Merrill Park
Written by: April and Meredith, 4th grade Green Meadow
Merrill Park is open from sunrise until sunset. It is between River Street and Comstock Avenue. Places by Merrill Park are the fire station, Niko's Landing, Riverview Cafe, and the Big Dipper. The park is used quite often by Comstock residences. For example, the Comstock Public Library has used the park for balloon fights. Softball games are also held there. The park has a boat ramp, basketball courts and a wonderful playground. People also use the park for picnicking. Some people go there and feed the ducks. Once President Clinton even visited the park.
The park is on the Kalamazoo River. Many people also go fishing at Merrill Park. There is a very heavy current in the water so it is not used for swimming. The reason there is a current is because there is a waterfall, that you can not see, farther down the stream.
Merrill Park-Spring of 1998
The History of Merrill Park
Merrill Park has a great history. It is the oldest park in Comstock. In the early 1900's Merrill Park was used as a baseball field. In those days the ball players only spectators were the grazing cows in the field. Older residents can recall floods in the spring. That was until the Morrow Dam was built.
Merrill Park was named after a pioneer preacher. His name was Rev. Thomas Merrill. He was a Baptist minister at the townships first church. This church was located on the site of this park. The citizens in Comstock officially dedicated the Thomas Merrill Park Sun., Sept. 28, 1958, 2:00 P.M.
President Bill Clinton visited Merrill Park in 1997. He came to talk about stopping pollution. He gave a nice long speech about it. The citizens of Comstock have dedicated a plaque that has been put in a large rock. Now all can glance at it and remember the day the President came to Comstock.
