locations and or limited availability for use by the local general population. Needs have been adjusted accordingly. Playgrounds Playgrounds have been indentified as a SCORP deficiency in Kent County. There are presently 8 playgrounds on public lands available to the general public. Several of these are in need of upgrading. Based on the application of t1ROS Standards, locational principles and local input the following needs for new facilities have been identified. VII I-19 �I I Existing Facilities Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area #1 #2 #3 #4 Total ShortRange Need LongRange Need Total Need 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 3 3 3 7 8 5 3 16 Soccer Fields Soccer fields have been identified as a SCORP deficiency in Kent County. There are presently no soccer fields available for general public use within the Township. Due to its inclusion in several of the local schools physical education programs, soccer has seen an increase in popularity at the local level. It is recommended that at least tv-10 soccer fields be provided v-tithin the Township, with one being north of the Grand River and one south. These fields could be included as part of future community park development and serve the dual role as multi purpose field game areas. I I I I I I I Senior Citizen Activities As previously mentioned facilities available for organized activities to the older residents are in need of expansion. available Winter Activities The unimproved Eldon Hollow Park is the only public land presently available for sledding in the Township and there are no outdoor ice skating rinks. Hiking and Biking Hiking, biking and nature trails are recognized SCORP deficiencies in lent County. As previously eluded to there is a need f~r a system of hiking and bicycle trails within the Tovmship to link the community park system with other recreation areas as well as activity centers within the area. Programmed and Supervised Activities - Administration As a result of the fine spirit of cooperation which exists betv,een Plainfield Township and the three school districts within the Township, many programmed and supervised activities have been made possible to the residents of the community. In an effort to increase support of these programs, to increase the utilization of facilities and to further the coordination of programmed and supervised activities the Parks and Recreation Committee recommends the following. The appointment of a part-time or potentially a full-time Township Parks and Recreation Director to accomplish the following. To administer and expand the Township's role in providing recreational opportunities into a positive recreation program. VI II-20 I I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 �II II II II II II -II Ill ,, , , To coordinate programmed activities which will promote the use of isting and future T01·mship facilities. ex- To work in concert with school officials to build on existing school programmed activities and better coordinate the use of both school and Township facilities. To provide leadership in obtaining the funds to carry and Recreation Plan and program. out the P:1rks To coordinate on-going maintenance and improvement programs. To serve as liaison betv,een the Parks Committee, Tovmship Board, Planning Commission, Kent County Parks Commission and citizen groups. Deficiencies at Existing Parks Based on the review of existing park areas and facilities by the consultant and the Recreation Committee the following items have been observed and identified as needed improvements at existing Township parks. Versluis Park: This park serves a much broader population than Plainfield Township. Because of its water base recreation orientation, assists in filling an identified SCORP deficiency. There is a need to develop a revised 11aster Plan for the complete future development of the park in phases. Pressing needs include: Ne1·1 Bathroom/Bathhouse Facilities Volley Ball Courts Tennis Courts Outdoor Basketball Courts Additions to the Picnic Shelter Additional Parking (Paved) Fitness Course Stations need maintenance Senior Citizen Center: Playground equipment is minimal and the basketball repair. court is in need of Airway Park : The parking lot presently is unpaved and provides space for only 25 vehicles. Citizen complaints about overflow parking occurring along the sides of nearby residential streets have resulted. Adc!ftion of on-site parking should be explored. Playground equipment is also in need of expansion. Holtman Park: The site is presently under utilized and playground equipment should be exVIII-21 �panded to satisfy the needs of additional age groups. Ambrose Park: There is minimal on-site parking now available. Additional game areas to satisfy needs of older age groups should be added, ie. shuffle board, badminton etc. There are presently no bathroom facilities located at the park. Rogue River Park: There are presently no bathroom facilities, facilities oriented toward older age groups and minimal picnicking facilities at this county park. To better serve community needs, construction of bathrooms, picnic shelter, horseshoe pits and shuffle board courts at this park, should be considered . GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The following goals and objectives are intended to provide a policy framework for future decisions, plans and implementation efforts concerning parks and recreation activities and facilities in Plainfield Township. Goals 1. To provide adequate year-round recreational facilities to meet the and future needs for all age groups of Plainfield Township. 