Residents invited to share ideas for new play garden in Genesee County

A new state park is coming to Flint, and community members gathered at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library to hear more about the plans and provide feedback.

The new play gardens will be at the Chevy Commons. The 230-acre state park will be Michigan's 104th, and the first in Genesee County.

The Project includes removing the remnant of two dams, and an addition of six water control structures. There will also be new pedestrian bridges, play equipment, pavilions, restrooms, parking areas, and public art installations.

"Playgrounds are very complex and very exciting things to design," says Jack Ohly, landscape architect with Michael Van Valkenburg Associates. "We really love working with the community to understand the particular character of that community and the history and try to incorporate those elements into the design."

Residents were invited to share their own ideas and help design the play gardens.

The project is expected to be completed in 2026.