Parks

The City Parks are planned and maintained in a cooperative effort between the Department of Public Works and the Parks & Trees Commission.

Currently, there are three vacancies on the board. Interested residents of Plainwell considering serving can send a letter of interest to Plainwell's City Clerk, 141 N. Main Street, Plainwell, Michigan, 49080.


Over several months in 2007, the City of Plainwell in partnership with Landscape Architecture firm, Abonmarche, has been updating its Five-Year Recreation Plan. One of the first steps in the highly participatory process in developing a plan and to ensure the city was meeting the recreational needs and preferences of the community, was to conduct a stakeholder survey.

The Executive Summary of this survey can be viewed here:

The City of Plainwell's Community Recreation Plan: 2008-2012 was adopted on December 10, 2007 and can be viewed here.

While the bathrooms at Kenyon and Thurl Cook Parks are locked, citizens are welcome to pick up the keys at City Hall during regualr office hours of 8 AM to 5 PM for a $10.00 refundable deposit. The keys can be reserved up to a week in advance and can be kept for up to one week. Call City Hall at (269) 685-6821 to check availability.

Parks & Trees Commission Members

Theresa Brooks, Chairperson

Ray Fuller, Board Member

Sandy Lamorandier, Board Member

Rick Updike, Superintendent
Department of Public Works

City Parks

Thurl Cook Park
Location: East end of Oak Street / South end of Glenview Circle
Features: 100 ft lighted sledding hill, tennis and basketball courts and sheltered picnic tables

Hicks Park
Location: Downtown on W. Bridge
Features: Two Gazebos, playground equipment, a scenic boardwalk and picnic tables

Darrow Park
Location: 607 Hicks Street
Features: A small park on the Kalamazoo river with Picnic tables

Sherwood Park
Location: 121 N. Sherwood
Features: On the river with basketball and tennis courts, sand volleyball, benches, picnic tables and a drinking fountain and playground equipment

Fannie Pell Park
Location: North of downtown where the Millrace and Kalamazoo River meet
Features: A gazebo (frequently used for weddings) picnic tables & canoe landing.

Kenyon Park
Location: 929 Lincoln Parkway
Features: 27 acres with softball & soccer fields, pavilion & restrooms.

Bandshell Park
Location: 250 N. Anderson Street
Features: On the river this park is used for summer concerts

E-Mail the Parks & Trees Commision