2. To preserve floodplain areas of the Grand River and the Rogue river from development for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. 3. To promote urban design and beautification as elements of park and recreation development including coordination of park and school development. 4. To create a community atmosphere in which people can live, work, and relax. 5. To work towards fully developing and improvihg existing neighborhood and community parks as well as landfill related properties in order to address identified short-range facility needs for ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts etc. 6. Provide necessary support facilities such as drinking fountains restrooms and adequate parking to ensure user safety and convenience. 7. Encourage the maximum use of all facilities by ensuring appr-opriate operation and maintenance. 8. Encourage the development of private recreation facilities to help satisfy the needs of Township residents. 9. To continually work with other agencies, user groups and individuals to establish priorities for specific needed facilities. VI II-22 present staff, II • • • • • • • • • • • • • • �" ""-, , , 10. To acquire additional lands to satisfy short-range needs and additional lands in advance of actual long-range needs to help minimize overall costs. 11. To explore and implement measures that would make the system at least partially self supporting. 12. Work tov,ard the National Standard of providing 6.5 to 10.5 acres developed local recreation land for each 1,000 persons in the Tovmship. of Objectives 1. Reviev-1 existing Zoning and Subdivision Regulations to ensure the adequacy of provisions encouraging floodplain preservation and private development of mini parks with high density developments. If necessary, implement policy changes and consistently apply them. 1·1ajor recommendations relative to floodplain preservation include: a) Rezone vacant industrially zoned lands within the Grand River floodplain along West River Drive to Rural Conservation to promote less intensive development. b) Designate the entire Grand River floodplain area as containing potential sites for public acquisition, thus making lands eligable for consideration under the provisions of Section 4.81 of the existing Township Subdivision Ordinance. 2. tlake or encourage identified improvements to existing Township f aci 1iti es. 3. Develop Master Improvement Plans for each existing Township park. 4. Acquire approximately 10 to 12 acres of land in sub-Area #1, for neighborhood park development in accordance with existing and projected locational and population demands, and work with Rockford Schools to develop school park concept at proposed new high school. 5. 11onitor the need and desirability for the ultimate acquisition of the Blythefield Park in Sub-Area #1 to ensure its long-range use as a neighborhood park. 6. Cooperate vlith and encourage the County to develop additional playground, picnic game and support facilities at Rogue River Park. 7. Acquire 10 to 12 acres of land in Sub-Area #2 for neighborhood park development in accordance with existing and projected locational and population demands. 8. Acquire an additional 20 to 25 acres of land in Sub-Area #2 for purposes of community park development either along the Grand River or in the extreme northwest area to help satisfy future water base recreational needs of the com111uni ty and to preserve 1-1ater related resources. VII I-23 and County �9. Cooperate with the Comstock Park School District and local organizations to encourage the development of the school park concept on land in the Division Avenue/Six Mile Road to help satisfy the neighborhood playground and community playfield needs of the area. 10. Cooperate with, and encourage the County to develop additional playground facilities at the Donald Lamoreaux Park in order to correct obvious deficiencies in the area. 11. Acquire 5 to 10 acres of additional land west of Ambrose Community Park to help satisfy the need for additional tennis courts, playfield, game areas, parking and other support facilities or; 12. Acquire 20 to 25 acres of land along Coit Avenue east of Donald Lamoreaux Park to help satisfy 1ong-range neighborhood and cor:imuni ty park needs as well as to preserve floodplain areas. 13. Acquire land in Sub-Area #4 east of Versluis Park, in the Bonneville and Plainfield Avenue areas as well as the Rockhill and on Coit Avenue/Wabash areas for neighborhood and community parks and floodplain conservancy. 14. Develop playgrounds and playfields within the school park concept on school property off Five Mile Road east of the East Beltline in Sub-Area #4 to satisfy future neighborhood and community park needs. 15. To encourage the desired utility and conservancy of the resources, the Planning Commission and Tovmship Board should actively encourage the dedication of floodplain areas as open space and or recreation land within major new developments along the Grand and Rogue Rivers. 16. Encourage, seek and develop a system of linear parks for non-motorized trail use that will ultimately link major recreational open space and activity centers of the Township. 17. Support the development of bicycle trails consistent with plans prepared by the West 11ichigan Regional Planning Commission and the Kent County Parks Commission. 