Liberty Park in Marshall is more than just a plain old park, and that’s because of how it stands out as a special place.

It’s my favorite of all the city’s parks, even though I like them all. Independence Park is the largest. Legion Field has the baseball stadium. Freedom Park was built near my parent’s house when I was a small child.

Still Liberty Park became my favorite as I grew up. It’s now a pleasant part of my walking route around my neighborhood.

It has a nice playground area for kids, some square picnic tables, the gazebo, mature trees and the river. Its centerpiece is the bandshell. It’s a perfect downtown area location for arts events. It’s hosted many different activities.

Liberty Park has an interesting history. I have a map of Marshall that precedes 1916. I know that for sure because of how it has the Catholic Church on the corner of A Street. Holy Redeemer Church on West Lyon Street was dedicated in 1917.

Liberty Park was known at the time as Whitney Park. The Whitney family, as the map shows, owned much of the land east of the park at what is now the Morningside Heights area.

When the neighborhood was built after World War II, one of its tree lined streets with center boulevards was named Whitney Street.

It gained a traffic light at what is now East College Drive in the 1950s because of how it was situated near the new East Side Grade School. East Side started out as a neighborhood school with many children who walked.

The park became a perfect location for the bandshell. It’s been well cared for over the years. An archway at the back of the seating area is fronted by bricks bearing the names of people who’ve donated for upgrades.

Now in 2023 the bandshell will need more repairs or replacement in the near future. Costs will depend on the scope of the project. A substantial improvement would most likely have a substantial cost.

I’ve heard it suggested in the past several years that the city should consider building a bandshell or stage somewhere else. It’s been pointed out that Liberty Park might be a good candidate for some type of development.

I’m going to stay with tradition on this one. It’s just too valuable as green space. The neighborhoods next to it benefit greatly.

There’s something to be said for keeping an outdoor arts facility within walking distance of houses and apartments. People in the 21st century are far too dependent on their cars. Marshall is fortunate to have parks, a theater, restaurants and shops that are walkable.

One thing I might like to see at Liberty Park is more park features on the west end of East College Drive. The area once contained the park’s picnic shelter.

Possibilities could include a walking path, benches, small tables, signs about Marshall history or the Redwood River, sculptures and flower gardens.

It would be nice if foot traffic could pass by the Mrs. Whitney statue more often. In some ways she’s in a perfect location because she’s visible. The only drawback is that she’s out on a corner all by herself.

I could envision making the area between Park Street and West Marshall Street more of a parkway. It could have a reduced speed with two crosswalks that have yield to pedestrians signs. It might be good for drivers to slow down in the Liberty Park area and take a few seconds to notice the scenery.

Marshall’s oldest parks (Liberty Park and Legion Field) should both have a future. With the aquatic center poised to move to West College Drive, there will need to be a planning process for the site of the current pool.

If we didn’t have the bandshell, it would probably be a good site for a stage. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have two outdoor arts facilities. It would lend itself to potential performing arts festivals and Sounds of Summer.

The city park system has grown successfully along with the city since the 1960s. We should do everything we can to continue the process.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent