MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the July 1 Township Board meeting, Trustee John Veenstra announced that the Township Park Commission will be appointing a new commissioner as a result of Marilyn Aronoff's resignation.

Mike McDonald is the newest member of the Park Commission. He grew up loving nature and working summer jobs in state parks.

He graduated from Michigan State with a degree in parks and recreation.

McDonald worked in Lansing for the DNR and was involved in many grants for the construction of Ingham County Parks.

McDonald said he is impressed with the development of the parks and is excited to be involved.

"I'm definitely not opposed to, if parcels of land become available. to them being looked at," McDonald said. "But I think for the time being we need to focus most on our existing parks and implement, as money becomes available, some of the exciting plans to develop them."

McDonald said he is looking forward to the future of the nearby parks, particularly a future sports complex.