18. Work with the Kent County Department of Public\Uorks and County Parks Commission to develop existing landfill related lands and or acquire additional lands in the Childsdale area for the development of a community/regional park and to develop a rlaster Plan for such a facility's ultimate development. 19. Appoint a part-time and ultimately full-time Parks and Recreation Director to administer, promote, coordinate Township efforts. 20. Institute mechanisms, such as user fees at Versluis Park to the Parks and Recreation System. 21. Institute supervised programmed uses of Township pl ayfi el ds and courts to help promote their use and generate self -supporting revenues. 22. Work with and encourage the school system to augment and coordinate VII I-24 help support super- • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •II II II �-, -, , , , , vised recreation programs, for all ages, during all seasons. 23. Work with the County, School Systems and senior citizen groups to ensure development of additional indoor activity space for programmed leisure time activities. 24. Continue to monitor and study the need for a new community center consisting of an auditorium, s\'1imming pool and indoor activity area to be ultimately developed in the Belmont area. 25. Implement a program of systematic community and user surveys to help establish future short and long-range priorities and needs. Park and Recreation Funding - Approaches Pl ai nfi el d Tovmship Parks a re currently financed through the Tovmship 's General Fund, donations and grants from various state and federal sources. The Township Board has increased its support of the parks system, school programmed activities and senior citizen programs from $6,734 in 1983 to over $117,000 in 1988. t1ajor expenditures for land acquisitions and capital development has historically been handled through special appropriations and grants. Considering current economic conditions it is unlikely that these financial sources can continually be relied upon to support the identified short and longrange needs of the Parks and Recreation System. It is therefore recommended that the Township explore supplemental and alternative methods of financing. Some of these methods include: Resident Resources Plainfield Township has a number of families and businesses which have prospered and who contribute substantially to local or metropolitan civic causes. It is the observation of the Recreation Committee that regular fund drives and periodic solicitation of gifts through trust, foundations and donations could be more fully realized for recreational developments. Cooperative Projects The plan identifies several deficiencies that could be satisfied on existing Kent County park land or school property. The Toi,,mship should v,ork closely v,ith Kent County and the various school districts to cooperatively develop facilities on shared financial basis. Speci a1 Mil 1 age While the success of a special millage may be questionable should be considered as one possible funding alternative. VII I-25 ' at this time, it �Concessions Concessions arrangements with a food vendors or private boat rental business at Versluis Park could be used to add facilities and opportunities and create operational revenues. PLAN STATEMENT In accordance with stated goals and objectives and in response to the needs and deficiencies that have been previously identified, the follovling recommendations are being made for the future direction of the Plainfield Township Parks and Recreation Program. 1. Continue the development of existing neighborhood and community parks so that the broadest range of recreational opportunities may be accessible within the short-range. 2. Acquire identified additional lands for future park use and development in order to provide recreational opportunities conveniently accessible to all areas of the Township. Priority should be given in those Sub-Areas having the greatest existing need. 3. An active effort should be maintained to \·mrk with the County and school districts in order to meet localized needs, and reduce development costs. 4. Actively encourage private mini park development and the dedication of land for floodplain preservation and park development in major developments occurring near or within the Grand and Rogue River Floodplains. 5. Incorporate parks and recreation priorities into the Townships Annual Capital Improvements Budget. 6. Create a Parks and Recreation Department with part-time and eventually full-time director to administer existing parts and recreation activities and programs, develop new programs, provide staff resources for parks planning and to organize and seek alternative funding mechanisms. 7. Support and assist the Kent County Parks Commission in expanded county park system. 8. The intensity of p~rk development should vary, depending on the environmental characteristics of the site and local recreational needs. Less fragile sites within populated areas should be utilized to their maximum extent for active recreation. 9. A total use plan should be developed for each existing future park analyzing local area and Township wide needs in relation to the parks location and physical characteristics. 