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Frank Buzzitta Memorial Bridge Walk
The Frank Buzzitta Memorail Bridge Walk will take place in downtown Williamston on Monday, September 6th (Labor Day) at 9 am. This annual event will be hosted by the City of Williamston and the walker will be led over the bridges of Williamston by Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Moody.
This year's route begins at City Hall where participants will travel west along Grand River and then north on Putnam across the Putnam Street Bridge. The route continues north to Church Street, where participants will then retrace their steps back to the starting point at City Hall. McCormick Park, the traditional starting and ending point for the annual walk, is under construction this year.
In 2005, long time City resident and Planning Commissioner Frank Buzzitta began a regimen of walking through town each day. According to his son, Mark, Mr. Buzzitta thought that since many people participate in the Mackinaw Bridge walk each year that Williamston - home to many bridges - could start a local bridge walk to give people a chance to come together, support the town, and get some exercise too!
Mr. Buzzitta planned the first Williamston Bridge Walk in 2005 with the assistance of his family and friends as a way to promote physical fitness and to highlight the history, amenities, and walkability of the City. In 2008 the Bridge Walk received the endorsement of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports.
For more information, contact City Hall, 655-2774.
Police Ask Drivers To Use Caution
As the beginning of another school year rapidly approaches, the Williamston Police Department wants to remind everyone to drive safely and watch for children on bikes or walking to school. When entering a school zone, drivers should be extra cautious and make sure they are traveling at the posted speed limit. The Police Department asks that you pay attention to the lower speed limit in a school zone, especially on Highland Street in front of the elementary school. They would like to remind drivers that once school starts, the crossing guards will be out there to assist the children in crossing busy streets. There is a lot of traffic flow between 7:30am and 8:30am on city streets that lead to the Williamston Community Schools, so please have patience while you are taking your children to school.
In the past few weeks, the Police Department has received numerous complaints of vehicles not coming to a complete stop at intersections, and an increase in speeds on the residential streets. They are starting to see a trend at signed intersections where drivers are not coming to a complete stop. This causes confusion and leads to longer waiting times. They take these complaints very seriously from a public safety viewpoint, and will place extra emphasis on patrolling these areas.
This year a new law was enacted making texting while driving a violation. Statistics have shown that distracted drivers account for a large number of accidents involving our youth. We ask that parents take an active roll in educating their children on the dangers of being distracted while driving.
McCormick Park Improvement Project Notice
The Williamston Parks and Recreation Commission would like to remind folks that the McCormick Park Improvement Project is scheduled to start this spring. As beneficiaries of a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment, the citizens of Williamston will soon have a beautiful "new" park to enjoy. As summer progresses, there will be a new fishing pier extending out into the river, a new launch area for canoes and kayaks, a new concession building near the band shell (complete with new restroom facilities), new pathways, lights, benches, volleyball court, renovated basketball court, plus landscaping and improved parking facilities. And with the recent addition of the beautiful wood carvings, McCormick Park promises to be a "showplace park" of which we can all be very proud.
Naturally, such an extensive renovation will bring some disruption to "normal" use of the park this season, and this is where we need everyone's cooperation and understanding. The job will be done as quickly and efficiently as possible, but it will take some time. We invite you to observe the park as it undergoes its transformation. And we thank each and every citizen--in advance--for your patience and support. Thank you.
Earl Wolf, Chairman, Williamston Parks and Recreation Commission
Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
The Williamston City Council has developed a draft Capital Improvements Program with the assistance of City administration and staff. A Capital Improvements Program is a multi-year program for planning and financing public facilities improvements. The program is developed from departmental requests and is based on studies of financial resources available and consistency of proposed improvements with adopted Master Plan policies. The first year of the CIP is adopted as an integral part of the annual budget. It includes land acquisitions, building improvements, transportation improvements, infrastructure improvements (i.e. public sanitary and storm sewer and water utilities) and other public facilities, and equipment. The City Council invites all residents and persons with property interest in the City to review the draft CIP document and submit any comments, questions and/or concerns, to the City Manager, Tim Allard via email (manager@williamston-mi.us) or phone 655-2774.
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