Description of Project:
Renovation began in April 2002 of the first phase of the Kearsley Park improvements. Phase I improvements included a large barrier free playground and the conversion of the existing ball field to a regulation baseball field complete with dugouts, bleachers and parking. Also, improvements to the grade of a popular sledding hill have resulted in improved sledding as well as providing a natural amphitheater that will allow for outdoor musical and theatrical performances, thus ensuring year-round usage. A grant from the Department of Natural Resources has allowed for interior renovations of the historic pavilion designed by renowned architect, Wesley Bintz. It was recently rededicated and named for the late Genevieve S. Donnelly, longtime Kearsley Park neighbor and supporter of the project and has already been the site of numerous community events.
Phase II began in the spring of 2003 as the result of a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) grant. This grant is being utilized for the development of a bike and waKearsley Parklking path through the park that will connect with a countywide bike and pedestrian trail. Eventually, this path will provide residents with the opportunity to link to a statewide trail. An Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR) grant award from the Department of the Interior of the National Parks Service will fund another barrier free playground on the southern end of the park. Work has been completed on a nearby picnic shelter and a regulation soccer field which soon be developed.
The Kearsley Park Partnership includes the City of Flint Parks and Recreation Department, the Flint Community Schools, Mott Community College and several neighborhood associations. Because of the commitment of these institutions and the citizens living near Kearsley Park, this consortium is one of the most successful cooperatives in the history of the City of Flint.
A Site Master Plan was developed for the park by a private engineering firm with an initial budget of $4.6-million dollars.
General Information:
Unique in an urban setting, the park covers approximately 57 acres of rolling land with water and woodlands. It connects with the Flint Cultural Center, Mott Community College, the Flint Public Library and several neighborhoods. Organized events including the Jazz Festival, Shakespeare Festival and Flea Markets are just several of the events taking place at the park.
Background Information:
Kearsley Park is a historic treasure in the heart of Flint. Established in 1917, it is one of the city’s oldest parks and has the distinction of having been developed by world-renowned landscape architect, Warren H. Manning through the patronage of automobile pioneer J. Dallas Dort. Gilkey Creek flows through the middle of the park, which places much of the park within the 100-year floodplain. The park lies adjacent to Dayton Park which includes an additional eight acres of land. The parks are separated by I-475.
