Imlay City Lions Park celebrates a new beginning
IMLAY CITY — A vision that started with a community idea in 2024 is now a place where kids can play, families can gather and neighbors can make memories.
Thanks to the efforts of many individuals and agencies, the Imlay City Lions Park and its revitalization were celebrated last week at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Lions Park is located near the corner of Blacks Corners and Attica Road.
City officials say this project is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when residents, local government, philanthropy, and community partners come together with a shared vision.
“It really started out as a dream and some ideas of what it (the park) might look like,” Imlay City Parks and Recreation Board President Frank Demske told the Tri-City Times. “We first started thinking about it and began to have a vision from many planning sessions back in 2024. Now, two years later, we have a beautiful addition to the city that everyone can be proud of. We are so thankful this has happened and it’s a great addition to the city.”
The celebration was held last Tuesday, with roughly 150 people in attendance, including the Imlay City high school marching band. The musicians played a number of upbeat, spirited selections to set a happy, upbeat tone for the evening’s festivities. Mother Nature also did her thing, providing beautiful weather with blue skies and mild temperatures.
Among the improvements made at the park were the installation of a new 50-foot long dual zipline swing, a new playscape for younger children and new swings, including a reclining lounge swing for ADA visitors, allowing them a chance to enjoy the new park as well.
The Imlay City DPW crew built a new wooden bridge that crosses over a stream, connec
ting the main park with another area south of the creek where the new equipment was installed. There have also been new concrete approaches poured on each side of the bridge to allow for wheelchairs, bicycles and other handicap equipment to have easier access to both sections of the park.
The venture was a culmination of numerous Parks and Recreation board meetings, input from residents and community members and advice from several agencies including Lapeer County Community Foundation, the Department of Natural Resources and the City of Imlay City.
The city was able to obtain a major grant from the DNR known as a SPARKS grant in the amount of nearly $890,000. LCCF donated funds to help cover the costs of the celebration, including a handful of Imlay City businesses who set up shop to distribute hot dogs, ice cream and cold beverages for the crowd.
“I’m most excited about seeing the different generations of people enjoying this park. We’ve got littles over on the playscape, school age kids on the swings and zip line, the older folks sitting and enjoying a fall night under the pavilion,” Demske said of the new park renovations. “It’s just a great atmosphere and it’s wonderful, the amount of use this park is getting and will continue to get in the future.”
Demske said they were also able to improve a walking path around the park.
“We had some funds left over that allowed us to pave the walking path and to build the new bridge. The path used to just be stone,” he said. “Now, it’s a beautiful paved pathway for walking your dogs, going for a walk or for bicycle riders to ride around.
“Personally, I am just glad we are able to be here tonight (ribbon cutting ceremony) and celebrate something positive for the community.”
He said the improvements to the walking path, which is a third of a mile long, cost $80,000 to pave.
