By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
Residents playing coed softball as there are concerts going on at Lamar Park. Children playing in the splash pads while a family is having a birthday party in one of the shelters.
These are just a few of things that warms Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director Krashawn Martin’s heart as she travels around the City of Wyoming visiting its 21 parks, which total about 700 acres of park property.
The parks are a mix of developed with a few that are not. The parks are scattered throughout the city with the most northern being the almost 14-acre Marquette Park, 1251 Marquette SW; and southern are the 94-acre Gezon Park, 5651 Gezon Court; and the 2.2-acre Frog Hollow, 2050 Metro Court. Just to note, Gezon is the city’s largest park.
July is Parks and Rec Month
“My office is the overflow area,” Martin said with a laugh as we walked into her office, which among the items has a few boxes with prizes and games.
Those items are for the department’s July Pop-Up in the Park events in celebration of the national Parks and Recreation Month, an annual event since 1985 that promotes building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recognizes the staff and volunteers who maintain the parks.
Wyoming’s Pop-Up in the Park is every Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. with the park location announced Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. on the Park and Recreation Department’s Facebook page.
A Look Back and Ahead
“This year we are more into a planning year,” she said, adding that the department is kind of “exhaling” after all of the projects that have been completed over the past several years.
The flurry of activity started with Ferrand Park in 2018 followed by Ideal, Jackson and last year, Gezon. All the parks received new play equipment and shelters with Ideal, Jackson, and Gezon also adding splash pads and restroom facilities.
Martin said restrooms have been a priority this year with work being down on such facilities at various parks. The department also is looking at renovating the pickle ball courts located at Pinery Park.
But this year’s biggest focus has been on the department’s five-year master plan. Parks are being reviewed for possible projects along with evaluating the department’s other assets, such as the Wyoming Senior Center, to make certain that the Parks and Recreation Department is meeting residents’ interests and needs.
“We are surveying residents and talking to users about what type of recreational programs they want to see and what activities they would like to have at the parks,” Martin said, adding the goal is to meet current interests but also that those programs have longevity with resources being used many years down the road.
Some Other Changes
Along with the construction work, the department has added special events now overseeing the annual Concerts in the Park series and the holiday celebration, Wyoming Gives Back. The Parks and Recreation Department also will be managing the 36th Street Market located on the northern section of the former 36th Street site, next to the Godwin football stadium. Opening date for the market is spring 2024 with construction set to start this summer, Martin said.
The past year also included Martin being selected as director for the Parks and Recreation Department. She started with the city six years ago, first serving as the the special events and marketing programmer. She then was the recreational supervisor followed by serving as an analyst in the city manager’s office before returning to Parks and Recreation as its director.
“I feel like I am doing what I have always been doing, only we a really cool team,” Martin said.
Just a Few More Things
Martin and her team currently are planning and preparing for the upcoming fall months, which will include a new Youth Flag Football program with Godwin Public Schools (register soon if you want to get in as the deadline is July 30) along with popular favorites, such as the Trick-n-Treat Trail.
Martin also points out that there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy the splash pads. The city has five, one at Gezon, Lamar, Jackson, Ideal, and Oriole, along with a dog park (membership required) at Marquette Park. The splash pads are open through Labor Day.
Other park amenities include playgrounds; basketball, pickle ball, and tennis courts; softball fields and walking trails. For activities, events or more information about the Wyoming Department of Parks and Recreation and the city’s 21 parks, visit wyomingmi.gov/city-departments/parks-and-recreation.
