ADRIAN, Mich. — A new wave of accessible, educational play is coming to Gerber Park this summer, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s “My Neighborhood” program.
The Lenawee County Parks Commission announced plans to install a fully inclusive musical play area at the park, complete with outdoor instruments, pathways, and interactive features designed for children of all abilities. The project will be arranged in a small cul-de-sac layout and will alternate with another new addition: a seasonal Story Walk.
“The musical instrument is an all-inclusive play that we were able to garner through a MSHDA My Neighborhood grant,” said County Commissioner Shannon Elliott. “We will be able to put in $75,000 worth of equipment, pathway, as well as musical play engagement that is all inclusive for children.”
The Story Walk, developed in partnership with the Great Start Collaborative and the Lenawee ISD, will feature children’s books displayed along a walking path. Each story is broken into sections and paired with movement prompts, encouraging kids to engage both mentally and physically as they read and walk. The stories will rotate throughout the year with seasonal themes.
“Children will be able to read and then engage in that musical play as well,” Elliott added. “We’re going to kind of create a small cul-de-sac which will alternate the Story Walk with the musical play.”
Both features are expected to be installed and open to the public by the end of the summer, offering local families new opportunities for outdoor learning and sensory play.