Bailey Park

Bailey Park, located in the heart of East Lansing, Michigan, is a versatile outdoor recreational space serving the local Bailey neighborhood. It features open lawn areas, a playground, and facilities for community activities, making it a key resource for residents, students, and families. The park is adjacent to the historic Liberty Hyde Bailey Center, which has been repurposed into a mixed-use facility.

The park underwent significant renovations, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in October 2020 to mark its reopening. Enhancements included the addition of a looping path for walking and jogging, a community plaza, play structures for multiple age groups, shade structures, benches, picnic tables, and native-pollinator-friendly garden beds. These improvements were designed to increase accessibility, removing physical barriers and ensuring that the park is welcoming to all community members.

Bailey Park plays a crucial role as an outdoor play space for the City of East Lansing childcare and summer camp programs. Its amenities are regularly maintained to meet safety standards, ensuring a secure and enjoyable environment for children. The park balances sun and shaded areas and is partially enclosed with a chain-link fence on three sides for added safety. Despite its charming appeal, some areas, particularly asphalt-paved sections in the southern half, remain in need of maintenance, reflecting the park's active usage and importance to the community.