Hartland in Hindsight

Hartland is a “business-friendly, family-friendly, friendly-by-nature” community, but we didn't wind up that way by accident.

They say hindsight is 20/20, but we'd like to think--in hindsight--that our Township leaders have given us some strategic, visionary, "20/20" leadership over the past 10 years, from 2010 through 2020, a decade spanning periods of growth and recession alike.

In short, Hartland in Hindsight is a concerted look at the successes of our strategic plans over the past decade. Over the next few months we'll be celebrating 20 key successes, wins, or moments of insightful leadership in Hartland Township, as gleaned from our past strategic plans.

Hartland in Hindsight #20: Recovering from the Great Recession

Though the recession of 2008 technically falls outside the parameters of the past decade, there’s no question that it had a lasting impact on Hartland Township over the subsequent 10 years.

Hartland in Hindsight #19: Significant Private Investments

As one of the most highly trafficked and visible areas of Hartland Township, the past decade’s development of the M-59 corridor provides a striking illustration of the Township’s focus on smart, strategic growth.

It’s not just that the intersection of US-23 and M-59 suddenly became a hub of bustling commerce, landing major big-box retailers; it started with drastic changes being made to the M-59 highway itself, with the highway converted into a boulevard back in 2008.

Hartland in Hindsight #18: Pursuing Partnerships

Like any community, Hartland Township is the sum of numerous parts—its residents, its business community, its governing bodies and schools, and many, many more.

While the Township is typical in this way, one of the things that makes us stand out is the way that Hartland’s leadership has actively pursued and strengthened its partnerships with these and other entities over the past decade. The township board knows that by strategically strengthening these bonds and working together, we all can create a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Hartland in Hindsight #17: Planning Smart

With the onset of growth comes change, and in the past decade, Hartland has had its fair share of both. The township’s location, schools and beautiful setting make Hartland a desirable community, and as Hartland grows, the township’s Board of Trustees understands that planning for ‘smart growth’ is essential for preserving the township character that residents appreciate.

Hartland in Hindsight #16: Assessing Excellence

Property assessment is a vital responsibility for Michigan townships, and Hartland Township has proven to be above the rest. In 2015, the State of Michigan implemented a brand-new evaluation process for assessments. The Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements (AMAR) was put in place to ensure consistency in assessing across the state. Cities and townships in Michigan are now audited every five years based on the AMAR guidelines.

Hartland in Hindsight #15- Hartland HERO Teen Center

In the fall of 2012, Hartland teens needed a hero. Instead, they got a HERO. The Hartland Enrichment and Recreation Organization (HERO) was formed for the exclusive purpose of opening a teen center for Hartland youth. Hartland teacher Kay Fountain first brought the vision for a teen center to the Township Board after seeing students in our own community looking for connection. She continually saw youth hanging out on school campuses long after classes and other programs were over. These students wanted a place where they could connect. Fountain had just the place in mind.

Hartland in Hindsight #14- A Vision for the Village

Of all the accomplishments and updates undertaken by Hartland Township in the past decade, our historic village renovation may have been the most overdue. Residents saw many changes to the village streetscape in 2016-2017, but the biggest undertaking of this project was not visible to the eye.

Hartland in Hindsight #13: Progress through Process

A local government performs a vast number of processes and duties in any given day, month, or year. Through the years, these tasks are passed down through generations of employees, many of them going undocumented, and not always updated or adapted to meet changing times. Through the past decade, as Hartland Township has continued to grow, employees have made a concerted effort to implement and modernize processes, increasing efficiency for both staff, residents, and businesses in our community.

Hartland in Hindsight #12- Fiscal Responsibility

While State and Federal governments lead the charge on creating and changing laws, the actions of local government often have the most direct impact on residents’ lives. And when local governments manage their money well, the overall quality of life in a community is raised.

Hartland in Hindsight #11- Green Initiatives

Over the past decade, the phrase “Green Living” has snuck into our vocabularies and played a major role on how we, as human beings, do business and live in the world around us. With a mindset shift toward sustainability, Hartland Township has intentionally reexamined its role in the framework of being good stewards of our environment while discovering the lifestyle and ecological benefits that come with green living.

Hartland in Hindsight #10- Community Celebrations

Although in its broad definition “community” simply means a group of people living in the same place or having a common characteristic, a deeper sense of community extends beyond this surface interpretation. Community, in a broader explanation, encompasses feelings of belonging and living in fellowship with the people around you. As Hartland Township has continued to grow, our connections to others must be intentional in order for residents to develop a sense of belonging. Some of the greatest examples of this intentionality have been accomplished through our community celebrations.

Hartland in Hindsight #9- Fire and Safety

When it comes to the safety of our community members, Hartland Township stays proactive and responsive to changing needs in our growing town. Through integral community partnerships, along with valuable insight from citizen surveys, the Board seeks resident safety as a top priority among their many responsibilities.

Hartland in Hindsight #8- Communications and Transparency

Strong communication skills are often touted as one of the most valuable assets an individual can possess. Whether forming new contacts, building business, or enhancing personal relationships, communicating with others is a vital life skill. Beyond the personal level, these skills are also of upmost importance in business and, of course - local government!

Hartland in Hindsight #7- Citizen Surveys

Hartland wouldn’t be Hartland without the people living and working together to make it the community it is. For this reason, the Township has taken great care to involve the input of its residents and businesses in strategic planning decisions through regular citizen surveys.

Hartland in Hindsight #6- Heritage Park

Between 2000 and 2010, Hartland’s population experienced a major growth explosion. With a 33% increase in the number of residents, expanded local recreational areas were needed. Through conversations with community members, along with focused citizen surveys, the Township identified a need for more green space and public park facilities.

Hartland in Hindsight #5- Business Friendly

Hartland Township’s board and planning commission are always striving to come alongside our current and potential business community, paving the way for smart, thoughtful growth. Through strategic partnerships, along with investments in solid data and research to equip local businesses, our business community has experienced growth and an adaptability that has resulted in resiliency during the most challenging of times.

Hartland in Hindsight #4- Settlers Park

With its wide sweeping views and variety of terrain, Hartland’s Settlers Park offers visitors and residents a place to escape and enjoy the great outdoors without traveling too far from home. Since the opening of the first phase in 2014, Settlers Park has not only become a favorite place for locals but has grown and developed into a destination for many outdoor enthusiasts.

Hartland in Hindsight #3- Connecting to the "Heart" of Hartland

Take a stroll, enjoy an amble, go for a walk. No matter how you say it, living in a walkable community provides residents with both physical and mental health benefits, while also boosting the local economy. With Hartland’s influx of new developments and parks, the Hartland Board of Trustees have implemented a strategic walkability plan, adding not only to the number of sidewalks available to citizens, but also increasing connectivity between key locations.

Hartland in Hindsight #2- Safer Roads Plan

Life may be a highway, but it is often those close-to-home back roads that drive our day-to-day lives. Well-maintained roads and pathways are a central component of a community in which individuals and families wish to live, work, and play.

Hartland in Hindsight #1- Partners in Progress

Over the span of the past few months, we have taken a concentrated look at the last decade of Hartland Township’s most significant changes and accomplishments. As we have counted down our top 20 achievements of the past ten years, we have seen a common message through many of these victories: together, we achieve more. With such a focus on collaboration, it should come as no surprise that Partners in Progress is our most celebrated accomplishment of the past decade.

Hartland in Hindsight

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