Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation Celebrates 40Years of Serving the Community
CEDAR SPRINGS — Cedar Springs Area Parks and Recreation (CSAPR) is celebrating 40 years of providing recreation and community enrichment opportunities for residents throughout Cedar Springs and northern Kent County. Established in 1986, the organization brings together schools, local governments, instructors, businesses, and volunteers to offer programs for people of all ages, interests, and abilities.
CSAPR’s partnership includes Cedar Springs Public Schools, the City of Cedar Springs, and Nelson, Solon, and Algoma townships. Their continued support helps provide safe places for children to play and opportunities for residents to connect and lead healthier, happier, and more active lives.
The organization’s roots date to January 1986, when representatives from Cedar Springs Public Schools (Jim Tackmann, Louise King, and Ivan Opperman), the City of Cedar Springs (Amber Bailey and Rose Powell), Solon Township (John Cornell and John Hart), and Nelson Township (Ellen Lewis and Don Mabie) gathered to establish bylaws, adopt a budget, and develop a recreation master plan. Their work secured governmental approval for CSAPR as a Public Authority. Algoma joined soon after.
In December 1986, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources approved the master plan, which identified 10 major projects. Within the first five years, seven projects totaling more than $700,000 were completed. The largest was the development of the Cedar Springs High School and community softball and baseball fields where volunteers transformed an uneven, rocky grass field into quality playing fields still used today. Other projects included improvements to Morley Park and Skinner Field.
Today, CSAPR offers activities including yoga, line dancing, painting, open basketball, volleyball and many more. A popular free monthly senior gathering features a guest speaker, light lunch, and bingo. As part of the anniversary, CSAPR has created an informational brochure highlighting its history, accomplishments, current programs, and contact information. Community partners are encouraged to share the brochure through newsletters, websites, and other resident communications.
CSAPR recognizes the founding board members, past and present directors, municipal and school representatives, instructors, business sponsors, and volunteers whose contributions have supported four decades of service.
Directors were responsible for the operations of the department to include creation and execution of programs, events, classes. They include Scott Templar, Chris Dingman, Sandy Waite (1993- 2001), Katy Austin (2001), Norton Johnson (2001-2006), Amanda Gerhardt (2006-2019) and are currently led by Executive Director Jaime Gunderson and Administrative Assistant Toni Cummings Taylor. The organization looks forward to continued growth and new opportunities to serve the community and would appreciate hearing from you regarding possible activities. The board meets on the first Monday of each month.
