Sports for Every Age Group! |
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Registration: February 1 - 28
(Limited spaces available)
- 4-6 yr. old age group is $40 for Walker residents and $50 for non-residents.
- 7-8 yr. old, 9-10 yr. old and 11-12-13 yr. old age groups is $50 for Walker residents and $60 for non-residents.
- There is a $5.00 discount for each additional family member registered
- There will be a $10.00 LATE FEE charged for any registrations received after the February 28th deadline.
Volunteer to coach and get a full refund for your registration!
Register online or in-person at the Walker Ice & Fitness Center.
2022 Fall Coed Youth Soccer Registrations will be held July 1 – 25.
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Meet Our New Parks & Rec Team Members! |
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You may know our first employee by her sweet smile and warm welcome bright and early in the morning! That’s right, Andrea Ingraham is joining our Parks & Rec department! Don’t worry, you will still see her on her opening shift, but she will be spending more time in the Parks & Rec department as Parks & Rec Assistant.
In her spare time, Andrea enjoys camping with her husband, Steve, and pampered pooch, Izzy. She also loves watching Survivor!
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Our next staff member, Gillian Hendershot can also be seen at the front desk and is considered the jack of all trades at WIFC. You will find her doing a little bit of everything from managing online hockey registrations, working on the website, newsletters articles, we added limited Parks & Rec hours to her schedule last summer.
When Gillian isn’t working at the WIFC or teaching a college class, you may find her cooking up a delicious soup, baking a sweet treat or just hanging out with friends.
Both women are a great addition and bring a ton of creativity and organizational skills to the Parks & Rec Assistant job share position. We are excited to see some of their fun ideas come to life in the future!
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Park and Recreation Month |
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Why Do We Celebrate Park & Recreation Month? |
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Since 1985 Americans have been celebrating National Park and Recreation month in July. As our Walker Recreation Department recognizes and celebrates this month, we also are encouraging you to get outside, explore local parks and enjoy outdoor activities! We celebrate this month for a number of reasons:
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To find connections across communities: Access to parks is equally important as ensuring the presence of parks and has the power to connect several communities.
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To support the environment: Parks play an important role in the environmental health by cleaning water, preserving wildlife, and offering a refuge to humans and animals throughout the seasons.
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To explore local ecosystems: Did you know that parks are not just plots of grass? Sports fields, beaches, trails and many other spaces can be parks offering a host of recreation opportunities!
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Why Get Outside?
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To increase children’s chances of success in school: Kids with access to safe parks and playgrounds are more likely to engage in physical activities - kids who are physically active do better in school.
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To contribute to the maintenance of a healthy weight: Local parks and recreation departments help promote physical activity.
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To have a more positive outlook: Spending time outdoors reduces stress and improves mental health. Exposure to nature improves creativity, decreases stress hormones and calms aggression.
Contact our Parks & Recreation Department for locations of our parks or for information on our recreation programs at (616) 735-6286 or at www.walkericeandfitness.com. Help us help you and celebrate National Park & Recreation month with us!
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Meet the Park and Sign Shop Team! |
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When you hear someone mention our Department of Public Works, or DPW, most people tend to think of roads. Did you know that the DPW/Parks department and DPW/Sign shop do a lot to help our Parks & Rec department? Without them, our parks wouldn’t be clean and ready to rent out, our soccer fields wouldn’t be mowed and lined, our softball fields wouldn’t be dragged and lined for games, our park and event signs wouldn’t be made! Get to know the faces who keep our parks beautiful all year round: |
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Tom Klein has been working at the City of Walker for 22 years and has been a resident of Walker for 54 years! He is currently Supervisor of the Parks Department but has worked as an equipment operator, sign shop tech and crew leader.
What's your favorite part of the job?
“Looking back on how things look in our parks after working hard on them. I love working in the City I live in.”
What do you think people don't realize about the DPW/Parks?
“The hours and labor it takes to keep parks and complex looking great.”
What's your favorite park and why?
“Community Park, because of the summer concerts”
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Jason DeBoer has been working at the City for over 20 years. He does everything from mowing, maintaining ball fields, lining soccer fields, tree work, road work and plowing roads in the winter.
What's your favorite part of the job?
“I love being outside so the variety of doing so many different things outside.”
What do you think people don't realize about the DPW/Parks?
"Our department is very community-oriented and willing to go above and beyond to provide services to our community”
What's your favorite park and why?
“Alpine Estates Park because it was my home park as a kid. I spent a lot of time there playing with friends as a child and have a lot of memories watching my dad play softball there”
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Jack Wohlford has been in his position for a little more than a year maintaining our landscapes, sports fields, and ball courts.
