Therapeutic Rec Program Saved from County Budget Ax

CANTON, MI – A Canton-based therapeutic recreation program serving disabled Wayne County residents has survived budget cutting that could have resulted in its elimination.

Wayne County Commissioner Joe Barone, who represents Canton and Plymouth townships and the city of Plymouth, told The Canton Observer the rescue of the program is “a definite win for our district.”

The county commission wanted to take much of the $75,000 annual cost to operate the program from the $190,000 budgeted for parks and recreation needs throughout the 10th District, which Barone represents.

Barone, along with Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy and Plymouth Township Supervisor Shannon Price, persuaded the board to continue to fund the countywide program in the county parks budget. They argued the 10th District already gets a low return from the tax dollars invested in county parks.

“We fought like tooth and nail to get that ($75,000) reinserted” back into the countywide parks budget, Barone said. “It’s really a great thing.”

The therapeutic recreation program is one of several at Canton’s Summit on the Park recreation center that are designed to help disabled residents become more independent.

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» Photo by Canton Leisure Service