Rotary Park, sculpture dedication is Saturday.

May 24, 2016

LUDINGTON — The Rotary Club of Ludington will hold a dedication of Rotary Park, formerly City Park, on Saturday, May 28 at 4 p.m. The park is located on Ludington Avenue between Lewis Street and Gaylord Avenue. During the program, the park, will be presented to the city.

The makeover has included the construction of a new, modern, barrier-free restroom and storage building with an aged-copper roof; two picnic gazebo pavilions flanking the amphitheater; a new, bronze sculpture with a water feature; new decorative and historic era lampposts with more efficient lighting and upgraded electrical systems throughout the park; an additional new sidewalk from the amphitheater to the sculpture; and improved landscaping.

The dedication ceremony will feature Rotary Club of Ludington President Melissa Reed, The Rev. Wayne Buskirk, local historian and Rotarian James Jensen, Rotary Park Project Committee co-chairs, Debra Kinnaird and Linda O’Brien, and Dr. William Anderson. The keynote address will be delivered by John Bracey, executive director of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

The sculpture, entitled “Making Memories” will be unveiled as part of the ceremony and was created by Utah-based sculptor Tyson Snow. The sculpture features two playful children under an umbrella. Snow will also speak briefly at the dedication ceremony.

Tyson Snow is also the sculptor of Ludington’s “The Abbey,” which depicts a 19th century Ludington-made Schooner and was unveiled last summer. “The Abbey” is a feature in what will soon become Maritime Heritage Park, near the pavilion adjacent to the Loomis Street Boat Launch parking lot, near the soon-to-open Port of Ludington Maritime Museum.

The dedication ceremony will conclude with the actual presentation of Rotary Park to the City of Ludington. Melissa Reed, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Ludington, will formally present Rotary Park to Ludington Mayor Ryan Cox and City Manager John Shay.

The Rotary Park renovation is a $450,000 project. Many local businesses and residents have given to support it. “This project could not take place if it weren’t for the financial support of the Community Foundation for Mason County, a grant from Rotary District 6290, a major contribution by West Shore Bank, and the financial backing of many other wonderful area businesses, corporations, and individuals,” said James Jensen, the club’s treasurer.

“The dedication ceremony will be the joyful culmination of many months of planning and execution,” said Kinnaird.