View a draft of the Wyoming parks master plan and share your thoughts (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council recognized a need to improve the community’s parks and recreation options and promote the City as a quality sustainable place to live and play.
As part of this effort, they have chosen to develop a new Five-Year Parks & Recreation Master Plan. This document is intended to serve as a planning tool over the next five years for the Commission and City Officials to make decisions related to future park and recreation amenities and improvements.
After seeking community input, a draft of the Five-Year Master Plan was created and can be reviewed on the City’s website here.
(Courtesy, Wyoming Parks and Recreation)
The Master Plan draft recommendation highlights include:
Improved ADA accessibility
Marquette Park redevelopment
Improving and expanding current park and recreation programs
Pickleball courts
Playground improvements
Walking trails/pathways
Pavilions
Restroom facility improvements
Focus on maintaining exist parks and new facility development
Safety improvements
Please share your opinion
Your opinion on the park priorities matters. Please let us know what you think of the plan, all feedback is requested by Dec. 21.
Click here to leave the Parks & Recreation office a note. Call the Parks & Recreation office at (616) 530-3164. Email the Parks & Recreation office at Parks_info@wyomingmi.gov. Give feedback in person at:
Planning Commission Meeting November 21, 7 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
City Council Work Session December 11, 5:30 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
Parks Commission December 13, 7 p.m. City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW
WUW will be the kickoff event to a donation drive that runs throughout the month of December. Attendees are asked to donate new, warm clothing such as hats, gloves, scarves, coats and boots. The collected items will be donated to Wyoming area schools.
Meeting a need through change
“This is a reimagining of Wyoming Gives Back, [with] some of the same elements that were there previously,” said Martin, adding that the most noticeable variation is the giving element.
Previously, donations consisted of toys that were then given to the Salvation Army. Martin said the City is still accepting toy donations internally, with drop-off sites located at all City buildings.
After talking with school partners and other community members, however, a greater need was revealed.
“What a lot of the schools need more than anything are coats, hats and boots for their students,” said Martin. “Things that go well beyond the holidays into the colder months.”
What to expect at WUW
(Courtesy, Wyoming Parks & Rec)
The WUW event will feature musical acts from Godwin Heights High School Percussionists and Wyoming Public Schools Jazz Band, cookie decorating, a hot cocoa station, and several crafts.
Several holiday displays will highlight different holiday traditions reflected in the Wyoming community.
Wyoming Public Safety will be in attendance with their vehicles for a Touch-A-Truck opportunity, and attendees can look forward to a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus – and live reindeer from GG Reindeer Farm.
“We are going to utilize the whole space,” said Martin of WSC. “Most of the crafts and musical performances will take place inside, but we’ll have a staging area set up outside with the reindeer. It will be a good opportunity for kids and families.”
A community effort
The Parks & Rec Department is working with several local organizations to ensure WUW is a success – and to also provide a unique opportunity for a certain group of community members.
Empower U, a Kent ISD program for individuals with special needs who have aged out of the K-12 system, provides specialized instruction, employment opportunities and independent living skills.
“They have been coming and doing some volunteer work at the senior center, providing them with job training,” said Martin. “After the event, they are going to come and go through all of the warm items and sort things for us so they are ready for us to take out to the schools.”
Let the festivities begin!
Lend a hand, give back, and ring in the holiday season at WUW (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
WUW is open to everyone to attend, so come join in the spirit of giving and fun festivities.
If you are unable to attend but would still like to donate, WUW donation bins are available at City Hall now through the month of December.
“This event is a wonderful way to ring in the holiday season and spend quality time with friends and family,” said Martin. “It’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your little ones about the importance of lending a hand and giving back to your community.
“We hope to create a fresh, even newer holiday tradition for everyone in Wyoming.”
For more information about Wrap Up Wyoming, please contact the City of Wyoming Parks & Recreation team at 616-530-3164, parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or www.wyomingmi.gov.
The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department announced it will be offering free Rec at Home Kits.
These kits will consist of fun activities for your children to do at home. There are total of 200 kits. To receive a kit, a child should be pre-registered to receive a kit. The activity number is 300000_01.
Kits may be picked up at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW. Additional pickup information will be emailed to all who registered.
If you have any questions, contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation through email parks_info@wyomingin.gov.
“The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.”
― Kalpana Chawla, an astronaut, engineer, and the first woman of Indian descent to go into space
Front row, scholarship recipients (from the left) : Astrid Melissa Lopez Oroxom from Kelloggsvile High School; Luz Parada-Martinez from Godwin Heights High School; Kathryn Abbott from East Kentwood High School; and Crystal Gonzalez-Pineda from Lee High School. Back row, from left: Chamber Education Committee Chair Kathey Batey; Chamber CEO and President Bob O’Callaghan, and Chamber Foundation Director Danna Mathiesen. (WKTV)
Following Their Dreams
Four students from Lee High School, East Kentwood High School, Godwin Heights High School, and Kelloggsville High School were the scholarship recipients for the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. The students received lots advice from those attending a special luncheon such as connect, network, and have an open mind. The students also offered advice to the class of 2020, such as make sure to fill out those scholarship forms. For more, click here.
