Heritage Park Honors Gingellville History, Adds Public Green Space to Orion Twp

Heritage Park honors Gingellville’s historical past and provides public inexperienced area to Orion Twp

(Crystal A. Proxmire, November 30, 2025)

Orion Township, MI – Property on the nook of Baldwin and Pasadena Roads in Orion Township was the right measurement for a Tropical Smoothie Cafe, however Township trustees had a fair grander imaginative and prescient: a pocket park that mixes each historical past and inexperienced area, referred to as Heritage Park.

The park includes a walkway that followers out from one path, like branches jutting from a tree trunk. Native vegetation thrive within the areas between and benches alongside the paths present a number of locations for folks to relaxation, chat or just benefit from the area. There are wind chimes, a porch swing and birdhouses. As well as, there are historic indicators that inform one thing in regards to the wealthy heritage of the neighborhood, therefore the title of the park.

Often known as Gingellville, an unincorporated neighborhood flourished within the late nineteenth century, with members of the Gingell household discovering success in lots of endeavors, together with as builders who had a significant influence on the variety of houses within the space. In 1928, the Gingell household bought a big tract of farmland, which they became a neighborhood. In addition they established a college constructing, a grocery store and a fuel station.

Now, almost a century later, the Gingell household continues to make their mark on the Orion Township Space, with Oakland County Commissioner Mike Gingell amongst these current on the Nov. 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The pocket park was full of household, pals and neighbors celebrating the brand new area.

Heritage Park was created with assist from a $25,000 America in Bloom Grant and funding from CN Railroad. Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett additionally thanked the Gingell household for promoting the land to the Township at a lowered price to assist preserve it a public area, fairly than a smoothie store.

“That is only a quiet area that could be a aid in a busy hallway,” Barnett stated. He added that there is no such thing as a parking for the park as a result of it’s supposed “someplace you stroll to, someplace you’ve gotten a break.”

The tranquility combined with historical past was necessary to those that designed the area. “A neighborhood that remembers its heritage builds its future on a stable basis,” the regulator stated.

The ribbon reducing was a part of a day of parks celebration, together with a bus tour for metropolis leaders, directors, these on boards and commissions, in addition to the media and different elected officers. The ribbon reducing was the cease simply earlier than the ribbon reducing on the newly named Orion Recreation Middle, simply down the highway. The municipality celebrated the opening of ten new parks prior to now 15 years, in addition to plans for the longer term. Barnett additionally introduced the current buy of the previous Pine Tree elementary property that can be transformed right into a township park, with a part of the constructing possible retained as leisure area.

A booklet detailing a number of park enhancements consists of the Miracle Area and Let Them Play playground at Friendship Park, the place folks of all talents can play, facilities at Civic Middle Park together with Wildwood Amphitheater and an grownup health class, the disc golf course, seashore enlargement and KaBoom! playground at Camp Agawam, enhancements to Paint Creek Path together with the VanTassel Pedestrian Bridge, The Playful Dragon, and naturally the numerous occasions hosted by the Township for folks of all ages.

County Commissioner Gingell applauded the council for its efforts. “As I stroll round Oakland County and see all this growth, I’ve to say that this board takes particular care to have an excellent mixture of growth and open area, as evidenced by this park,” Gingell stated. “You do not see that in lots of locations.”

Extra details about Orion parks may be discovered at https://www.orionparks.com/

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