Story

This project entailed site master planning and final design and construction for the first phase of development for the east side of Markin Glen Park. This Kalamazoo County Park, the newest of five, is located just north of the City of Kalamazoo on North Westnedge Avenue, in Cooper Township. Markin Glen Park, named after the Markin family, founder of the Checker Motors Corporation in Kalamazoo, is divided in half by North Westnedge Ave. Originally the summer home and farm owned by the Markin family, the east side of this park was envisioned to become the active portion for this park, including lake development, related beach and non-motorized pathways, ball fields, tennis, as well as modern camping. The west half currently exists as the more passive component. This became a rural park immediately adjacent to an urban setting. Driesenga & Associates, Inc. provided topographic survey and civil engineering services for approximately 100 acres of this site, in support of site master planning process. *The master planning process included development of phasing and related implementation process, and cost estimates for development. The final master plan included the following elements; creation of two small lakes totaling approximately 15 acres, corporate retreat center, tennis facility, athletic fields, picnic areas and related pathways, as well as an modern campground of approximately 80-sites. Phase I design and construction included the park infrastructure as well as lake and beach development, picnic areas and accessible access to all elements. *Work performed by Randy Lee, CDT , while employed at Tower Pinkster included Project Management, Land planning and Landscape Architecture.