MONROE TWP., MI — A 54-year-old Monroe Charter Township park just got a $288,296 makeover. Next up for the township is construction of a brand-new park.
A few projects are wrapping up at Kay Park in the Ravenwood subdivision, off South Dixie Highway. But, John Manor, township supervisor, said the park is open for play.
Manor said Kay Park is just under 1 acre and dates back to 1972.
What’s new at Kay Park?
“We installed an entirely new multi-level playscape along with a new swing set, merry-go-round and several bouncy spring riders,” Manor said. “In addition, we installed the spongy ‘pour and play safety surface’ under all of the new equipment and surrounding woodchips to finish it off.”
What was renovated at Kay Park?
“We installed concrete under the existing picnic shelter. We repaired the rotting wood and will paint it to match the new park equipment,” Manor said.
What was removed from Kay Park?
“We removed the old ‘jungle gym,’ slide and swings, which were original to the park back in the early 1970s,” Manor said. “This old equipment provided decades of enjoyment for children in the community, but was not ADA-compliant. We hope this new inclusive equipment will do the same for future generations.”
Manor said the township is applying for grant funding for both Kay Park and the new park planned for Evergreen Acres.
What’s the status of the new park in Evergreen Acres?
Last September, Manor announced the creation of a new park in the Evergreen Acres subdivision, off Dunbar Road.
“This park will be entirely new, including playscape, swing set, mini disc golf course, picnic shelter and parking lot,” Manor said.
Currently, the site is a vacant lot owned by the township.
In September, Manor said the township “owns property in Evergreen Acres where a previous park once stood at the corner of Plum Creek Road and Eastwood Street. We are utilizing that space to revitalize that community and make it more attractive to new families looking to purchase their first home.”
The project is awaiting approval.
“The property in Evergreen Acres is located in a floodway, which requires agency approval from both Monroe County Drain Commission and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE),” Manor said. “Our engineers are waiting for the approval from EGLE to begin work on the project, with the hopes of having it completed by late fall.”
Last summer, Monroe Township began work on four pickleball courts, a tennis court and a set of concrete cornhole board in the park behind the township office, 4925 E. Dunbar Road. The township also is creating pedestrian and bike trails, and it recently purchased 2.75 acres of vacant land behind a single-family home at 4845 E. Dunbar Road.
“With the recent additions to our township park behind our office, we wanted to make similar investments in our neighborhood township parks as well,” Christina Smith, Monroe Charter Township clerk, said in a September news release. “It was important for us to provide our residents with meaningful recreation right in their own backyards.”
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Kay Park gets a major makeover in Monroe Township
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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By Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
