The city of Reed City will begin construction on a new four-season pocket park near downtown in July.

The total construction cost is about $1.52 million. The park, at Chestnut and Slosson avenues, will feature a summer splash pad, a winter ice-skating rink, a performance stage, and an outdoor gas fireplace. New restrooms and an indoor gathering space will also be included.

“This project was inspired by the local Crossroads Recreation Connection group’s efforts to bring a splash pad to Reed City,” City Manager Rich Saladin said. “We developed a proposal for an all-season park in our downtown area.”

^{A blueprint of the park project (Courtesy of Fleis & VanderBrink and City of Reed City).}

Funding comes primarily from a $1.5 million Public Gathering Spaces Initiative grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The city must provide a minimum 15% match, covering engineering fees of $185,000 and about $52,000 for materials and construction.

“It took months to complete environmental and historical reviews to meet guidelines,” Saladin said. “We worked with engineers to reduce the water feature’s footprint, adjust parking configurations, and scale back street lighting.”

Gerber Construction was awarded the contract. Completion is expected in December.