New parks and recreation director has distinct assets to manage
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GAYLORD — From a picturesque point overlooking Otsego Lake to a building that was constructed during the Great Depression and is still functional today, Jacob Brown has a portfolio of diverse assets to oversee in his new position as director of parks and recreation for Otsego County.
Fortunately, Brown has a college degree and previous experience that will serve him well as he settles in after succeeding Tom Pratt, who resigned in October.
"I went to school for this and this is the type of position that I have been seeking," Brown said.
He obtained a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management from Central Michigan University before becoming a park ranger on Mackinac Island. In March of 2021, he joined Otsego County as parks coordinator.
“Jacob was currently working for the county parks and doing a great job filling in for the vacant director position. His promotion easily became the obvious choice as he brings with him the education and experience of the parks industry in addition to continuity and knowledge of our own unique parks experience," said county administrator Matt Barresi.
He will oversee a department that has about 15 full and part-time employees. The county spent $713,881 on parks and rec this year and that figure is scheduled to increase to $763,879 in 2023.
The department's assets include the following:
Frank Wilkinson Park, located three miles north of Gaylord on Old U.S. 27, is home to Irontone Springs, a stream area that has picnic tables, grills, a pavilion and a drinking fountain with Irontone water.
Libke Fields contains a multi-purpose facility located west on Van Tyle Road just west of the county airport that can host softball, flag football and soccer contests.
Pontresina Park on South Illinois Avenue in Gaylord that has a community dog park.
Wah Wah Soo is a free-use park located five miles south of Gaylord on Old 27 South located on the east side of Otsego Lake.
While those are impressive assets, the county parks and rec department is also responsible for the oversight of the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve in Johannesburg.
Groen was an entrepreneur who owned 43 McDonald's franchises and was the inventor of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich for the fast-food chain. He also developed a product called Stop Stick Ltd. that produced and sold devices that bring vehicles involved in high-speed chases to a stop by causing the tires to deflate.
Upon his death in 2011, Groen left Otsego County with nearly 800 acres of pristine forest in Johannesburg.
"We have been advertising the Groen to let everyone know about it. By next summer we hope to have the new entrance (at 10950 Heatherton Road) open along with a new pavilion and restrooms," Brown said.
He also expects a musuem located in Louis Groen's summer home overlooking Johannesburg Lake to be open next year as well.
"It will display a lot of his memorabilia, such as many McDonald's items, a Stop Stick and a baby grand piano," added Brown.
In the summer, the public can pursue horseback riding and walk the many hiking trails in the preserve. In the winter, participants can enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Horseback riders have to bring their own animals.
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The parks and recreation department also features a community center located on South Center Avenue in Gaylord. It was built under the federal Works Project Administration (WPA) and dedicated in 1935. Previously it was used as a gymnasium, band room and home economics facility for Gaylord High School.
Today it houses basketball, pickleball and volleyball contests for all ages.
Brown said youth basketball has anywhere from 75 to 80 young players.
"We are now getting to the point where the people who are coaching also were participants themselves. It's nice to have that continuity," said Brown.
He said a project to install energy-efficient windows in the center is scheduled for next year along with other improvements.
— Contact reporter Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: New Otsego County parks and rec director has distinct assets to manage
