Mott Park group rallies to preserve golf course

The Mott Park Neighborhood Association May 20 held a rally at Mott Park Golf Course to support their neighborhood, park and golf course.

A group of more than 100 people listened as Councilman Sheldon Neeley (6th Ward) joined Mott Park Neighborhood Association President Susan Burhans to urge people to call Mayor Dayne Walling to support the golf course.

"We're not just fighting for this golf course," Burhans said. "We're fighting for everyone in the Sixth Ward and for our city. We need to save the golf course. We want to keep this course open, mow the lawns.

"Look at the park lawn. It's not acceptable to me. It's not an accurate reflection of our neighborhood. We have others supporting us — the Crim Foundation, McLaren Health Care Corporation, Flint Area Congregations Together and the Flint Junior Golf League," she explained.

"We're only as strong as the constituency we represent," Neeley said. "This golf course is a revenue generating entity. We pay taxes and we deserve to have this course open. We have options with the golf course. It can be community run or managed by a nonprofit or for-profit organization. We cannot relax. We must put pressure on the administration.

"The greens are in danger of turning to seed. Something needs to be done right now. If we're too late it will be cost prohibitive to restore the greens. Call the mayor and tell him we want the greens cut," Neeley said.

Chris Del Morone, an association member, provided background information on the park to the group.

"The city of Flint bought this park in 1924 from Modern Housing Corporation for $1. The contract calls for the city to maintain the park or the title shall revert back to the seller," Del Morone said.

City Administrator Greg Easton answered some of the people's questions.

"Tomorrow morning a crew will be out here to mow the golf course and it should be finished by the weekend," Easton said. "We've faced budget cuts and union negotiations. Now we're ready to maintain the park until we find a responsible bidder who will maintain the course for us. The goal is to open the course for play this year."

Neeley asked people to help the city by keeping an eye on the clubhouse.

"Make a visual check when you walk by. It's up to us to protect our assets," he said.

Asked for timeline for the work, Easton said, "It will take two weeks to lay out a schedule."

Easton also promised to attend the June 3 neighborhood association meeting.

The group asked the mayor to attend the meeting. Easton said he would work with the mayor to find a suitable date for him to address the group.

The rally ended with Burhans calling for continued pressure on the city administration. "That's why we're here tonight," Burhans said. "There is strength in numbers. We're seeing a trend in the number of neighborhood associations. We're all in this together. We're going to do this again and again and again until we get results," she said.