Port Huron Parks and Recreation does not take the winter off. Director Nancy Winzer is sharing details on the projects that are underway or being planned right now.
Knox Field on the south side of Port Huron is getting a brand-new playground. Winzer said that construction has been accelerated due to the mild winter so far and she expects that the park will be ready for kids by May. The department is waiting on the installation of mulch and safety inspections. Visitors to Knox Field can enjoy the new playground, which includes a zipline, along with the existing splash pad. Grills and chess boards will be installed soon.
Gratiot Park, near the Blue Water Bridge, is next on the list for improvements and the city is working with Michigan Rehab Services to make it an inclusive park for kids of all abilities.
The Optimist Skate Park, off of 10th Street on the city’s north side, is expected to break ground in the fall and renovations to the McMorran Plaza downtown are being proposed at the moment. Winzer said that her department is trying to make each park in the city a little bit different and have each one be a destination. Winzer said that community input as to what works and what doesn’t is crucial to the success of the park renovations. The goal is to have each park be “an innovative play experience within the next five to six years.”
Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.
