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In 1973, an effort to acquire
land for recreation use was launched by a group of Hamburg Township
residents having a desire to provide recreational opportunity
to the families living in Hamburg Township. What these citizens
began 30 years ago, has allowed Hamburg Township to provide a
facility like none other in Livingston County. A 384-acre recreational
facility that houses baseball/softball/ and T-ball fields, soccer
fields, playgrounds, football practice fields, a model airplane
runway/flying field, basketball courts, picnic areas, hiking
trails, fishing dock, Lakeland Trail and more.
The park land is located along
both the east and west sides of Merrill Road. With the exception
of the municipal office complex, this land has been designated
and developed as the Manly Bennett Memorial
Park.
Development of the park has
been through combined efforts of the sports organizations, local
non-profit contributions, grant moneys, and Township tax dollars.
The previous Recreation Board at one time was appointed by the
Township Board as a recommending body charged with planning for
future development of the park in addition continuing maintenance
and improvements. The Recreation Board consisted of nine members
including a Township Board representative, H.E.R.B. representative,
Senior Group representative,representatives from the baseball,
football, soccer and flyers club and H.E.R.O., and two members
at large. This board was replaced December 21, 2010 replaced
by the CRSO Committee.
On August 28, 2003, Hamburg
Township was notified that the Michigan Society of Planning Officials
selected the Manly W. Bennett Memorial Park for the 2003 Outstanding
Planning Project Award.
In December, 2010, the Hamburg
Recreation Board was superseded by the newly organized and appointed
Community Recreational Services Organization by resolution of
the Hamburg Township Board of Trustees.
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CRSO
(Community Recreational 
