Resource
Schiffer Park construction began in early March 2020 and was originally estimated to be be complete by the end of August 2020. Construction was paused after site demolition, in accordance with Governor Whitmer's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order, and will resume on May 7 with enhanced social distancing protocols.
When completed, Schiffer Park will provide a scenic gathering space along West Nine Mile for passive recreation, simply a nice spot for lunch, or small community events (when it's safe). The project represents a collaboration of the City of Ferndale, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority,and Ferndalehaus.
During construction of Schiffer Park, the park will not be accessible.
As work resumes at Schiffer Park—and other sites throughout the community—the City will require all contractors to comply with the COVID-19 Field Operations Policy or submit a copy of their own that meets or exceeds these standards, which include:
The effect of the closure on the project’s timeline and availability of materials in the wake of COVID is unknown at this time. As always, our project management team will work closely with contractors to determine new timeline information and present it to the public as soon as it’s available; please be patient as we work through our “new normal” during this unprecedented situation. Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place and both streets will be open to thru traffic during construction.
When will Schiffer Park be built? Schiffer Park construction began in early March 2020 and was originally scheduled to be complete by August 2020, but the project was paused related to COVID-19. Construction will resume on Thursday, May 7. This follows Governor Whitmer’s April 29 announcement updating the State’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Order, allowing construction work to resume with enhanced social distancing protocols.
How did COVID-19 impact the project timeline? The effect of the closure on the project timelines in the wake of COVID is unknown at this time. While work will resume on May 7, the workforce itself may be impacted as construction teams accommodate social distancing and enhanced safety measures. The supply chain remains choppy as well, with borders still closed and supplies and shipments being limited. We will work to keep you updated as new information is available.
What COVID-19 social distancing protocols will be in effect for the construction crews?
As work resumes at Schiffer Park—and other sites throughout the community—the City will require all contractors to comply with the COVID-19 Field Operations Policy or submit a copy of their own that meets or exceeds these standards, which include:
What will the new park include? The new and improved Schiffer Park will include elements that create a scenic gathering space along West Nine Mile such as:
o New trees for shade
o Planter boxes with integral wood benches and LED lighting
o Movable café seating
o New pavers and curbs
o Green space for recreation or seating
What types of events are planned for Schiffer Park? No events are planned yet, but when it is safe to do so, the Parks & Recreation Department along with the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority plan to activate the space with small, community events. Currently, Planavon is closed several times a year to support smaller events in downtown. The goal is to reduce the need for those closures by expanding the size of the park and creating spaces that have opportunity for activation.
Will there be a seat platform in the rear of the park? The wood seat platform was removed from the original plans due to budgetary constraints. It will be considered for a potential future phase of this project.
Will there be any impact to traffic or parking? The plan for the park includes removing the right-turn-only lane on Planavon and incorporating the additional space into the park. Two on-street parking spaces on Planavon will also be removed. A traffic study was conducted to determine the impacts of the removal of the right-turn-only lane, and the predicted increase in vehicle delay for southbound traffic on Planavon was minimal: 1.7 sec (5.2%) in the AM peak hour and 2.0 sec (8.2%) in the PM peak hour. The projected delay and level of service are in line with urban areas that prioritize Complete Streets principles.
Will Schiffer Park be open and free to the public? Yes, this park will be open for everyone.
Will the park have lighting? Yes, lighting was a focus in the design for this park.The goal is to create a gathering space where people feel safe and secure to enjoy downtown Ferndale.
What sort of maintenance will the park require over time? The City of Ferndale Public Works Department will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the park including maintenance of the flower beds, cleaning/sealing the pavers, and turf management. The park does not consist of a dog park or run. Park patrons who do visit with their pets will be asked to clean up after them using dog waste stations provided on site.
How is the park redevelopment being funded? The project is being funded jointly by the City of Ferndale, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority, and Ferndalehaus.
What is the best way for me to stay informed on the project? Project updates and notifications will be posted to this website. Questions can also be submitted directed to the Parks & Recreation Department at bwalker@ferndalemi.gov.
Presentation to City Council, February 24, 2020: https://prezi.com/view/utC2hpRjlh2qMu92UHNZ/
Funding Request to Downtown Development Authority, February 13, 2020: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/ferndalemi/72ff09369ba40ee322f3a5f65b5e52160.pdf
Schiffer Park Concept Plan – Jan 2019
Updated Schiffer Park Concept Plan – Feb 2020 *Plan was revised to remove the seat platform in the rear of the park due to budgetary constraints.
The final design for Geary Park is in process, including feedback received from the community following the Community Design Meeting and Open House. We plan to present the final design to City Council for approval on November 13, 2018.
With the changes slated for Geary Park, what is the City doing to address the trees currently located within the park and ensure a healthy green canopy today and into the future?
The City of Ferndale has been a Tree City USA-designated community for more than 15 years, and we pride ourselves on actively working to maintain a healthy urban forest.
Throughout the full Geary Park improvement project (2019's Phase I improvements, skate park, and basketball court, as well as the not-yet-scheduled Phase II improvements), a total of 39 trees will be taken down. Of these, roughly 30% are in critical or poor condition, 60% are in fair condition, and 8% are in good condition, and 2% are not known. A number of these trees are, or will soon be, growing into power lines and are/will soon be at risk of being removed by DTE Energy.
Also as part of this project, the City will be planting/adding a total of 125 trees. The City follows a per-caliper replacement schedule: for example, if a removed tree has a 20-inch caliper, several new trees would have to replace it (for instance, ten 2-inch caliper trees). The new trees have been carefully considered to provide maximum benefit to the area—water retention, potential canopy, and more.
The final design for Wanda is in process, including feedback received from the community following the community survey, meeting, and open house. The final concept design was presented to Council and approved on October 22, 2018.
SEND US A MESSAGE
City of Ferndale, Michigan
300 East Nine Mile Road
Ferndale, Michigan 48220
