Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion and Riley Park
This long-anticipated community project had its grand opening October 21-23, 2005. The construction progress of the new park and pavilion offered another great reason to spend time in Downtown Farmington.
The Walter E. Sundquist Farmington Pavilion is an idea developed during the Farmington visioning process in 1997.
In 1997 the City of Farmington, Michigan along with Wayne State University, worked with community members to develop a long-term plan for the city. Several study groups were formed to produce ideas to help make Farmington a better place to live. A common theme was the need for a centralized Pavilion-meeting place that could house a farmers market and other events.
In 1999, a small group of Farmington citizens formed a committee to study the idea. Their research showed farmers markets not only help build a sense of community, but strengthen its economic base.
The committee identified nine possible pavilion sites in the central business district. The Pavilion committee, along with the Farmington Downtown Development Authority and the City of Farmington, devised a plan to make the Pavilion part of a plan to completely reconfigure the Downtown Farmington Center.
While the city approved the concept, funding the project required a private campaign. Walter E. Sundquist, owner of Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, stepped forward making a large donation to ensure the success of the pavilion, which has been named in hishonor.
The Pavilion project is now an integral part of Downtown Farmington ’s Master Plan. Recently,Downtown Farmington Center improvements were enhanced by nestling the Pavilion on the edge of a new city park. Riley Park is named after The Riley Foundation which generously donated the funds for its construction. The park will be a neighborhood oasis in Downtown Farmington, Michigan.
On May 21, 2005 ground was broken in a ceremony at the site. The community showed up in force to celebrate the start of something big. Hard-working volunteers and financial contributors were thanked.
Printed: October 22nd, 2005
Annette Knowles, Executive DirectorDowntown Farmington
