Bliss Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bliss Park
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| Location | SW of jct. of Houghton St. and N. Michigan Ave., Saginaw, Michigan |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Cottage Gardens Company Inc.; WPA |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001424 |
| Added to NRHP | December 7, 1995 |
Bliss Park is a lovely park in Saginaw, Michigan. It's located where Houghton Street and North Michigan Avenue meet. This park is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site! It was added to the list in 1995.
Contents
The Park's Story
Early Days of the Land
The land where Bliss Park now stands has a long history. It was once owned by Louis Campau. He was one of the first European settlers in the Saginaw area. Campau bought the land in 1822. But he left Saginaw in 1826 to help start the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For about 80 years, the land stayed undeveloped. It was still owned by the Campau family. People in Saginaw used it as a common area. They would gather there for fun and other activities. During the American Civil War, soldiers practiced drills there. The 29th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment used it as a training ground. After the war, many Civil War reunions were held at this spot.
Becoming a Park
In 1903, a special person bought the land. This was Aaron T. Bliss, who was the governor of Michigan at the time. He bought the land from the Campau family. Then, he generously gave it to the city of Saginaw. This gift was meant to create a beautiful park for everyone to enjoy.
In 1904, the city hired E. C. Foster. He was a landscape gardener from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was asked to design the park. But his plans were not quite right. So, in 1906, a new group was formed. This was the Board of Park and Cemetery Commissioners. They hired a company called Cottage Gardens Company, Inc. This company was from Queens, New York. They created a new design for the park. Their plan kept many of the natural features that people in Saginaw loved. Much of this design was built that same year. More work was done the next year. In the early 1910s, monuments were placed in the park.
Park Updates
In the 1930s, Bliss Park got some big updates. The Work Projects Administration helped with these changes. This was a government program that created jobs during tough economic times. The updates included a new shelter house. A parking lot was also added. The landscaping was changed to make the park even better. Bliss Park has been used and enjoyed ever since, without many major changes.
What Bliss Park Looks Like
Bliss Park is a small park. It covers about 13 acres of land. It has a unique trapezoid shape. The park is divided into five main areas.
- Open Recreation Ground: This is a large open space. It's perfect for games and activities.
- Smaller Playfield: Another open area, but a bit smaller.
- Wooded Picnic Grove: This part of the park has many large hardwood trees. They provide lots of shade for picnics.
- Ceremonial Garden/Plaza: This area is designed for special events. It has small trees and pretty flowers.
- Parking Area: There's a place to park cars at the south side of the park.
The open areas are lined with trees. Monuments are placed around the park. They act as special points of interest. The semicircular garden/plaza is located to the west.
Bliss Park is also across the street from a major hospital. This is Covenant HealthCare. The park offers a peaceful place for hospital staff to relax. It's also near the hospital's heliport. This is where air ambulances like LifeNet of Michigan land. The Survival Flight helicopter from the University of Michigan Medical Center also uses it.
