City on the Move
"The City of Woodhaven is heavily on the move this year with so much to look forward to" says Mayor Patricia Odette, of Woodhaven.
You may have noticed the new waterfall on the corner of Hall and West Road. After the corner landmark Cabin was deemed structurally unsafe, the Cabin was removed. The Waterfall was constructed in its place, to beautify the City and to become a new landmark and place of remembrance of the original cabin. We have placed a plaque at the fountain with all of the names of the original members that constructed the cabin, and pieces from the cabin have been placed within the landscape, as recognition of its importance. Next month, he City will be holding a small ceremony for those members and their families.
Also, the WOOFhaven Dog Park is now under construction. The drainage is completed and the fencing is currently out for bid. Look for special community trips and fundraisers planned to raise additional funds for the park this year.
We mentioned earlier this year that we were turning our Ice Rink into a multi-purpose year-round skating rink. Plans are under way and moving very smoothly. The drainage is finished, the surface has been poured and our Department of Public Service is preparing and repainting the boards. We are anticipating the rink to open in October.
In addition, the Interactive Play Fountain construction has begun. Electricity and water preparations have already been made and we expect to have the project completed at the end of September. "Although the play fountain will not be available to use this year, it will give us all something to look forward to when the weather breaks next spring. It will be great for the little ones, as it will be right next to the Playscape" says Mayor Odette.
Sidewalks are being built on Van Horn and Allen Road, to make for a safer walk to our schools, overall pedestrian safety and increasing the walkability of the community. Currently sections of Hall Road are being finished by the contractor and then they will move to portions of Allen Road.
Cato Fashions, a women's clothing store, has officially opened in Woodhaven, next to Petsmart in the Walmart shopping plaza. and Starbucks construction is almost completed. Also, expect to see a new and much improved McDonalds on West Road, by the intersection of Hall and West. It is expected to re-open by October.
The Planning Commission and Building Department are working with Buffalo Wild Wings and LA Fitness. No official confirmation has been made as of yet, however, both businesses are looking to locate near Lowe's and Kohl's, and would be welcomed additions to our community.
A special thanks goes out to our Woodhaven Police Department for providing a new score board in Civic Center Park. Drug forfeiture moneys were used to install the score board and to encourage youth participation in drug-free activities.
Through funding from the Downtown Development Authority, a new Restroom Facility is currently being built behind the Community Center to service all of the wonderful things on the north-end of the park area. The anticipated opening will be the first week in October.
We have our brand new Tennis Courts up and already in use. The courts look great and we owe it to all of the local businesses that donated to our City to help make this happen.
There have been some preliminary discussions with the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District on a joint project to extend the existing walking track behind Erving Elementary and Patrick Henry Middle School. Fitness stations would be added in both the City and on the school grounds.
"We are a City on the move" says Mayor Odette. "We have a great Council, City Employees and Commissioners who work hard at making all of these things happen. There is no greater joy than to go by Civic Center Park and see 500 or more people using all of the facilities and we look forward to having much more available."