On January 24th, 2023, the Board of Trustees adopted the 2023-2027 Township of Scio, Washtenaw County - Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan.

The 2023 - 2027 Scio Township Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (aka the PROS Plan) articulates a vision for parks and recreation in Scio Township. The Plan builds off of the 2018 - 2022 Paths, Preserves, Parks, & Open Space (PPPOS) Master Plan, incorporating new policies that have been implemented and new information that has been acquired since adoption of the PPPOS plan in 2018. The PROS plan guides recreation planning and development efforts of the Township over the next five year period, through December 2027. The Plan is the official document to be used by the community to guide decisions regarding parks and recreation. The Plan meets the state’s standards for community recreation planning that are necessary to gain eligibility for grant programs.

Key Plan Findings

Scio Township’s parks, preserves, trails, and open spaces are prized assets, and Township residents and officials have taken concrete steps since the last plan’s publication to ensure that these facilities will provide recreation services to the community for generations to come. Since adoption of the 2018 plan, Township residents passed a parks and pathways millage, hired a Parks and Pathways Director, created a Transportation Alternatives Planning Committee (TAP), constructed almost two miles of pathways, and preserved hundreds of acres of high quality open spaces and farmland. As the Township’s recreation planning and development evolves and becomes more sophisticated, it is critical to increase resident awareness about recreation opportunities in the Township and improve access to those amenities. Residents express a clear desire to see open space preservation and trail development continue, but there appears to be a general lack of knowledge about recreation options in the township. Residents who were aware of the recreation properties frequently expressed frustration at the inability to access many of these facilities. The Township will continue to work towards improving communication with residents to ensure the long-term success of the department. Moving forward, Scio will need to evaluate the most efficient organizational structure of the department to ensure that funds are distributed to the highest priority projects, and that adequate staff and resources are available to ensure facilities are well maintained and meet state and federal accessibility standards. A complete summary of community needs, survey data, and meeting responses can be found beginning on page 18.

What The Plan Contains

The Scio Township PROS Plan follows the format suggested by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in the Guidelines for the Development of Community Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Plans (IC 1924, revised 4-26-2021).

• The plan begins with this Executive Summary and the processes used to prepare the plan.

• Goals & Objectives were obtained by compiling input from community members, staff, and Township officials. They provide a broad set of values which drive recreation development in the Township;

• The Action Program then provides steps and strategies for implementing the Plan.

• The Public Participation portion of the Plan presents the input received from local officials, staff, and Township residents, which helped the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PAB) and Transportation Alternatives Planning Committee (TAP) formulate the Plan’s goals and objectives.

• A detailed Recreation Inventory describes the existing parkland and recreational facilities of the community as well as those of the region and state.

• A description of the community’s Administrative Structure follows, including information on funding and budgets.

• The Plan then presents a Community Description, providing information on both the social and physical characteristics of the community.

• Finally, the appendices include supporting materials, including resolutions and notices that document the Plan’s adoption by the Township Board.