10. Alternate funding sources should be VI II-26 pursued on development of an an on-going basis for ·• • • • • • • • • • • • •II • • • • �developments and improvements in order to satisfy identified in this plan. These should include: the recreation needs a. Contributions to a matching fund proposed in the Kent County Parks and Recreation and Natural Areas Plan designed to act as an incentive for combine Tm-ms hip/County improvements and acquisitions. b. Foundations: Private foundations may be willing to supply funding for new projects. These should be solicited early on in the planning stages of each new project. c. Grants: Every effort should be made to seek out and obtain grants from various state and federal sources to fund total or partial projects. d. Concessions: Concessions arrangements should be explored as an opportunity for supplying addition revenue. e. Special 11illage: In the long-range this method of funding should be seriously considered for such projects as senior citizen center expansions and community center development. PROGRAM In order to provide a long-range perspective of the activities which are anticipated over the next several years development and acquisition programs schedules have been prepared. These schedules outline the proposed projects, priorities, cost estinates, expected funding sources, location, and time frame. The schedules are intended to be used only as guides because the factors on which the programs are based are not always predictable - population grm·1th varies, priorities change, and costs increase. Priorities were assigned on the basis of observed community need, number of persons benefited, project location, per capita cost, and consistency with stated goals and objectives. A periodic review of the "Program Schedule" is essential to ensure its relevance to the needs of the community. The meeting or target dates is dependent upon the availability of funding. VII I-27 �Development Program Short-Range Pri Orl ty Completion Date -I Est. Cost &Anticipated Funding Sources Location 1. 1989 Develop plans and construct bathrooms/bathhouse, install volley ball nets Versluis Park $25,000 ($12,500 local $12,500 LWCF or tlNRTF) 2. 1988 Playground Facilities Senior Citizen Center Park $3,500 (Local) 3. 1988 Install playground equipment Lamoreaux $3,500 (1ocal ) 4. 1989 Repair basketball courts Senior Citizen Center Park $750 5. 1990 Develop first phase of landfill park or purchase additional lands North part of Sub-Area #1 $250,000 ($50,000 local $50,000 County $150,000 LWCF or MNRTF) 6. 1990 Construct 2 tennis courts, 1 basketball court and expand picnic shelter Versluis Park $46,000 ($23,000 local, $23,000 LWCF or f!NRTF) 7. 1990-1992 Acquire 10-25 acres & construct neighborhood park Sub-Area #4 $65,000 ($25,000 local, $10,000 Fund Drives, $30,000 LWCF or MNRTF) 8. 1991 Expand parking & install playground equipment Ain-1ay Park $23,500 (local and CDBG $30,000) 9. 1992 Improve playground equipment Holtman Park $3,500 10. 1993 Add ball field~& bathrooms Landi 11 or Paper rti 11 Location $60,000 (local, County and LWCF or 11NRTF) 11. 1993-1994 Acquire land, construct restrooms &parking, tennis court, ballfiel d Ambrose Park or acquired floodplain land east of Lamoreaux Park $59,000 (29,000 local &CDBG $35,000 LWCF or r1NRTF) < N Imp_rovement CX) (1oca 1 ) Lon9_-Range Set priorities for development of ne1·1 parks and facilities under a balanced approach based on localized needs and as land and funds become available. / (50% local/SO% County) �.,._,__,., ••• - ,_ ____ _ Acquisition Program Priority -< location Cost & Funding Sources Target Date 1. Acquire Rockford Paper Mill Lands Sub-Area #1 $250,000 ($50,000 Twp. $50,000 County $150,000 f1NRTF or LWCF) 1989 - 1990 2. Acquire 10 to 12 acres for neighborhood park/fire station Sub-Area #1 $20,000 (local & CDBG) 1988 - 1990 3. Acquire 10 to 25 acres for neighborhood/community park in Plainfield or Rockhill Acres Sub-Area #4 $30,000-45,000 (local & LWCF or MNRTF) 1990 - 1992 4. Acquire 10 to 12 acres for neighborhood park Sub-Area #2 $25,000 (local & LWCF or MNRTF) 1992 - 1993 5. Acquire 10 to 30 acres for park & conservancy Sub-Area #4 $35,000 ( 1oca l & LWCF or t1NRTF) 1993 - 1995 6. Acquire 5 to 10 acres west of Ambrose Park or Sub-Area #3 $10,000 to $20,000 (1/2 local, 1/2 LWCF 1997 - 1998 Acquire 20 to 25 acres for for park & conservancy Sub-Area #3 $30,000 ( 1oca 1 , county & LWCF or 11NRTF) 1996 - 1998 Acquire 20 to 25 acres for park & conservancy Sub-Area #2 $35,000 ( l oca 1 & LWCF or t111NRTF) 2000 I N \0 7. or f1NRTF) �l ! "l>==d.baa.:~=~~=11"==;; . - ~¥. ~ .~ •# ••v· ~ >-- - 'I . ~ ,. PARKS , RECREATION & OPEN SPACE PLAN PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP EXISTING FUTURE AOUISITION & DEVELOPMENT. COMMUNITY PARKS & PLAYFIELDS A r:) SCHOOL-PARKS ~ NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS l;;@,nwd REGIONAL PARKS SEMI PUBLIC & PRIVATE RECREATION NA OPEN SPACE & CONSERVANCY IIUIIIIIIII NON-MOTORIZED TRAILS ~ ---~ MILLER ASSOCIATE S W 'TARGETED AREAS MAP 20 2 8 N. MONROE, ROCKFORD , MI 4934 616-866-118 3 1987 �CHAPTER IX IMPLEMENTATION Updating of the Comprehensive Plan provides a direction for future growth and development in accordance vlith Township goals and objectives. Accommodation of the anticipated population growth over the next twenty years, will require substantial investment from both the public and private sectors. It is important that this investment be made wisely and that the results are consistent with Township goals. While the Township Planning Commission does not have the total responsibility for plan implementation it must assume a leadership role to assure the Plans success. And while the recommendations in this Plan are advisory, it is intended that its proposals will form an acceptable framework for decision