CITIZENS UNITED FOR WENONAH PARK

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT

CONTACT: Michelle Roberts DATE:

April 13, 2017

PHONE: 989-460-7898 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITIZENS GROUP CHALLENGES AMENDED WENONAH PARK

MASTER PLAN;
GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT INITIATIVE UNDERWAY
[Bay City, MI] A vocal group of Bay City residents who have opposed the development of a
pavilion and outbuilding in Downtown Bay Citys iconic Wenonah Park are crying foul.
Citizens United for Wenonah Park will submit a petition to the Bay City Clerk within the
week to start the process of adding the issue to the November 8th General Election ballot.

We believe that the proposed development would permanently damage the small
waterfront park and that the eight City Commissioners who voted to approve adding the
structures to the parks Master Plan did not seriously consider all the ways the development
would negatively impact park users and the park itself, explained Michelle Roberts,
volunteer spokesperson for the group. Commissioners by their own admission were
concerned with two things: (1) not losing a grant from the Nickless Family Foundation that
wasnt even gifted to the City and (2) appeasing a local union whose few members that live
in and pay taxes to the City of Bay City represent less than one percent of the population.

A significant concern expressed by opponents of the project is financial responsibility.

Roberts explained the developers of the pavilion project have not demonstrated they can
support the structure financially. When this project was first introduced to the public, the City
Manager assured us the project would not be approved until the developers secured a $1
million endowment for maintenance. That hasnt happened. It apparently doesnt concern
the Commission, but it really concerns those of us whose taxes will have to support it if it
fails.

Individuals who oppose the pavilion project cite concerns about how often the park and/or its
facilities will now be closed to the public for private events, the loss of a significant
greenspace in the only park Downtown that supports a growing number of residents, and
directing resources toward new construction when the existing park facilities are in need of
repair.

There are also unanswered questions about the impact of building in the floodplain, the
change in hydrology (how water flows in the area), damage to the root systems of nearby
trees, potential environmental hazards of runoff from the artificial ice skating surface
planned for the development, the lack of elevation drawings showing the impact on the view
of the Saginaw River, and more.

The group is collecting funds to support the ballot initiative effort which is expected to cost
as much as $5,000. To contribute, mail a check to Citizens United for Wenonah Park, P. O.
Box 171, Bay City, MI 487070171 or visit www.gofundme.com/citizens-united-for-wenonah-
park to contribute on-line. For more information about the petition, or to learn how you can
be involved, please go to www.facebook.com/citizensunitedforWenonahPark.

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