The City of Chelsea will celebrate the official opening of Holmes Family Park (formerly Main Street Park) during a two-day celebration on Friday, August 21, and Saturday, August 22. Following the City’s planned assumption of ownership in mid-July, the festivities will mark the completion of a community vision years in the making.
Holmes Family Park has been one of Chelsea’s most ambitious community redevelopment projects. Once the site of the former Federal Screw Works property, the park has been transformed from a long-vacant brownfield industrial site into a public destination in downtown Chelsea.
The project was led by the Main Street Park Alliance, whose volunteers, donors, community partners, and supporters. Their work brought together public and private investment, environmental remediation, thoughtful design, and extensive community engagement to create a park that reflects Chelsea’s values and aspirations.
The park will feature accessible pathways, open green spaces, gathering areas, recreation opportunities, and connections to the Border-to-Border Trail.
“This park is the result of an extraordinary community effort,” said Mayor Kate Henson. “The Main Street Park Alliance inspired our community with a bold vision and the determination to see it through. As the City assumes stewardship of Holmes Family Park, we are honored to carry that vision forward and ensure this remarkable space continues to bring people together for decades to come.”
The celebration begins at 10 am on Friday, August 21, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing the many individuals, organizations, volunteers, donors, and partners whose commitment made the park possible.
The celebration continues from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday, August 22, with the Holmes Family Park Block Party, a free community event featuring live entertainment, family activities, recreation, food, and opportunities for residents to explore and enjoy the park together.
“The vision for Holmes Family Park has always been about creating more than a park,” said Joe Ziolkowski, Primary Developer and Board Member. “It is about creating a place where families gather, neighbors connect, children play, community events thrive, and future generations experience the very best of Chelsea. Seeing that vision become reality is incredibly rewarding.”
For further event details, visit https://www.mainstreetpark.org/#block-party
Featured photo: Holmes Family Park is nearing completion, with the City of Chelsea expected to assume ownership in mid-July. Photo courtesy of mainstreetpark.org
114 North Main St Suite 10 Chelsea, MI 48118
