Island Park

Island Park. Where The Rivers Meet. The island in front of you was once a popular summer destination know as Island Park., "The large island in Flat River, south of the railway trestle, often refered to as Island Park, was enjoyed by many people during the summer months. Lodge and Club picnics, family and church picnics were held there in spite of the mosquitos, flies, and a few water snakes. A Revival or community service was sometimes held on a Sunday evening before darkness descended. , Each spring after the flooding subsided, wooden foot bridges were constructed below, along the side of the trestle connecting the island to the mainland on the east and the west sides. There were wide cracks between the long planks, and railings ran along each side to protect the little children from the river. After that construction, the tall grass had to be scythed and the autumn leaves had to be raked and burned. The green growth was lush. Many wildflowers bloomed. A wooden platform in the middle of the island had to be reinforced each spring to accommodate the town band, political speakers and evangelists. A few long planks on wooden horses served as tables. After the 4th of July parades ended, the sightseers went to the island with their picnic baskets." , -From the recorded memories of Thelma Peckham Hahn , Timeline, 1880's , J. C. Train donated the islands in the Flat River south of Main Street to the city. Island Park began; footbridges to east and west banks were built each year , 1892 , Benefits held for the Island improvement fund , 1894 , Bridges connected lower three islands to the upper one increasing the capacity of the park by three fold , 1899 , Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad Company built trestle and footbridges , 1907, 1908 , Lowell Homecomings included picnics on the Island , 1912 , Island City Cook Book published by St. Mary's Parish , 1926 , Home-coming Jubilee included picnic dinner at Island Park No mention of Island Park's use after 1926 Islands taken over by poison ivy , 1971 , Town leaders tried to reestablish a park , 1980 , Tried again to reestablish the park , Island Park inspired the naming of local organizations such as the Island City Rebekah Chapter No. 282 of the I.O.O.F. They used Island Park for summertime picnics and meetings. On July 4th, crowds of people would gather on the Island for patriotic speeches from the speaker’s flatform and then they would all enjoy a picnic lunch. Notice the huge flag. (1907), The Islands , J. C. Train donated the islands in the Flat River, south of Main Street, to the city. They were used as a park from the 1880's until the 1920s. In the beginning, the lower three islands were also connected to the upper one by footbridges., Two ladies pose on the footbridge which connected Island Park to the western bank before 1899. The photographer is looking across the river toward two small islands that have disappeared today. From left to right in the background are Forest Mills. Lowell Wollen Mills, and the Lowell Cutter Factory., The train trestle which can be seen today was built across the north end of Island Park and in exchange, the Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad Company furnished two foot bridges along the side of it. (1912)