Garfield Township trustees have approved a plan to spend more than $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with projects ranging from water infrastructure upgrades and park and township hall improvements to trail connectors and enhanced traffic signals and signage.

Township trustees voted unanimously last week – with Steve Duell and Lanie McManus absent – to approve the final draft of a plan to spend $1,864,273.88 in township ARPA funds. Under federal guidelines, funds must be committed and under contract by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026. Township Treasurer Chloe Macomber said that “careful consideration has been made that each project meets community needs,” with most projects previously identified as “priorities for implementation.” A team of employees that recommended the plan to the board consulted the township’s strategic plan, master plan, Parks and Recreation master plan, and results from a 2022 community survey when considering projects, Macomber said.

Over one-third of the funds – $636,209 – are planned to go toward two sidewalk/trail connector projects. The most expensive at $564,073 is a six-foot-wide sidewalk along the east side of Barlow Street and the north side of South Airport Road to connect the Barlow/Garfield neighborhood with the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. The project would include approximately 0.3 miles of new sidewalk along South Airport Road and roughly 0.75 miles along Barlow Street north to Boon Street.

“In 2022, the Boardman Lake Loop Trail was completed, and this loop trail can become a key hub connection for other trails into the regional system,” the township’s ARPA plan states. “This project envisions a connection from the Boardman Lake Loop Trail to the east side of Garfield on South Airport Road and Barlow Street. These corridors connect to dense residential areas. This area is served by Traverse Heights Elementary School in Traverse City; a recent Safe Routes to School grant provided for upgraded sidewalks in nearby neighborhoods.”

Another $72,136 would go toward providing a two-mile connection between Traverse City West Middle School and Traverse City West Senior High School, called the Wyatt-Westchester Connector. The non-motorized route would include both trail and on-road segments, with the on-road portions connecting neighborhoods along Westchester Commons and Wyatt Road. A segment of trail was recently completed at the Meadow Valley senior living facility under construction on Long Lake Road.

The ARPA plan notes that “one key challenge for this project is that while a portion of Wyatt Road is a public road, the rest of Wyatt and all of Westchester Commons are private roads. A crossing of Zimmerman Road is also required. The township should work with the Grand Traverse County Road Commission to express the desire for a safe crossing. Elements of the crossing include ADA-accessible ramps, pavement markings, and signage.” In the township’s 2022 community survey, 63 percent of residents supported the statements “I want more paved bicycle paths and sidewalks in the area where I live” and “Garfield should fund the construction of bike paths and sidewalks in the form of a millage, grants, general fund, or other funding sources.”

Close to another third of the township’s ARPA pie – $525,000 – will go toward a project to upgrade the existing pressure reducing valve (PRV) station on McRae Hill Road. A PRV station helps regulate flow throughout a municipal water system, acting as a buffer between high-pressure primary lines and branch lines. It helps provide consistent pressure to customers across varying terrain and reduces water waste. PRV stations often experience substantial wear and tear over time, however, requiring upgrades. The total estimated cost for upgrading the McRae Hill Road PRV station is $1.1 million, with the remaining $575,000 to come from the township’s water fund, the ARPA plan shows.

Another $260,000 is slated for parks upgrades in Garfield Township. That includes $250,000 for improvements at River East Recreation Area, located along the east banks of the Boardman River across from the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve. Planned upgrades include a children’s playground, wayfinding signage, and improvements to natural trails. An early draft of the ARPA plan called for another $349,000 in improvements to the park – including bathrooms, sidewalks, and a walking path – but staff noted those improvements are already included in the 2023 Parks Fund budget and recommended using those dollars instead for those projects. Another $10,000 in ARPA funding will go toward installing hands-free drinking fountains at River East Recreation Area and Silver Lake Recreation Area.

The ARPA plan also includes $160,000 to replace the traffic signals at the US-31 intersections with Lowe’s Drive and Meijer Drive, upgrading to new traffic signal mast arms. That project will be completed in coordination with the Michigan Department of Transportation. The remaining projects fall under the categories of improvements to Garfield Township’s identity and beautification, as well as the township hall. Those include $50,000 to update the township’s website and $25,000 for township hall improvements, including installing new wall and door in the planning department and adding two hands-free drinking fountains. Another $22,864.88 in funds will go toward a $100,000 project for computer and software upgrades, including potential BS&A Cloud technology.

A significant chunk of funding will go toward township identity and beautification improvements, primarily in the way of signage. The ARPA plan includes $150,000 toward an estimated $225,000 project to install two Garfield Township gateway monument signs on the south and north ends of the township on US-31. One could be situated near Burger King by Meijer and the other on the old state highway turnout near the top of McRae Hill Road. The project could require obtaining easements and/or property, according to the plan. Another $30,000 is budgeted for upgrading the landscaping and installing two monument signs – one facing east and one facing west – in the median by Logan’s Landing. Meanwhile, $5,200 is allocated for installing smaller metal roadside signs saying “Entering Garfield Township” at 17 locations on various county primary roads where they cross township lines.

Some projects initially considered for the ARPA plan were referred to other budgets. Those include a .4-mile connector between Miller Creek Nature Preserve and the Boardman Valley Nature Preserve, estimated at just under $325,000. That project will be moved to a future Parks Fund budget, potentially in 2026. Three special assessment road improvements projects – on Blue Star Drive, Jefferson Avenue, and Ridge View Court – will be covered by the township’s Roads Fund instead of the ARPA plan, since the Roads Fund balance is sufficient to cover them, staff said.

Township Trustee Denise Schmuckal called the ARPA plan “really, really good,” adding: “I think it’s the right track, I really do.” Township Supervisor Chuck Korn said staff felt like the project list represents “the most deserving places for us to use the funds.” Macomber said at an earlier meeting this month that the projects cover a “variety of different areas” and will ideally “benefit the most people in our community.” She noted that board approval of the plan is just the start of its implementation, with the budgeted figures in the plan still representing estimates. Bids and contracts will come back to the board for approval for each individual project, she said. “You’re basically just saying you’re OK with ARPA money being spent on these projects,” she said.