A 5-year plan for recreation in northern Leelanau County will be considered by the Northport Village Council next month.

Copies of the draft plan were made available last week, marking the beginning of a 30-day comment period. The plan will replace another one adopted by the village in 1993.

Work on the 29-page document began six months ago as part of a requirement for municipalities seeking grants for recreation. It includes an inventory of all village recreational facilities and an assigned rating as to its accessibility to the disabled, based on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Guidelines for the Development of Community Park, Recreation, Open Space, and Greenways Plans.

Listed among the recreational facilities in the village of Northport are:

• The 116-slip village marina.

• The bathing beach, a 200-foot stretch of waterfront south of the village marina on Shore Street.

• Old Mill Pond on Northport Creek, a designated trout stream.

• Haserot Park, a 4-acre parcel north of the marina.

Also included in the list are the Buster Dame Recreational Fields and Braman Hill Recreation Area, owned by Leelanau Township but maintained with village assistance; Leelanau State Park; the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route; Omena Beach and Peterson Park, also owned by Leelanau Township; Woolsey Memorial Airport, north of the village; and seven natural area or preserves owned by the Leelanau Conservancy,

However, the “meat and the potatoes” of the plan is in action plans that include improved accessibility to all parks, an enhanced and connected waterfront recreation area, and creation of a comprehensive trail network throughout the village.

“We’re thinking we could possibly have a … trail from the soccer field, the creek and down to the marina,” said Bill Collins, chairman of the Village Planning Commission, which drew up the proposal with assistance from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.

Improvements to existing facilities are also proposed in the plan. They include dredging Old Mill Pond and construction of a landing/boardwalk area there, installation of flush toilets and a handicapped accessible path at the bathing beach, and repairs to the picnic pavilion at the marina park.

The village has included money for projects in its 2009-10 budget, which was adopted in February.

The budget includes $40,000 to dredge and make landscaping improvements at Old Mill Pond, and $25,000 for the resurfacing of Pond Street, which runs between Third and Fourth streets. The bath/path project is planned for the bathing beach and the end of Main Street. Existing pit toilets will be replaced with flushing toilets and a path to the beach, providing handicapped access, at a cost of $20,000.

Under the goal, to “preserve and maintain … scenic and natural open areas within the village,” Collins said the recreation plan speaks in “very general terms” about the acquisition of additional property.

Recently, owners of the largest undeveloped tract of land in the village offered 64 acres for purchase to the Village Council. The proposal is now under study by the council’s property use committee.

Also referenced in the proposed plan are findings of the Small Town Design Initiative that are scheduled to be presented to the public in June.

In preparing the proposed plan, the Planning Commission took an informal, unscientific poll in which they sought input on the use of recreational facilities in the village and Leelanau Township as well as the frequency of this use.

The updated plan is scheduled to be considered by the Village Council for adoption on May 21.