St. Ignace residents say they would like to see skate park and swimming pool improvements and more organized recreation in a city survey that garnered 158 responses. The suggestions will be included in the city’s new Recreation Plan, being prepared by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to assure eligibility for state grants.

The survey, posted in The St. Ignace News and distributed in several classrooms, generated responses via e-mail, drop boxes, and the mail, and from eighth and 10th grade students at St. Ignace Area Schools and eighth grade students at Moran Township’s school, Gros Cap.

“We are already addressing most of the issues brought to our attention,” said DDA Director Deb Evashevski. “That was good to know.”

The recreation survey is one of the steps required for the recreation plan update, which is due April 1, 2006. Neighboring communities which support the city recreation program will also be asked to contribute to the plan, then a public hearing will be held before the revisions are adopted.

Projects already in the works are a fishing pier, which will be constructed at the old railroad dock this summer, a hiking and biking path from St. Ignace to Drummond Island, which is being spearheaded by Clark Township, and Silver Mountain’s disc golf course, created as a public service by Steve DuFresne last summer.

Many of the eighth-grade students asked for soccer programs for older children. Mrs. Evashevski said eighth grade is the cut-off for the city’s recreation summer soccer programs, so the city will look into expanding it for older students and even adults.

Desired most among the survey respondents are improvements and additions to the skate park, which is set up in the overflow lot for Little Bear East Arena and Community Center, improvements to the city’s swimming pool at LaSalle High School, including expanded open hours and more swimming programs, and a desire for more organized sports, activities, and clubs in the community.

“People have a lot of good ideas about expanding recreation in our community, but many of these ideas take a lot of time and money,” said Mrs. Evashevski. They would be more feasible, she suggested, if the city received some public support and volunteers to work on the projects and to find ways to fund projects.

“It’s nice when you have interested community members going out and seeking possibilities to accomplish these ideas,” she said.

Residents also support the city’s recreation programs through their taxes.

Some respondents suggested facilities or programs that the city can’t do, such as a movie theater and a paintball course, both of which should be privately operated, Ms. Evashevski said.

She noted that 19 of 24 requests for a movie theater came from 10th grade students.

“It was interesting to see so many 10th graders wanting a movie theater,” she said. “It may be because they can drive but they don’t have the extra money to spend for bridge fare or for gas.”

Another idea that was suggested, which could be considered for private ownership, was a paintball course.

The paintball course suggestion, she said, would carry too much liability for the city.