What's your favorite part of the job?
"Keeping everything looking nice for the citizens of Walker, we take pride in our work”
What do you think people don't realize about DPW/Parks?
“Job success and perfection are very important to our department because of the citizens of Walker. Every day, we work to provide a better place to live”
What's your favorite park and why?
Community Park is my favorite because of all the different things that are available to do there.
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Meet Dale Schuiling! He’s been working in the City's sign shop for eight years but has been an employee for the City for almost 18 years. He makes street signs, event signs, banners, stickers, and other special projects. When Dale isn’t being creative here at work, you may see him out searching for Sasquatch.
What's your favorite part of the job?
"Favorite part of my job is when I am able to be creative. I love stickering the police cruisers and fire trucks.”
What do you think people don't realize about DPW/Parks?
“We have a lot of trade work skills within our department from heavy equipment, plumbing, electrical, and many computer skills to assist all of us to meet our end goals.”
What's your favorite park and why?
"Community Park is my favorite park. We used to live near it when my kids were younger. I have a lot of good family memories of picnics in the park."
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Save the Date for FREE Community Events |
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City of Walker Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m.
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2022 City of Walker Memorial Day Parade
The Memorial Day parade is on Monday, May 30 at 12:00 noon along Remembrance Road.
The Memorial Day Parade has been a Walker tradition for many, many years. Please join us in honoring those veterans that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. All Veterans, bands, floats, scout troops, businesses and organizations are invited to participate in this year’s parade. Registration opens March 1 and entry deadline is Monday, May 2 2022. Entry forms will be available via our online registration portal.
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Walker Standale Summer Concert Series
Join your community on June 9, July 14 and August 11 for our Annual Walker Standale Summer Concert Series.
Concerts are held at Walker Community Park (700 Cummings Ave) from 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
This FREE series is family-friendly; friendly dogs also welcomed on leashes. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food will be sold onsite by a local restaurant. Water and pop can be purchased through KDL Walker Branch. Watch for updates on the City of Walker's Facebook page!
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Walker Pumpkin Bash
Save the date for our ever-popular Walker Pumpkin Bash on Saturday, October 1 at City Hall. FREE event for families.
Free pumpkins for the first 1,000 kids, pumpkin decorating stations, free donuts and cider, trick or treating with local businesses, live petting zoo with the Critter Barn and more!
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Walker Winter Fest
Walker Winter Fest will be held on Thursday, December 1 at the Walker Ice and Fitness Center.
Santa and his elves will be visiting from the North Pole along with live reindeer! Enjoy ice skating, hot cocoa and cookies, holiday crafts, live music and more. An official tree lighting will be held at 7:00 p.m. to kick-off the holiday season in Walker!
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Rent a Park Pavilion for our Next Gathering! |
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Explore your Walker Trails |
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With spring just around the corner, traffic will start to pick up on the 38 miles of trails that wind through and around the City of Walker. Find out more about local trails, maps, and social groups by connecting with the West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition. Want to get more involved, contact Friends of Walker Trails at [email protected]. |
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City Park Addresses and Amenities |
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HARMON FIELD
70 SUNSET HILLS AVE. S.W.
- Softball Diamond, Basketball hoop and Playground.
CITY CENTRAL PARK
4243 REMEMBRANCE RD. N.W.
- North Central Park: Baseball Diamond, Softball Diamonds, Soccer Fields, Restrooms, Concessions, Playground, Walking Trails.
- South Central Park: Playground, Tennis Courts, Sand Volleyball Courts, Picnic Pavilion, Restrooms, Wetland Walk, Fishing Pond, In-line Hockey Rink, Basketball Courts, Walking Trail.
COMMUNITY PARK
700 CUMMINGS AVE. N.W.
- Picnic Pavilion, Restrooms, Playground, Softball Diamond, Basketball Court, Soccer Field, Pickleball Court and Tennis Court.
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ENGLISH HILLS PARK
3070 IPSWICH DR. N.W.
- Softball Diamond, Playground, Basketball Hoop.
ALPINE ESTATE PARK
1364 THREE MILE RD. N.W.
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Picnic Pavilion, Softball Diamond, Playground, Walking Trails, Restrooms, and Basketball Court.
LINCOLN LAWNS PARK
LINCOLN LAWNS DR. N.W.
- Soccer Field, Playground and Basketball Court.
WEST CHESTERFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
811 WILSON NW
(END OF CLAYTON)
ORCHARD RIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
2154 APPLEGATE DR. NW
Neighborhood Pocket Parks
- Orchard Ridge - 2154 Applegate Dr. NW.
- West Chesterfield - 811 Wilson NW.
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