making. Implementation of components: this Plan will use require a combination 1. Acceptance and making tool. 2. Commitment of resources in accordance with 3. Community understanding and acceptance. of three basic of the Plan by the Township Board as a decision plan proposals. The Comprehensive Plan cannot serve its intended purpose unless it is implemented as part of an overall action plan. The follm-.,ing action plan elements are listed as the primary means of plan implementation. A vital step toward implementing the Plan is official recognition of the Plan and its proposals by the To\'mship Board, Planning commission, and general citizenry. Plan implementation will require community understanding and support and, thus, should be given wide exposure and continuing public and governmental review and evaluation. Zoning Controls By contrast to the general policies of a land use plan, a zoning ordinance and map are specific, and offer an important means of guiding land development. Subsequent to the adoption of this Comprehensive Plan, the Township Planning Commission should review and make any necessary revisions to the zoning regulations to ensure that recommendations of the Plan are instituted. Subdivision Controls New subdivisions should be contained primarily within areas designated for ban development in this Plan. ur- Subdivision regulations should include design criteria, development requirements, and performance standards. A review of the current subdivision regulations should be undertaken and the necessary provisions should be added to IX-1 �supplement Township zoning regulations and Plan proposals. Building And Housing Codes Codes regulating the construction and maintenance of housing units are important to the preservation of an attractive community. The Tovmship bui 1ding codes should reflect the continuing advances in building technology and maintain high standards for building design and construction. Public Facility And Infrastructure Plans The Comprehensive Plan is not intended to provide the level of detailed planning and engineering that is required to implement necessary public improvements. Instead it is intended to give general direction as to how these improvements should be made in an orderly and efficient manner, taking into consideration the long range goals and needs of the community. It is recommended that the Township undertake the necessary studies to develop or update detailed Facility And Infrastructure Plans in light of current needs and deficiencies and the proposals of this Plan. The list of such studies presently needed include long range facility plans for libraries, administrative offices, other community buildings and protective services, updated plans for sewer, water and drainage and detailed future development plans for the in dividual existing and proposed parks outlined in the Parks and Recreation Plan. Capital Improvements Program (CIP} Capital improvements programming is the process of allocating community financial resources for costly public improvements under a priority identification system. Implementation of the major Plan proposals is intimately related to placement of priorities for major utilities and facilities, which are essential preconditions for a quality community environment. CIP procedures are not only necessary at the Township level, but should be conducted on an intergovernmental basis as well. Capital improvements programming is the first step in a comprehensive management system designed to relate priorities and programs to community goals and objectives. \ Grant Programs Appropriate administrative attention is required in order to ensure a flow of eligible dollars into public facilities and services for the Township. Water and sewer, parks, transportation, housing, etc. are vital areas which must be monitored closely. The availability of revenue sharing and Community Development funds necessitates a planning/management system attuned to priority determination and program evaluation in order that the additional dollars may flm·t back to Plainfield Township on a continuing basis. Continuing Planning In order ensure continual implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, a continuing IX-2 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I �planning process should be maintained. provide for the follm-1ing: The elements of such a process should 1. Monitoring: The maintenance of basic socioeconomic planning data on a current basis. 2. Re-evaluation: Periodic review, reappraisal, and modification of the plan to make it fully reflective of changes in the community and the surrounding area. 3. Assistance: The prov1s1on of planning data and technical services to commun, ty policy-makers, developers, and lay citizens. The preparation of a Plan is only a corner-stone in a continuous process and not an end result. Public Information Public understanding and discussion of major policy questions and proposals is essential so that the Plan may receive maximum public acceptance. Because the Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan are purely advisory in their approach to community development, education of the public regarding planning is required. This education must be based on a flow of information and dialogue on major issues. In order to increase public acceptance of the Plan and in turn, put into the planning process, several methods may be employed: gain public in- 1. To establish and maintain contact with the general public and with civic and service organizations in the Township. 