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September 5, 2013
W
AYNE
- W
ESTLAND
Former Wayne recreation director named to Hall of Fame
Patriots Day ceremony Sunday
TedD'Pulos nevermet a challenge he did-
n't enjoy.
“I knew my job was to solve problems.
That's what they paidme for, that's why I was
there,” D'Pulos, the retired recreation direc-
tor for theCity ofWayne said.
D'Pulos' attitude and his myriad accom-
plishments will be rewarded early next
month when he will be inducted into the
Michigan Recreation and Park Association
Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Canton
Township.
“He opened the doors that enable every
Wayne resident the chance to participate in
parks and recreation,” said Nathan Adams,
the current Wayne-Westland Parks and
RecreationDirector.
D'Pulos began his career with the city in
1957. He worked part time while attending
college at Albion and Eastern and then
joined the staff full-time, eventually becom-
ing the department director in 1969.
“I enjoyed working the summers and I
knew there was a lot to be accomplished in
Wayne. Well in the state, for that matter,”
D'Pulos said. “Recreation wasn't at the fore-
front of local government back then.”
D'Pulos earned his master's degree at the
University of Michigan and also has a certifi-
cate of gerontology.
Some of his accomplishments while the
recreation department director, according to
Adams, include:
In 1969, D'Pulos wrote the first master
plan andParks&Recreation ordinances
• In 1969, D'Pulos received a grant to
develop Attwood Park (now is the largest
park in theCity ofWayne).
• o In 1973, D'Pulos worked with the
Wayne City Council to fund a new
Community Center (the community center
opened inNovember of 1974).
• D'Pulos was also instrumental in build-
ing the senior program from a once a week
potluck to a full service senior programwith
programs sevendays everyweek.
• D'Pulos with the cities of Westland and
GardenCity formed the Tri City Therapeutic
Recreation program that won state and
national recognition.
• D'Pulos created the “Adopt A Park
Program” in Wayne and the Wayne Parks
and Recreation Foundation The foundation
has provided opportunities for tax
deductible donations, scholarships and
opened the door to many fund-raising col-
laborations to further the improvement of
parks and recreationwithin the city.
• In 1994, D'Pulos introduced the concept
to build an indoor pool at the Community
Center. The new Aquatic Area opened in
1996 and is nownamed afterD'Pulos.
D'Pulos said he couldn't really choose a
favorite project, because whatever he and
the staff were working on was “always the
most important, the most satisfying project.
The Community Center, he said, was a labor
of love and the extended playground was a
project he enjoyed.
“The fun stuff, too, like the fishing derby
and dropping marshmallows around Easter,
they were all number one at the time. It was
never the same routine,” D'Polus said, “and I
lovedworkingwith all the outstanding young
people in the department.”
“There were difficult time, just like there
are in any profession. To overcome those is
the challenge. I only remember all the great
people, work-
ing with the
commissions,
the volunteers,
the service
clubs. I really
enjoyed that
part of the job,
working with
the
people
every day.”
Now retired
for 17 years,
D'Pulos and his
wife of 58
years, Margaret, spend their time doing vol-
unteer work. At The Henry Ford in
Dearborn on Tuesdays, they can be found at
the carousel. The parents of four grown chil-
dren, they have eight grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
“I'm extremely honored and happy about
the award. But it really is an honor for the
city and for the community. I may be the
recipient, but I had an awful lot of help,”
D'Pulos said.
Sundaywill be the annual 9/11memorial
service in Westland, and this year, the serv-
ice will also honor fallen Wayne-Westland
Firefighter BrianWoehlke, who died in the
line of duty inMay.
Mr. Woehlke was the first Wayne
Westland firefighter to lose his life in a fire
in the 40 year history of the department.
The annual memorial service will take
place on the steps behind Westland City
Hall on Ford Road at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept.
8. The Rev. Kurt Lambart of St. Matthew
Lutheran Church and School will officiate
at the service and music from the Praise
Team will be directed by Ken Tanner. The
Jubilee and Cherub choirs, under the
direction of John Hinck, will also perform
at what officials are calling the Patriots Day
Service.
Among the dignitaries scheduled to be
on hand for the service are State Sen.
Glenn Anderson and State Rep. Kevin
McNamara.
Following the service, the church will
host a picnic in Tattan Park on Carlson, just
east of city hall. The picnic is free and open
to the public. During the picnic, a collection
will be taken for donation to the Fallen
Firefighter Brian Woehlke Charity Fund,
established to provide financial help forMr.
Woehlke'swife and young daughter.
The outdoor ceremony will be moved
inside St. Matthew Church, 5885 Venoy, in
case of inclement weather.
“We have pared our workforce to the bare
minimum,” he said. If we lay off staff, we
will not be able to do what is legally
required of us.”
Ghedotte said any further staff reduc-
tions would make it impossible for him to
file the 15 legally required reports annually,
including the city budget.
He said that he obtained an estimate
from an outside firm that would cost
$10,000 more than performing the tasks in-
house.
Ghedotte also noted that closing the
recreation department, which has been
suggested, would actually result in a loss of
$380,000 to the city as the 1-mill dedicated
parks millage could no longer be collected.
He said the recreation department has rev-
enues of about $1.7 million and $2.3 million
in expenses. He said the suggestion to
move city hall operations to the community
center would also cost the city nearly
$181,000.
The savings projected at $1.3 million
would be reduced by unemployment
expenses and other costs, Ghedotte said.
He told the council members that the
property tax base in the city is expected to
decline again next year by 7 percent, but
that could be altered by considering the
commercial and industrial taxes.
Council members approved placing the
7-mill question on the ballot and using the
Winchester Group, a contracted consulting
firm, to help educate voters regarding the
question.
Ballot
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Ted D'Pulos