Miles of Golf is a reputable business run by nice folks who generally support golf. Our opposition to the use of Huron Hills Golf Course as a site for that private business does not mean that we dislike the folks who run that business. It merely means that we do not believe that public parkland should be provided to private businesses s they can profit from our resources. The following is an email that Miles of Golf sent to its friends and customers. Please let them know that you do not approve of this misuse of parkland. Please write to the Mayor and your council members and let them know you do not support this use of our parks. A quick way to address the entire council and pertinent city administrators is to click on the "City Officials email" link in the email below.
From: Miles of Golf <times@milesofgolf.com> Date: Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 12:07 AM Subject: Miles of Golf - We Need Your Help! To:
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| Miles of Golf Needs a Favor. The
City has narrowed its options on Huron Hills Golf Course to three. We
need our customers to weigh in on these options and make their opinion
known to City officials. If you do not make your voice heard, there is a
very vocal group of Huron Hills neighbors that will influence the
decision. If you are unfamiliar with the Huron Hills issue, please go
to www.milesofgolf.com/blog for more information. Miles
of Golf believes it is important for the City officials to hear points
of view from more than the Huron Hills neighbors. This is not a
neighborhood park, but a 116 acre city park that should meet the needs
and wishes of the whole community not just the immediate neighborhood.
You
can help by emailing the City officials and/or by attending city
meetings that will address our proposal regarding the future of Huron
Hills.
Email to City officials. Please send an email
to the Ann Arbor City officials stating your opinion on the City's three
options. Your response can be as brief as "I support <whichever one
of the 3 options you choose> " or you can elaborate.
For a quick and easy way to email City officials, use this link: City Officials Emails Huron Hills Options:
1. The City could continue to operate Huron Hills as an 18 hole golf course. The City estimates the cost to subsidize the course will be $200,000-$300,000 per year.
2. The City could reach a public / private partnership agreement with Miles of Golf to move the Miles golf center to Huron Hills and operate the golf course as a 9 hole course.
This agreement will widen the appeal of Huron Hills to all golfers and
provide income for the City. (The amount of this income will not become
public knowledge until the City evaluates the proposal content without
the financial details. At some point, the income to the City will be
known). The
City received a second porposal from the Huron Hills neighbors to
continue to operate the course as an 18 hole golf course. This proposal
has been rejected by the RFP Selection Committee. We have heard
objections to our proposal and many of them are just not factual. Our
proposal for Huron Hills calls for NO perimeter fencing or netting, NO
pole lighting, NO earthmoving to flatten the topography, and NO huge or
inappropriate buildings. The group says that they want to preserve a
historic golf course designed by a famous golf course architect. NONE
of the holes designed by Tom Bendelow exist anymore.
The
City will not just hand Miles of Golf the keys to Huron Hills and say
do as you please. Any agreement with the City will contain language
that will protect the the interest's of citizens. It will truly be a
partnership. 3. The City could look for alternative non-golf uses for the property.
To date, the Parks and Rec. Department has been unable to find an
alternative use that costs less than the subsidy for golf. Even if the
park is basically left fallow, there are significant costs, including
mowing, tree trimming, litter control, etc - but no revenues. It is
important to note that options 2 and 3 are not mutually exclusive.
Option 2 will not utilize all of the current land leaving space for
non-golf uses like a community garden. If
you really want to get involved, there are three review meetings prior
to the City Council receiving recommendations on the Miles proposal. If
you think you can attend any of these meetings, just email us at miler@milesofgolf.com and we will send you the times and locations.
Thanks
for listening. To quote from our proposal, "If the City chooses to
develop a private-public partnership with Miles of Golf, it has the
potential of making Huron Hills, an under utilized golf course, into a
successful, innovative, and spectacular golf facility, one that will add
to the quality of life of our community and help City finances."
Miles of Golf |
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