A community once demolished finds optimism in the revival of a local park. 

Standing in the middle of St. John Street Neighborhood Memorial Park, former St. John Street resident and president of the St. John Street Historical Committee James Wardlow reflects on memories of the once-thriving neighborhood and the home now replaced by I-475. 

“475 runs right over the top of where my house was,” he says, pointing toward the interstate. 

Over the past four years, the St. John Street Historical Committee has worked with Mayor Sheldon Neeley and the City of Flint to restore West Boulevard Park, now officially renamed St. John Street Neighborhood Memorial Park. The goal is to transform the park into a family-friendly gathering place with educational and historically engaging features that honor the legacy of the St. John Street Neighborhood. 

Plans include a memorial walking path with life-sized statues of community leaders, interactive signs with a map of the neighborhood, benches engraved with the names of local churches, a 50’ x 70’ pavilion, a playground featuring St. John Street buildings in its design, a bridge, and a mural. 

"I feel good about the attention we are getting. I feel good about our collaboration with the City of Flint,” Wardlow says with a smile. He points out the future locations of the pavilion and playground, which will be built on the park's south end.  

The pavilion will feature 15 picnic tables and five BBQ grills for family gatherings and public events. Next to it, an inclusive playground will offer wheelchair accessibility and educational elements so children can learn the neighborhood’s history while playing outdoors. To enhance safety, the plan calls for closing the south end of West Boulevard, creating a dead end so the park has the road to itself.  

Wardlow also shares his vision for improving the Utah Street Dam area. “What we’d like to do is remove it and put a footbridge in its place so that the community on the other side of the river will have access to the park,” he explains. The estimated cost of removing the dam and constructing the bridge is $6.3 million. 

Funding for St. John Street Neighborhood Memorial Park has come from numerous sources, including the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which awarded $25,000 through the Neighborhoods Small Grants Program.