10/08/2021
FEATURE FRIDAY: BRENNAN PARK
🌳 Located on the Eastside of Flint, Brennan Park truly fulfills the needs of the entire community. Adjacent to the Brennon Senior Center, it has a newer playground, basketball court, walking path, and bleachers for the baseball field. This Park also has lots of space for activities for all seasons. The Brennan Park Adopters work hard to not only keep the park clean and safe, but to make sure there are community events, parties, and programming for everyone.
👉 Brennan Park Adopter and pillar in the community, Doris Keels is one of the original members of the South Park Neighborhood Association which started in 2003. Every year, this association coordinates a reunion that has grown and grown. Last summer, the reunion celebrated its 18th year and hosted around 750 people. No matter where folks live now, many come back for the reunion. They had food, an open mic, vendors, games, and bounce houses. There was a touching tribute to members and supporters who have passed away where a balloon was released for each person while Stairway to Heaven played.
🏡 Doris has lived in the community her entire life and has lived in her home for 45 years. She can remember in the 1950s and 60s when people would gather at the park before the Brennan Center was built. They would play softball, kickball, and basketball. Most importantly, she remembers that they had fun. According to Doris, if you ever lived on the South Side, you are always welcomed home. In fact, if you drive through, you will probably see someone you know.
👉 Another amazing Brennan Park Adopter, Dominique Strong from Uma Strong Outreach, has really focused on programming in the park. She makes sure the park has many cleanups, baseball clinics, exercise classes, literacy programs, 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, kickball games, Easter Eggs hunts, and the Crim’s “Get Out and Get Moving” program.
🤝 Dominique was raised in the neighborhood and can remember walking to and from school through the park, playing in the park, and participating in programming at the Brennan Center when it was open. It is important to her the children (and adults) in the neighborhood have a safe and clean park like she did and are able to create memories through play and education. As a young person, two amazing women in her area stood out and planted a seed of caring for her community. Sandra E. Robinson and Barbara Griffin Wilson were pillars from the South Side of Flint and Dominique wants to carry on where they left off. In this neighborhood, the torch is beginning to be passed to the next generation and the legacy of community and care continues.
📌 The Brennan Senior Center located on the park grounds offers socializing, lunch daily, technology training, exercise classes, legal services, veteran services, and more for seniors. Their moto is “Come Join Us! We’re Having Fun.” Here’s a link to the Brennan Senior Center website for those who may be interested in checking it out: https://www.brennanseniorcenter.com
💚 The Brennan Park community is a great example of a community coming together to ensure a clean and safe park that has something to offer everyone. To keep up with everything this park has to offer, please check out this website appropriately called the Brennan Park Community Builders: https://www.facebook.com/BrennanParkFlint/
👏 Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the volunteers who have made Brennan Park the success that it is.
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from City of Flint Parks & Rec, Government Organization, 1101 S Saginaw Street, B17, Flint, MI.
