Photo courtesy of Jane Lanaville Volunteers clean the new climbing lion that was installed at the Bark River Township Recreation Complex recently.

BARK RIVER — Two refreshed parks in Bark River unveiled the products of a few years’ hard work to the public recently.

Despite the rain on Saturday, July 19, a dual ribbon-cutting ceremony travelled to both parks as scheduled.

Back in June of 2022, the Heart of the North Lions Club began talking about upgrading the playgrounds in Bark River. It began with just “the little park,” which is across from Massie’s Country Market.

The group began looking into grants available through Lions Club International. A stipulation of funding provided through the organization was that the park be fully accessible and inclusive. No problem, Heart of the North thought, until they found out that the parking lot there didn’t meet the requirements.

“We were not able to do that there, so everything we raised for the inclusive part ended up being moved down to the senior center park,” said Heart of the North Treasurer Jane Lanaville.

The grounds outside the Bark River Senior Center (4283 D Rd.) serve as the Bark River Township Recreation Complex and already hosted a playground, but now it has even more equipment and is an accessible site.

“It’s artificial turf in the spot. We wanted it so that if somebody comes along with a wheelchair, crutches, even a walker, you can go right up on there because there’s a cement pad that walks you right up,” Lanaville explained.

Other areas in the park near the senior center have new wood chips “so everything looks more cohesive,” she added.

The little park by Massie’s, meanwhile, was not forgotten. The old equipment was updated — the swingset frame was kept, but new swings were purchased and installed. The merry-go-round was updated.

Holy Name donated a climbing apparatus that has been installed.

Fundraising from a number of sources and volunteer work made the revitalization possible. The major partners were the Heart of the North Lions Club, Bark River Lions Club and District 10 Lions (which includes 48 Lions Clubs across the Upper Peninsula). The project was awarded a Hannahville 2% grant and a Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant and received a number of donations.

Signs have been installed at both parks as giant thank-you notes to a large number of parties who helped with the two-park project.

In celebration and dedication of both parks, an event was held this past Saturday.

Before the rain really began to pound, volunteers managed to plant a young tree in memory of Mason Clark, a six-year-old boy from Bark River and Gladstone who died in January of 2024 from a brain tumor.

The ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place at first the little park and then the Bark River Township Recreation Complex amidst rainfall.

Photo courtesy of Jane Lanaville
The planting of a young tree, donated by Seven Acre Gardens in memory of little Mason Clark, was part of the park dedication ceremony this weekend in Bark River.