PARKS AND RECREATION

Thornapple Township belongs to the Thornapple Area Parks and Recreation Commission (TAPRC), which was formed pursuant to the Urban Cooperation Act of 1967, Act No. 7 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1967, Extra Session, as amended (“Act No. 7”).

The Commission was formed in 2000 as an agreement between the Village of Middleville, Thornapple Township and the Thornapple Kellogg School District to cooperate to provide recreational opportunities for their citizens. Its purpose is to plan, operate and provide park and recreational programs and services for the citizens of the member units. Each Member Unit has three representatives, who are appointed by the member unit to serve a term. The commission meets once per month with meetings currently scheduled for 7:00 p.m., the 3rd Monday of each month at the Thornapple Township Hall, 200 E. Main St., Middleville. Current Commission members are listed below.

Representing the Village of Middleville:
Catherine Beyer
Jim Oliver
Phil VanNoord

Representing Thornapple Township:
Walt Eavey
Mike Kelley (Current Vice President)
Rhonda Fisk (Current President)

Representing Thornapple Kellogg School District:
Steve Evans
Tony Koski/Brian Balding (shared term)
Tom Ward (Current Secretary/Treasurer)

The TAPRC also employs a part-time program director, Kelly Pino, who oversees the recreational activities of the commission. Programs that the director currently oversees include:

     1. youth flag football
     2. youth sports clinics (basketball, baseball/softball, soccer and wrestling)
     3. youth baseball/softball leagues
     4. adult softball and volleyball leagues
     5. adult horseshoe tournaments

Properties managed/used by the TAPRC include: Crane Road Ball Diamonds, Spring Park (ball diamond) owned by the Village of Middleville and TK schools recreational facilities. Thornapple Township does not own any developed park land.

For more information, contact TAPRC Program Director, Kelly Pino at 269-795-8853 or via e-mail, Kpino_TAPRC@hotmail.com