2001 file photo when the Imagination Staion was four years old
Imagination Station Public Meeting Slated
Input from the public will help determine location of new park
December 11, 2015
By: Stephen Kent
At 6:30pm Thursday, December 17, 2015 the
Friends of the Imagination Station Steering Committee
will hold a
public meeting in the Commission Chambers at City Hall downtown
to gather input on the location of the new playscape for the downtown Bay City area.
The Friends group was formed to assist the City of Bay City and Bay Area Community Foundation in the process for locating and constructing the new play area.
There has been considerable discussion of this topic.
If you have an opinion, this is the time to make your voice heard. The old Imagination Station lasted almost twenty years. You can expect this one, which is planned to be built from updated and more durable materials, will be around for at least that long.
According to a press release, the steering committee will take public input on the 17th then review that, along with information gathered from other sources, before announcing the new location.
Three locations are being considered at this time.
- Putz Park: the area between the Wanigan Eatery and the back channel of the river, located just north of the West section of the Lafayette Street Bridge. This is just across from the Bay City Rowing Club's boathouse.
- Bigelow Park: the area on the middle grounds north of the Boys & Girls Club.
- Veterans Park: using the open space near the Trombly House.
In discussion with a number of interested people, it seems that the
Bigelow Park area has the most support. There is parking, a history of use as a play area, and adequate space.
The area near the Trombley House might require parking modifications and other changes. It could also impact the annual River of Time encampment, which uses that area and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Putz Park and the adjacent nature area might also require parking work and is a little out of the way.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions or opinions, you should attend the public meeting on the 17th. You can also make comments and request additional information from the Bay Area Community Foundation at (989) 893-4438. You may address e-mail to
BCPlaygroundfriends@gmail.com
Members of the Community Foundation's Youth Initiative re-stained the park in June 2002.