Welcome
Crayola Park a.k.a Harvey Randall Wickes Park
Harvey Randall Wickes Park is colloquially known as “Crayola Park” for the towering crayons incorporated throughout its design and was established in the 1990s. Since opening, the playground has been beloved by three generations of Saginaw youths. Located on the same block as youth-serving organizations like the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club, this riverfront park is enjoyed by thousands of local youths each year.
Three decades in the service of local children have resulted in significant wear on the playground’s equipment, and many features are no longer safe for community use. While many Millennial and Gen-Z Saginaw natives have fond memories of the playground, they are disappointed that their own children can not enjoy the same experience, given the deterioration of the property.
Restoration Objectives
The state of the park necessitates the removal, retirement, and replacement of most existing structures. Considering the playground’s longstanding popularity and future potential, the following priorities will define restoration efforts.
Accessibility: The park’s much-needed restoration also presents an opportunity to make the site more welcoming to all young people. The new and improved Crayola Park will include distinctive play areas with equipment designed to appeal to children as young as 3 and as mature as 12 (or even older). Furthermore, barrier-free features will ensure that youths with physical disabilities can play alongside their peers. Even young people with neurodevelopmental conditions will appreciate novel sensory equipment.
Durability: It is of paramount importance that new features in the playground be safe and solidly built. Crayola Park sees tremendous use even today, and it will only increase in popularity after these updates. Saginaw kids play hard, and they deserve equipment that will match their enthusiasm.
Longevity: Crayola Park, in its present configuration, has served Saginaw youths for three generations. Through this undertaking, we hope that the park not only serves the next three, but also children for many decades to come. To ensure the property is never permitted to fall into neglect again, we will set up an endowment for the care and upkeep of the park through individual and corporate contributions.
How Can You Help?
The Rotary Club of Saginaw is seeking individual and corporate contributions to fund the proposed park with a budget of $625,000. You can make your donation directly to the Saginaw Community Foundation at their website, and choose 'Crayola Park Improvement Fund' for the fund name. Click here to be directed to the Saginaw Community Foundation's donation page directly: https://form.jotform.com/232214450131136