2. To utilize the mass media development objectives. to advance the Township's planning and Plan Review It is important to remember that this Plan is not a static document. It should be continually utilized to guide the Township's growth. The Planning Commission should monitor changes in conditions or advances in planning technology and periodically review and update the Plan to take advantage of these factors. It is recommended that five year updates be undertaken but that as a minimum, they be timed to coincide with the release of decennial U.S. Census data. This will allow the utilization of highly detailed and up to date demographic information as accurate benchmarks in monitoring and projecting community growth and change. The recommended schedule for completion of updates v1ithin the 20 year planning period is as follows: 1993 1998 2003 2008 IX-3 �' - .. __./ ROAD I I .. TOWNSHIP OMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLAINFIELD KENT COUNTY, TOWNSHIP MICHIGAN 0 3000' 500' O 660' 1500' 2640' .it~~ MILLER ASSOCIATES 100' 1320' SCALE : I" = 1500' 5280' ,r 21 N. MONROE ROCKFORD, Ml 49341 APPROVED : JULY, 1988 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wyckoff Planning and Zoning Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Planning & Zoning Center (Lansing, Mich.) (Organization) Wyckoff, Mark A. Description An account of the resource Municipal master plans and zoning ordinances from across the state of Michigan, spanning from the 1960s to the early 2020s. The bulk of the collection was compiled by urban planner Mark Wyckoff over the course of his career as the founder and principal planner of the Planning and Zoning Center in Lansing, Michigan. Some additions have been made to the collection by municipalities since it was transferred to Grand Valley State University. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1960/2023 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Comprehensive plan publications Master plan reports Zoning--Michigan Zoning--Maps Maps Land use--planning Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context RHC-240 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Language A language of the resource eng Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Plainfield-Twp_Comprehensive-Plan_1988 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Plainfield Township Planning Commission, Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1988-07 Title A name given to the resource Plainfield Township Comprehensive Plan Description An account of the resource The Plainfield Township Comprehensive Plan was prepared by the Plainfield Township Planning Commission with the assistance of Miller Associates in July 1988. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Miller Associates (consultant) Subject The topic of the resource Comprehensive plan publications Plainfield Township (Mich.) Kent County (Mich.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://gvsu.lyrasistechnology.org/repositories/2/resources/870">Planning and Zoning Center Collection (RHC-240)</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/">No Copyright - United States</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/78ed1a345ce72d1b81e004c7ab69cac8.jpg cfba304830941030f56317141338aca7 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/a9c147e77e759e16c9b27c0c76bcb680.jpg 256f1531a7883f0b8f48d623b9b01606 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-26 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 10 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 10. A black and white aerial shot of several large ferries on the water. Thick smoke exits the smokestack of the boat on the right side of the image. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5b13bc55327ac23ec0f1384bc282ca5d.jpg 8da23966e8d9b40530ac9327f441de7a https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/27f032b6cbd4517b0b754b8ac8402abb.jpg 30843b24825bacd2a8ff3d586899bcc2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-30 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 11 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 11. A black and white aerial shot of the area of Saugatuck along the water, including the dance hall and the Hotel Butler. Several boats are on the water. In the bottom of the image, there are trees. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/22f32c0e820dd204ffa602bd05979caf.jpg 8621f20c841031579e9d71c08af28f9c https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/508ecda2f3c25c1c58fa9b5e19baddaf.jpg acbfa4fbd68fbb92ff7565be6c27fed0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-18 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 12 Description An account of the resource Plantiff's Exhibit 12. An aerial shot of Saugatuck, Michigan. Several large ferries or boats are on the water, and the dance hall can be seen. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e71708bf6197d618d395b80b3cbeb43c.jpg 9dfa3d55e0149628c2f9882aa3b6cf63 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/aa077cca6eb81df4328b2295d337b000.jpg d8c3df2c1f0e481ca564a21b3d4c11b4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-20 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 13 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 13. A wide shot of a large ferry on the water. Smoke exits its smoke stack. The image is labeled Saugatuck, Mich. