September 8 Vote: Balk Family Park Community Building
On September 8, I’ll be making the most important vote of my time as an elected official so far. Supervisor Grimm is leading the effort to dedicate up to $4 million of Township funds toward completing the Balk Family Park Community Building.
Here’s the reality:
We have the money.
The County has already done years of preparation work, but unfortunately progress hasn’t moved at a pace the Balk family envisioned.
The Balks generously donated the land and funding for this park, and the project has essentially stalled out.
Supervisor Grimm has presented a strong case for moving forward now. Doing so could set a new precedent—giving Cannon Township local-level control over construction projects, while the County would still maintain the property in perpetuity.
There are different ways to look at this project. On one hand, we could wait for the County to eventually complete it, since Township residents already pay into County taxes and “something” would come back to us eventually. On the other hand, local companies like Visser Brothers and Andrus Architects have offered to do the project at cost, making it feel much more like a community-owned effort and a source of pride for everyone here.
This is not Cannon Township going rogue. If we move forward, we’ll be building on the existing data and community input the County already collected. And when you hear that construction could begin “the next day,” it’s because so much groundwork has already been done.
At the end of the day, I will vote the way our residents prefer. Please share your thoughts with me—whether by sending a message or, even better, speaking during the public hearing Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m. Your input matters, and I’d truly appreciate hearing your perspective.
Also, while not directly connected to this project, I feel it is my duty to share that my husband, Jake, works for Kent County Parks as a manager at Millennium Park.