By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

The original Bay Court playground was community-built in the summer of 1994.
A dedicated committee raised the money, then provided sweat equity as they assembled the entire playground, laid mulch, and supported each other throughout the five-day building process.
For 29 years, those families and the rest of the Clarkston community have enjoyed picnics, parties, afternoons in the park, and plenty of outdoor time creating memories. The community saw a need which inspired a dream and together they turned that dream into a reality.
Now, the legacy of that dream continues as the time comes to replace the play structure.
“We understand the emotional attachment to this beautiful wooden structure, but as things age, they do become a safety concern,” said Amy Laboissonniere, community relations coordinator for Independence Township Parks, Recreation and Seniors (ITPRS). “After providing all these years of extraordinary play for children of all ages, it’s time to bring in newer and safer materials for our community.”
Demolition on the old playground was expected to start this past Monday with the new park’s installation scheduled to begin just after Labor Day.
“And now, one of our most anticipated projects is finally underway,” said ITPRS interim director Lisa Christensen. “ITPRS can’t wait to share this new playground with our community, and we thank you for your patience as we worked behind the scenes for the last four years to bring this new, accessible playground to Bay Court Park, our first Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors playground with partial poured-in-place surfacing. Poured-in-place surfacing provides a seamless and unified surface which accommodates both foot and wheel traffic. It is ADA-compliant and safe for kids of all ages with disabilities. The new playground will be an inclusive space, so visitors of all abilities and ages have the opportunity to play.”
To fund this new structure, ITPRS formed a committee, including staff and members of the original playground committee, who coordinated multiple areas of fundraising.
First, a 50 percent match grant was secured for $200,000 from the Land, Water and Conservation Fund for the replacement of the very popular playground. To match with this, the township’s Capital Improvement Plan budgeted $200,000 for the playground replacement. With $400,000 of total project money, research began, and officials realized that to replace the playground at the desired scope for children of all abilities, more funding was needed.
In Dec. 2020, the Independence Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a dollar-for-dollar match in any funds raised, up to $100,000.
The committee then launched several fundraising projects, including “Be the Change” employee donations, “Step Up to the Plate” for our youth baseball and softball teams, bottle and can drives, and the Big Cup Challenge change drive in area daycare centers. Day camp attendees participated in “Pie Your Counselor” events and local students raised money as school projects.
“We connected with families who helped build the original structure and who then rededicated themselves to the current efforts,” said Laboissonniere “We reached our fundraising goal by securing our last donation through a local benefactor working with the Clarkston Area Optimist Club.”
As part of the process, a public input meeting was held, followed by a series of “Terrific Tuesdays” where the community could join township officials at the play structure and provide feedback on the wants and needs for the new design. These evenings gave those involved an idea of the type of implements, equipment, surfacing and features needed to include.
To further the research, the committee toured multiple playgrounds throughout Oakland County to view and research the types of surfacing and aesthetics desired at Bay Court Park. The spring of 2022 kicked off with the design presentations, but the committee wasn’t satisfied enough to move forward.
With the vision of former ITPRS director Derek Smith and full approval of the township board, park projects near the playground were considered and funded to free up more money for actual playground equipment. With $720,000 to spend, the township started over with bid presentations and ultimately secured a contract with Penchura, LLC, a company based out of Brighton.

PHOTO: An artist’s rendering of the new Bay Court Park, coming to Independence Township in September. Photo rendering: Penchura/Landscape Structures