Thelma G. Spencer Park facts for kids
Thelma G. Spencer Park is a fun city park in Rochester Hills, Michigan. This city is a northern suburb near Metro Detroit. The park's main feature is a large, man-made lake. It covers about 38 acres and has a beach with lifeguards. Besides the lake, the park offers many cool things to do. You can find picnic areas, a snack stand, and places to rent boats. There are also courts for volleyball and tennis, a playground, and fields for soccer. Plus, you can enjoy walking or biking on the paths.
Explore the Waterfront
The lake at Spencer Park has a special swimming area. Lifeguards watch over this area, which is marked off with ropes. The lake was once a quarry, so it gets deep quickly. Just a few yards from shore, the water drops to about 20 to 23 feet deep. However, the roped swimming area is different. It slopes down from the shore to about 11 to 14 feet deep. This deeper part is about 25 yards from the edge. There is also a fenced-in shallow area for younger kids to wade in. The lake water at Spencer Park comes from natural springs.
You can rent different types of boats at the park. They have rowboats, paddleboats, and paddleboards. You can even rent rowboats that have a small electric motor attached.
Fun at the Playground
The park has a modern and exciting playground. It features many slides and a climbing wall. There are also several interactive games to play. Of course, you'll find swings too! The ground under the playground is made of engineered wood fiber. This material is soft and spongy, making it a safe place to play.
Park History and Name
Before it became a park, this land was a quarry. A quarry is a place where materials like sand or stone are dug out of the ground. This quarry was used to get sand for building a nearby freeway called M-59. People used to think it was a gravel quarry, but it was actually for sand.
While they were digging, workers found something amazing. The area was above a natural spring system. This meant a lake would eventually form there. So, the quarry was closed. A developer then bought the land. They planned to build houses there and even divided the land into plots. Sometimes, this old layout still causes small issues when the park is improved.
The park is named after Thelma G. Spencer. She was a clerk for Avon Township, which later became Rochester Hills. Thelma Spencer really believed in having parks for the community. She was even there for the park's dedication and grand opening in 1981. In 1984, Avon Township grew and became the city of Rochester Hills. Thelma G. Spencer Park then became a city park.
Many people in Oakland County, Michigan, don't know about Spencer Park. Those who discover it often say, "I never would have guessed this was back here!" People who visit love the park for its clean water and well-kept areas. They also appreciate the constant improvements and upgrades. The park is also known for its excellent water safety record.