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/e6e0fb7b8f3de8dd0b5c8d5388a3bfe8.jpg 9ad1b1cf94121b9c2f9faa5e5b34f1b2 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/b4bda37a3a898ba0cd03790a53c24ba6.jpg 8438441a7b5df69c08e6fff75128bcec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-32 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 2 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 2. A hand-drawn map labeled The Village of Saugatuck, Mich., 1907. The map depicts both several city blocks and the water, where there are multiple kinds of boats on the water. On the back "#4" has been written in the top right corner. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/483dca983e0676fc28c9ea5e40525c25.jpg 7fc25bb0d8022409601429b8c4d3b243 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/c4cae3eb5ba2a96ceb0494fbe1029c11.jpg 1d873fdcc10cc1b9f5c7f4ec3249de18 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-10 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1967-06-29 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 22 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 22. A black and whote photograph of a street. There are cars along the sidewalks and there is a light pole in the left side. There is a puddle in the center of the shot. The back of the photograph, labled Plaintiff's Exhibit 22. The contact information for Holland Photography is in the bottom right corner. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Cars (Automobiles) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/5c32b71efe697d1e24579bbee4f7525d.jpg 783861a16ae8411804519aa7160d8988 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/f3222823c9a3e9aa1ae098c887e6ec28.jpg 4720c5d00c17ce55653dc7c4d5f494c0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-12 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1967-06-29 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 23 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 23. A black and white photo of a street that leads to a stop sign. There is a sidewalk along the road, and there are several buildings in the distance. The back of the photograph, labled Plaintiffs Exhibit 23. The contact information for Holland Photography is in the bottom right corner. Fingers can be seen on the sides of the photo. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/153cddf8c48f03902ca7048ac8d9790b.jpg 33e770ba4197f49de106b084fa54492c https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ac9cd68cadd99d09554b493a1b9c9a9d.jpg 51aafe12e21573e7f5fdf05b7da74195 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-34 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 3 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 3. A black and white shot of four buildings, including the Cook Boat House, located on the water that is taken from across the water. There are several boats docked or on the shore. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/aec352fd927e224970667457ee4373aa.jpg 2e50977a6125c619aa5d940f4828ade7 https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/files/original/ae7199b823bc6aeeeb49a1eb3fde4947.jpg c63cfa32da071c02a209fe8ead894861 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Summers in Saugatuck-Douglas Collection Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grand Valley State University. Kutsche Office of Local History Description An account of the resource Collection contains images and documents digitized and collected through the project "Stories of Summer," supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage Grant. The collection aims to document the twin lakeshore communities of Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan, as they transformed through the state's bustling tourism industry and acceptance of minorities. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s-2010s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Various Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Saugatuck (Mich.) Douglas (Mich.) Michigan, Lake Allegan County (Mich.) Beaches Sand dunes Outdoor recreation Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Stories of Summer (Common Heritage project) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg application/pdf Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Text Language A language of the resource English Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2018 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DC-07_SD-Otsego-22 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Otsego Library Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-03-26 Title A name given to the resource Plaintiff Exhibit 30 Description An account of the resource Plaintiff's Exhibit 30. A black and white photo of the Saugatuck Boat Livery. Three men stand in front of the building. They are surrounded by many kayaks and canoes. On the back, "#8" is handwritten in the top right corner. Subject The topic of the resource Michigan Allegan County (Mich.) Saugatuck (Mich.) Citizen suits (Civil procedure) Evidence Boats Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Digital file collected by the Kutsche Office of Local History from the Saugatuck Douglas History Center for the Stories of Summer project. Relation A related resource Stories of Summer (project) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/">Copyright Undetermined</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource image/jpeg Language A language of the resource eng Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives