Plato Township received a forty-five acre parcel for use as a park site located off Russell Road. Trotter and Associates, Inc. provided planning, design, bidding and construction phase services for the Township. Without the presence of a Park District or an annual funding source, it was necessary to develop a plan to initiate improvements as funds became available. TAI worked with the Township to develop a phased approach for implementation of a comprehensive Park Development Plan. This allowed the Township to prioritize the proposed improvements and complete the construction as funds became available. Several phases of improvements including earthwork, depot renovation, sports field construction, paving, concession stand, and site lighting have been implemented over the past several years.

The first phase of the Community Park project included relocation and renovation of a historic train depot to be used as a museum, construction of a pavilion with washroom, well and a concession stand, roadway and drainage improvements.

Plato Township received a wide variety of funding through various public funding sources and donations. The township completed additional phases as grants and dedications were received. These additional phases included construction of soccer fields, softball and baseball diamonds, as well as extension of the roadway, including a box culvert.

As the Township’s Engineer, Trotter and Associates was responsible for all phases of the design and construction management of all site improvements. TAI worked with Plato Township to minimize the cost of construction by providing cost effective alternates to site improvements and proposing construction schedules and phasing plans conducive with minimizing construction costs.

During the final phase of improvements, site lighting was installed for the parking lot. In order to host larger and more frequent events the concession stand was expanded to provide electrical service for larger concession equipment. The park has been the host to the annual Plato Festival and provides the necessary facilities for youth baseball, softball and soccer practices.