David Kleinjans For Park Township Trustee

Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged me, who spread the word, put signs up, wrote letters to the editor, etc.; it means a lot that you think I would be a good trustee!!

Unfortunately, I finished last in the voting. On the bright side, I’m told I was the first person ever to run as an independent candidate in Park Township, so getting 1 of every 16 votes isn’t bad, and it may have opened the door for the future. As closely as the top four (all Republican) candidates polled, it appears most people voted straight party line.

Stay healthy, and I sure hope we can somehow decrease the division in our country.
Dave

Here's an article from the Holland Sentinel about the candidates for Park Township Trustee in the 2020 general election.
https://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/20200927/crowded-field-for-park-township-trustee-seats

Crowded field for Park Township trustee seats PARK TWP. — The Nov. 3 election will bring at least three new trustees onto Park Township's board, with two officials not seeking re-election and

I now have political yard signs available. If you’d like one (or more😊) message me. Thanks!

What to do with the Park Township airport property is a bit of a contentious issue. We need to be careful with how we approach it. Here are some thoughts:

For process, go slow and gets lots of community input - the airport has to benefit a significant portion of township residents. Also get ideas from professionals. Second, assign priorities and set up phases. Third, get funding for the phases; people didn’t want to pay for the airport, do they want to pay for an amphitheater, for example? And be sure to fund maintenance. Finally, build, reassess, and move to the next phase.

Deciding what will be done with the old Park Township airport property is a big project of interest in the Township. Here are some ideas for what could be done; feel free to add your own, the more the merrier (and better). In no particular order:

- There’re already bike paths going in on the north and west sides of the property, and plans for putting trails (walking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing) in Cooper-Van Wieren Park.
- Airport museum, keep the jet monument
- Civil Air Patrol meeting space, possibly in the museum
- Powered parachutes
- Splash pad for kids, similar to downtown
- RC airplanes and cars. Race courses
- Tennis, pickle ball, volleyball, soccer, hockey rink...
- Community building with activity and meeting rooms
- Amphitheater for music and plays
- Gazebo similar to Centennial Park and Saugatuck
- Plant trees
- Plant trees to make tree-lined streets
- There are already community vegetable gardens that could be expanded
- Dirt bicycle track (but there will be trails in C-VW park)
- Disc golf
- Helipad (I’m not big on this one, maybe for emergencies.)
- A flower garden, just for beauty
- A hedge maze
- Parking and shuttle bus for the state park
- Golf driving range
- Create a native plant area
- Pavilion with picnic areas
- Hands-on science museum
- Library
- Farmers’ market
- A rest area for bicyclists
- Historical signs

More ideas would be great!

The League of Women Voters made a short video introduction about me. Here’s a link.

https://my.lwv.org/michigan/holland-area/article/meet-candidate-david-kleinjans-park-township-board-trustees

Meet the Candidate - David Kleinjans, Park Township Board of Trustees "Meet the Candidate" videos are sponsored by the League of Women Voters Holland Area to enable voters to get to know local candidates. This video introduces Mr. David Kleinjans, a candidate for the Park Township Board of Trustees. Read more to find the link to the video. The general election will be...

David Kleinjans For Park Township Trustee updated their business hours.

Hi, I’m Dave Kleinjans, and I’m running as an Independent for the Board of Trustees of Park Township. Park Township is a wonderful place to live, and I’d like to help ensure it stays that way. I see working for the Township as a public service, and with my diverse background and independent standing, I feel I can add valuable input to the decision-making process. Please vote in November, and if you feel so inclined, vote for me. Here’s a little more information for your consideration:

• I am running as an Independent because I don’t want to be beholden to anyone except the residents of Park Township in making my decisions. Although party politics don’t play a large role in our Township affairs, I don’t feel either of the major parties is doing as well as they might for the people of our country.
• I am a US citizen, born in China and raised (through high school) in Japan, where my parents served as Reformed Church missionaries.
• I have lived in Park Township for 25 years. During that time, I’ve served on the Township Planning Commission for about 6 years, and the Zoning Board of Appeals for 5, much of that as chairman. I am currently serving Park Township as a Planning Commissioner.
• My working career has been primarily in different forms of engineering and management. I am currently semi-retired, working part time in engineering. Besides engineering, I spent four years teaching and writing curriculum for high school physics at the University of Hawai`i Lab School, and one year teaching physics at GVSU. My college degree is from the University of Hawai`i.
• My wife and I live in Tiffany Shores where I served on the homeowners association board as President and Vice President for 9 years, and still serve on association committees.
• My outside interests have been primarily sports and outdoor activities. I spent many years racing sailboats locally. I organized and played in beach volleyball tournaments at Holland State Park. I enjoy riding bicycles and playing guitar in a rock and roll band.

Endorsed by these Park Township residents:
• Jeff Pfost, Park Township Planning Commission Chairman
• Rosemary Ervine, Park Township Planning Commission member, former WO superintendent
• Lynn Rutan, West Ottawa School Board Trustee
• Rich VanderBroek, former Park Township Planning Commission member
• Denise Nestel, current Park Township Trustee

Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Kleinjans For Trustee

Here’s how I see the Park Township Board of Trustee’s job:

The Board of Trustees serves the people of the township. Our job is to listen to the people and understand what they want for the place they live. Those goals are incorporated in our Master Plan, which guides how our Ordinances are developed. We need to be responsible to both current and future residents, and we need to consider individual rights along with what is good for the township as a whole. We also need to be fiscally responsible, since the people of the township pay for any improvements.

Items coming up:
• Master Plan – The Master Plan needs to be updated every five years, and it is due for an update. That is a significant undertaking.
• Airport property – Funding for the airport was voted down. We now need to plan what to do with the property to benefit the majority of Park Township residents. We will also need to find out what people are willing to pay for. This will not be a simple or fast project, and will no doubt be implemented in phases, but we need a good plan in order to proceed.
• More parks, recreation, and bike paths – Park Township residents are consistently in favor of these.
• Affordable housing – Affordable housing is a problem nationwide. We need to do our part to help out, and need to figure out how to do in the best way for our township.

Endorsed by these Park Township residents:
• Jeff Pfost, Park Township Planning Commission Chairman
• Rosemary Ervine, Park Township Planning Commission member, former WO superintendent
• Lynn Rutan, West Ottawa School Board Trustee
• Rich VanderBroek, former Park Township Planning Commission member
• Denise Nestel, current Park Township Trustee

Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Kleinjans For Trustee