MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Spring is just around the corner and as temperatures rise, so do water levels. It’s that time of year again when the snow is melting, causing seasonal flooding.

While no local parks are currently closed, Ferguson Park on Okemos Road will likely close within the week. The Meridian Township Police Department is in charge of opening the park gates, but will choose to keep them closed if safety is a concern.

Jane Greenway, Meridian Township’s Parks and Land Management Coordinator, says it’s “just part of the deal of living near a river,” and although the river can be a hassle during certain parts of the year, she is still grateful for beauty and resources that these natural areas provide.

Once the flooding season is over, the Meridian Township Parks & Recreation Department will restore the parks by sanitizing playground equipment and replenishing wood chips.

Seasonal flooding can also affect local roads, so please take caution when driving on roads around marshy areas and avoid trying to take closed roads.