Heritage Park Honors Gingellville History, Adds Public Green Space to Orion Twp
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 30, 2025)
Orion Township, MI – Property at the corner of Baldwin and Pasadena Roads in Orion Township was the perfect size for a Tropical Smoothie Cafe, but Township administrators had an even sweeter vision – a pocket park that combines both history and green space named Heritage Park.
The park includes a walkway that fans out from a single path like branches extending from a tree trunk. Native plants thrive in the spaces between and benches along the paths give multiple places for people to rest, or chat, or simply enjoy the space. There are wind chimes, a swinging bench, and birdhouses. Plus there are historical signs that share a bit about the neighborhood’s rich heritage, hence the park’s name.
Known as Gingellville, an unincorporated community blossomed up in the late 1800s with members of the Gingell family finding success in many endeavors, including as builders that had a prolific impact on the number of homes in the area. In 1928 the Gingell Family bought a large swath of farmland which they turned into a neighborhood. They also established a schoolhouse, a grocery store, and a gas station.
Now, nearly a century later, the Gingell family continues to make their mark on the Orion Township Area, with Oakland County Commissioner Mike Gingell among those on hand for the Nov 12 ribbon cutting ceremony. The pocket park was packed with family, friends, and neighbors celebrating the new space.
Heritage Park was created with help from at $25,000 America in Bloom Grant and funding from CN Railroad. Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett also thanked the Gingell family for selling the land to the Township at a discounted rate to help keep it a public space, rather than a smoothie shop.
“This is just one quiet space that is a respite along a busy corridor,” Barnett said. He added that there was no parking for the park, as it’s meant to be “someplace you walk to, someplace you have a break.”
The serenity mixed with history was important to those who designed the space. “A community that remembers it’s heritage, builds its future on solid ground,” the Supervisor said.
The ribbon cutting was part of a day of parks celebration that included a bus tour for city leaders, administrators, those that serve on boards and commissions, as well as the media and other elected officials. The ribbon cutting was the stop just before a ribbon cutting at the newly named Orion Recreation Center just up the road. The Township celebrated the opening of ten new parks in the past 15 years, as well as plans for the future. Barnett also announced the recent purchase of the former Pine Tree elementary property to be converted into a Township park, with part of the building likely to be preserved as a recreation space.
A booklet describing multiple park improvements includes the Miracle Field and the Let Them Play playground at Friendship Park where people with all abilities can play, amenities at Civic Center Park including Wildwood Amphitheater and an adult fitness course, the disc golf course, beach expansion, and KaBoom! playground at Camp Agawam, improvements to Paint Creek Trail including the VanTassel Pedestrian Bridge, The Playful Dragon, and of course the many events hosted by the Township for people of all ages.
County Commissioner Gingell applauded the Township for making such efforts. “As I go across Oakland County, and I see all this development, I have to say that this board is taking special care to have a good blend of development and open space, as evidenced by this park,” Gingell said. “You don’t see that in a lot of places.”
Learn more about Orion Parks at https://www.orionparks.com/
