Barnum Park Gets Multiple Upgrades

BIRMINGHAM, MI – The regrading and enhancement work at Barnum Park, which is located at Pierce and Frank Streets in Birmingham’s Barnum Park neighborhood, has been completed, according to the City’s Parks and Recreation Manager Carrie Laird.

Started in late October, the capital improvement project has included:

• Regrading the terrain for safety and maintenance
• Laying new dirt for the softball diamond infield
• Spreading seed for new grass in the outfield and in the free play that is often used for youth soccer games.

It is expected the grass will germinate this spring, thanks in part to the sophisticated irrigation system in place at Barnum Park. Small items will be finalized when weather permits in the spring.

“We are grateful the contractor finished before the snow came down,” said Laird. “The work at Barnum Park is part of our ongoing program of maintaining our parks throughout the city for their use and enjoyment.”

Improvements at other city parks have included new infield dirt at Kenning Park in 2014 and recently completed open space enhancements at Pembroke Park and Crestview Park, Laird added.

The improvement project was budgeted at $35,000 and is expected to be right on target, Laird noted. The funds to pay for the work came out of the capital improvement budget.

In addition to the sports play areas, other features at Barnum Park include a crushed stone walking path, garden sanctuary, tree-lined promenade and outdoor ice rink. The outdoor ice rink should open soon once the ice has frozen solid enough to hold skaters.

Photo courtesy of the city of Birmingham