The City of Wyoming will be bring a new master plan process on Thursday with a public workshop on Thursday at the KDL Wyoming Branch. (WKTV)
Getting [re]Imagined
The City of Wyoming announced last week its plans to develop a new master plan for the city. The process, called Wyoming [re]Imagined will start with a public workshop set for Thursday, May 2 at the KDL Wyoming branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW. The workshop will be from 6-8 p.m. For more information, click here.
City of Kentwood Veterans Park, at 331 48th St. SE, will be the location of improvements this year. (WKTV)
Pardon Our Dust
The City of Kentwood has started several park improvements at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE; and Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Park Dr. SE. The improvements will bring a new splash pad and playground to Veterans Memorial Park, a covered entry to the Kentwood Activities Center and a new multi-use facility at Old Farm Park. “We are looking forward to opening the new and improved facilities in the fall and appreciate your patience as we make our facilities more accessible, functional and fun,” said Val Romeo, Parks and Recreation director. For more information, click here.
Fun fact:
Hot and Cold
If you think Hell, Michigan is the warmest city in our state, think again. It is actually Benton Harbor, which has an average high of 60 degrees. The coldest will probably come as no surprise as it is Ironwood, located in the Upper Peninsula, on the border of Wisconsin. It has an average low of 30 below. (Source.)
Young ladies are encouraged to bring their favorite adult date, dad, grandpa, uncle or another male figure, to the Daddy Daughter Dance.
The City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation is currently taking registrations for its annual Daddy Daughter Dance, which will be Saturday, Feb. 9.
The popular dance, which is for girls ages 3-15, fills up quickly, so residents are encouraged to register early. This year’s event will include a photo booth, DJ, games and refreshments.
The event will be from 6-8 p.m. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW. Cost is $8 for residents and $12 for non-residents. (Fee is per person.)
Pre-registration is required. To register, click here.
Soccer coaches still needed for the spring youth soccer program.
Although spring has just arrived, the Wyoming Parks & Recreation Department is already thinking about summer.
With the release of the summer brochure, registration for summer programs has begun. To see what opportunities are available, take a look at the summer brochure online or pick one up at the Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. There are summer concerts, participate in a fitness class (or two), or sign your child up for one of the camps. There are many more offerings. Don’t forget, registration is also open for fall soccer and football programs.
Register for any of these programs online or by phone at 616-530-3164.
Also, for the spring season, the Wyoming Parks and Recreation is still in need of a few volunteer coaches, head and assistant, for the spring youth soccer program. If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department ASAP at parks_info@wyomingmi.gov or 616-530-3164.
Do you like what you see? Do you have an idea for a new program? The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department invites residents to send feedback to parks_info@wyomingmi.gov.
The Wyoming and Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department each hosted a Daddy-Daughter Dance this past Saturday, February 20. Below are some pictures from the magical evenings.
Wyoming
The Wyoming Daddy-Daughter Dance was a smashing hit with 171 participants and 12 volunteers making sure the event ran smoothly. While dancing was the staple of the event, crafts and games were also held in adjoining rooms.
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Kentwood
Those at the Kentwood Daddy Daughter-Dance had the opportunity to experience A Night In Hollywood by walking the red carpet and having their picture taken. 20 couples – 46 participants in all – got to bask in the movie star experience.
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The dances were a hit and a job well done by the Parks and Recreation Departments.
With spring just around the corner, a time when many people take advantage of the warmer weather and head outdoors, the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the first ever Wyoming Community Health & Wellness Expo Saturday, March 5.
“Spring is a great time to focus on health and wellness,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, director of community services for the City of Wyoming. “This event was created to inspire the community to prioritize their well-being, and connect them to local resources.
The free event will run from 1 – 3 pm. at the Wyoming Senior Center, 2380 DeHoop Ave. SW. About 20 different businesses, clubs and organizations from the Wyoming area will host tables and hand out samples, coupons, and other goodies. Fitness demonstrations, nutritious snacks, speakers, and health screenings will be some of the activities.
The Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department will be offering a sampling of its fitness programs such as yoga, Zumba and line dancing, said Valarie Mester, a recreation programmer for the department.
“We offer a number of programs through our offerings at the senior center and through our youth and family programs,” Mester said, adding this is a chance for people to try these programs and see what they are like.
Also on hand will be Shape for Life Studios, 1290 36th St. SW. Through its partnership with the recreation department, Shape for Life Studios offers spin classes and personal training. Mester said the studio representatives will be bringing in spin bikes for participants to try. Another recreation department partner is Metro Health, which will be providing health information.
Several other city departments will be at the expo such as the city’s water department, which will be covering the topic of clean water, and both the fire and police departments will be on hand to talk about related health and safety issues.
“It’s really about getting people more active, thinking about the food that they are eating and making sure they are visiting their physicians for regular check ups and screenings,” Mester said.
While a brand new event, Mester said organizers are expecting between 200 to 400 participants this year which is based on the number of current participants in the Parks and Recreation Department’s programs.
“The event is free and open to anyone, both residents and non-residents,” Mester said.
For more about the Wyoming Community Health and Wellness Expo or other programs offered by the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.wyomingmi.gov or call 616-530-3164.
The time to Register is NOW! Are you planning on registering yourself or your child for a winter class? If so, now is the time to do so.
Many classes are scheduled to start next week, including many of our fitness classes and our youth dance classes. Some may not be able to run if not enough are registered in the next day, so it is important that you don’t wait any longer to sign up.
