1. Northville Colony Greenspace 2017 and Beyond April 27, 2017
A Vision
Northville Colony Greenspace 2017 and Beyond
April 27, 2017

2. We are fortunate! However… We have neighbors who care
Northville, and our neighborhood, is in demand
We’ve maintained our neighborhood green space at minimal cost
However…

3. Our neighborhood greenspace is aging.
Living things have a life cycle
Audit identifies issues with general health, condition and life cycle status of neighborhood green space – entrance, park, islands, retention basin
Renewed attention to greenspace maintenance exposes limits
Budget inadequate to deliver beyond basic maintenance
No master plan to guide phased-in landscape improvement

4. What is our need?
Front entrance presents no immediate issues

5. What is our need?
Park area (not basin) requires removal of dying Austrian and Scotch (Scots) pines affected by pine wilt disease.
Seven removed spring 2017
No budget for replacement trees or improvements beyond that.

6. What is our need?
Retention pond erosion issues may be improved by adding trees. Budget issues persist.

7. What is our need? Majority of islands tired, weedy, overgrown, sickly.
25-30 year old shrubs
Mature pines, shrubs, trees overgrowing space
Line of site pruning destined to destroy beauty
Pine wilt disease
Crabapple trees (lots!) with premature leaf drop
Defoliation in spring (apple-scab) and summer (cedar rust)
Ongoing weed problem in outdated lava rock and grass
Neighborhood reflects no cohesive greenspace plan.
Some tree/shrub choices lacked consideration of species best for Michigan urban green space.

8. Appleby Court

9. Diseased park tree

10. Exeter Court diseased pines

11. Weatherfield/Stonehaven weeds/stones

12. What is our opportunity?
A neighborhood islands master vision that:
Improves our “curb appeal”
Protects and enhances our investment
Natural extension of boom in home renovation and improvement
Creates a ”sense of place” and value benchmark
Increases homeowner enjoyment
Provides an executable plan with:
Cohesive scaled design concepts with thorough cost estimates
Offering phase in approach or complete execution

13. What is required? A financial commitment beyond current funding.
Current funding allows maintenance, not improvement
Appleby Court example
Partial install in 2017, or go forward but no maintenance for other islands
Take from park line item to fund work, no summer maintenance
Park tree removal example
Current funding allows no budget for a master plan

14. What has been done towards this goal?
Volunteers- invested hours:
Thorough audit of existing green space with free arborist input
Outlined needs, potential cost and number of years to complete
Budget status quo vs. funding increase
Established goals for forward plan vision
Meetings with potential landscape design services
Developed park (basin) planting plan and started process
Volunteers contributed these efforts while also executing other board responsibilities

15. Next Steps Special assessment
$57,000 would create a budget to do all islands to varying degrees depending on status of each
With special assessment in one year, or phase the assessment over two year
Design work for master plan:  $2,295 - $3,060      
one time cost 2018

16. Thank You!

17. Reference Presenter: Pam Csatari (volunteer)
Arborist review: Jim Gordon/Gordon Tree & Shrub also ART’S Tree Service
Landscape Design consult choice: Serge van der Voos
Input: Fidel Marin/FCM Landscape (currently providing grounds upkeep)