The Community of Plymouth Township
Plymouth Township Named one of
Relocate-America’s
Top 100 in 2009
See
related article in Plymouth Observer from April 26, 2009
Plymouth Township named 37th Best Place to
Live
by Money magazine 2007.
See related article in September 2007
issue of Michigan Township News.
 Plymouth
Township is blessed with many advantages: Location, access to major
freeways, world-class industrial parks and high quality housing
development. Plymouth Township has experienced steady growth since
1993. In order to maintain the high quality of developments, the
Township has been very selective about the types of development
being encouraged.
For a detailed map of Plymouth or for driving directions,
click here to view the
Yahoo! Map in the Maps page of the website.
Many people may not be aware that the City of Plymouth and
Plymouth Township are two individual communities with their own
governments and so they think of the Plymouth Community as having
both the "nice quaint downtown" and the "world class industrial
parks". Plymouth Township is 16.6 square miles in the western part
of Wayne County. In 2000, the Township had a population of 27,798,
an increase of 17.5% over 1990. The City occupies 2.27 square miles
in the middle of the Township. Established in 1827, in 2002 Plymouth Township celebrated its 175th year anniversary.
Plymouth Township is a well-planned community that has developed
around the "golden corridor" of Western Wayne County, along the M-14
freeway. Much of the new commercial development is concentrated in
industrial parks in this area. The DeMattia Corporation has built
several high-tech industrial parks along the M-14 corridor between
Ridge and Sheldon Roads. The Metro West Industrial Parks house over eighty
businesses, including Freudenberg NOK, a major supplier to the auto
industry, as well as TRAM, Valassis and SKF operations.
 Although
much of the high tech businesses are locating in the new industrial
parks, there is considerable industrial development in other parts
of Plymouth Township. There is also considerable residential
development in Plymouth Township. People are attracted to Plymouth
Township because of the upscale housing in attractive subdivisions,
and proximity to freeways and employment opportunities. Plymouth
Township also has one of the lowest tax rates in Wayne County.
 The
Township Board recognizes the importance of open space and providing
recreational infrastructure. The Plymouth Township Park at Ann Arbor
Trail and McClumpha consists of eighty acres and includes a
playscape, four premier Little League baseball diamonds with new
fences, a very
popular meandering walking path with trails up to one mile long, a
pond for fishing and sledding hills for both children and adults.
A
"Sprayscape" feature opened in June 2003. The park is adjacent to an 18-hole
golf course, owned by the Township. The Township has also built a
dock to enable handicapped access to the pond.
 Although the
Township Park is the largest park, the Township is developing parks
in other areas. The Township recently developed a three and a half
acre neighborhood park on Ann Arbor Trail, east of Haggerty. Miller
Family Park was dedicated on July 2, 2002. The Township recently
constructed a premier soccer park on Haggerty Road north of
Schoolcraft, called Lake Pointe Soccer Park. This Park has two
irrigated soccer fields and a play area.
 The
Compuware Company developed a first class ice arena on Beck Road
which is home to the Plymouth Whalers Hockey Team. This facility is
also open to the general public for ice skating and other
activities, such as concerts. It also houses an excellent
restaurant, Ginopolis.
The St. Johns Seminary and Golf Course on Five Mile Road is
another example of a private/public partnership. The Seminary
property is owned by the Archdiocese of Detroit and had not been
used for some time. Mr. Pulte of the Pulte Corporation personally
developed a master plan for the property as a retreat, convention
center, golf course and golf school. As a result, the property has
been modernized, keeping the original architecture and is once again
being used to its full potential.
The Township is also looking at expanding senior programs at the
"Friendship Station", a facility for the senior population.
Renovations on the building, including new restroom facilities and
new windows, were completed in 2003. Current
organized activities include monthly dinners, line dancing, fitness
classes and card playing.
 Plymouth
Township has a particularly close relationship with the City of
Plymouth. The two communities are working on many projects together
that will benefit both of them. One of the most important is the Ann
Arbor Road Corridor Ordinance that was adopted by both the City and
Township several years ago. This creates a seamless transition
between the two communities and makes the area more attractive. The
two communities are also looking at making other improvements to Ann
Arbor Road, which is an important entry point for both the City and
Township.
Plymouth Township is a growing community, but the growth is being
carefully monitored so that it enhances the developments of the
past. The Township Board believes in providing the infrastructure to
encourage new development and encouraging other groups to take a
role so that taxes can be kept down. As a result, the Township is
working with neighboring communities and the private sector in
partnerships for development. The Board of Trustees feels that by
being fiscally responsible, Plymouth Township will continue to be as
successful in the future as it has been in the past.
|
