Check it out: Every day is a fun day at Veterans Memorial Park

Information provided by Jo Mayer and sponsoring organizations.
Photos by Judy Williams and Mary Jo David

On Tuesday, July 18, Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Stockbridge was a beehive of activity for Playtime in the Park, sponsored by the Village of Stockbridge, the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC) and the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation (5HT). Although every day is a good day for playtime in Veterans Park, the Playtime in the Park event on July 18 was held to boost awareness of all that is new and improved in the park over the past year.

Folks assembled from many different organizations to see the fruits of their hard work—be it applying for or reviewing grants, overseeing purchases, installing equipment, and so much more. Others stopped by just to see what is new in the park. And there was plenty to see.

The park, located at 200 North Wood Street, has been the recent recipient of a number of generous grants and donations from organizations like Ingham County Trails and Park Millage Grant, Stockbridge Downtown Development Authority (SDDA), SAWC through 5HT, local businesses, and the Stockbridge Lions Club. The generosity of these organizations is evident—not just in the new equipment and facilities, but also by a spike in the number of people who are using the park and all it has to offer.

Below is a list of many of the park features and the organizations that have helped to finance and install the recent improvements.

New and Refurbished Park features:

• New pump track
  SDDA
• Outdoor exercise area
  INGHAM COUNTY, STOCKBRIDGE LIONS CLUB
• New Gaga Ball pit
  SAWC/5HT, POSITIVELY CHIROPRACTIC, ADISKA CONTRACTING, SDDA
• Hunter Lega, Outdoor Recreation Coordinator (hlega@stockbridgedda.org)
  SAWC/5HT
• Refurbished sand volleyball court
  SAWC/5HT
• Pickleball court markings on existing tennis courts
  SDDA, INGHAM COUNTY
• Pickleball and other equipment park use
  SAWC/5HT
• Skate park equipment upgrades
  INGHAM COUNTY
• Outdoor bike repair station
  INGHAM COUNTY
• Story Walk
  CADL STOCKBRIDGE,
• Cart for moving equipment
  SAWC/5HT

Coming in 2023-24:

• Bathroom renovations
  INGHAM COUNTY
• New storage facility
  SAWC/5HT, THE STATE BANK, STOCKBRIDGE LIONS CLUB, HOWLETT TREE FARM
• New bike racks
  5HT
• ADA-compliant picnic tables and benches
  INGHAM COUNTY
• Paved connection between Jr/Sr high school and Park
  INGHAM COUNTY

Veterans Memorial Park, Stockbridge

Featured activities for July and August 2023

• Tuesdays (through Aug. 15): Early On Parent/Child Playgroup through the Ingham ISD. Play groups are free for families with children ages birth to 5 years old.
  Times: Two groups to choose from: 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. OR 11:00 a.m. to noon. For safety reasons, play groups are limited to 10 to 15 children. Families are required to register on the Ingham ISD website, https://www.inghamisd.org/

• Tuesdays (through Aug. 15): Youth Basketball. Ages 8 to 12 yrs. 2 to 4 p.m.
  Instructor: Hunter Lega.
• Tuesdays: Pickleball, all ages, beginning to intermediate levels, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Fridays: Co-ed competitive volleyball. 6 p.m. Coordinator: Cyndi Eibler
• TBD: Tennis lessons

For more info contact Hunter Lega at hlega@stockbridgedda.org

Stockbridge Lions Club members assisted with exercise equipment installation. Equipment was purchased through the Ingham County Trails & Park Millage Grant. Pictured here (left to right): Lions Club members Andy Shaw, Richard Mullins, and Bill Stickney.

Representatives were on hand from some of the organizations responsible for organizing, funding, and installing many of the park features that were spotlighted at the Playtime in the Park event on July 18. Pictured from left: Cady Bauer (SAWC), Anna Webber (SRSLY), Suzi Greenway (SAWC), Emily Stewart (SRSLY), Jo Mayer (SAWC), Jill Ogden (Village of Stockbridge), Tim Morgan (Ingham County), Matt Pegouskie (5HT), and Molly Howlett (Village of Stockbridge).

New pump track, complements of an SDDA grant.

Thanks to new pickleball line markings, the park’s tennis courts now serve two purposes. Pickleball rackets and portable nets are available to borrow at the Stockbridge Library.

Youngsters enjoy the Gaga Ball Pit, but don’t be fooled, older “kids” have also been spotted playing in the pit, which was sponsored by SAWC/5HT, Positively Chiropractic, Adiska Contracting and the SDDA.

Storywalk helps keep young ones entertained along the walking path in the park, complements of Stockbridge CADL.

The park now boasts a bicycle repair station thanks to the Ingham Count grant.

The sand volleyball court received a much needed refurbishing thanks to SAWC/5HT and Brian Mason of 52 Landscape.

Not new, but still fun, a mom and tot take advantage of some fun time on the swings.

SRSLY Stockbridge hosted some fun lawn games for the Playtime in the Park event.