A new State Park comes to Flint, and the members of the community gathered in the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library to learn more about the plans and give feedback.
The new gardens will be in Chevy Commons. The 230 hectare State Park will be Michigans 104. And the first in Genesee County.
The project includes removing the rest of two dams and an addition of six water control structures. There will also be new pedestrian bridges, game equipment, pavilions, toilets, parking spaces and public art installations.
“Playgrounds are very complex and very exciting things to be designed,” says Jack Ohly, landscape architect with Michael van Valkenburg Associates. “We really love to work with the community to understand the special character of this community and history and to involve these elements in the design.”
The residents were invited to share their own ideas and to design the game gardens.
The project is expected to be completed in 2026.