5/31/23: Old park, new plan

Kalamazoo’s largest park has a bright future ahead of it and city leaders want your help to determine what that looks like. Also: It’s almost summer and that means higher energy prices during peak times. And Kalamazoo County’s highways are getting prepped for sunflowers.

News You Need To Know

A new plan for an old park

One upon a time, Kalamazoo’s largest park was home to a zoo housing a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Much has changed at Milham Park since then; the zoo shut down in the 1970s; new playgrounds have been built; old dams have been removed. City leaders are trying to figure out what’s next for the park and they’re asking residents for input.

“As we create a master plan, we want to know what you’d like to see in any future improvements,” reads a city news release. City planners will be on hand at Milham Park on Thursday to hear what residents have to say. The event will be open house-style from 4 to 7pm. Whether you want them to bring back the zoo or have ideas for something even more outlandish, officials want to hear from you. [MLive]

Time for higher energy costs

Summer is coming and that means it’s time for summer energy rates. Consumers Energy announced that summer energy rates will kick in Thursday and continue until the end of September. The summer rate plan allows the company to charge more for electricity during times when energy usage is highest. Those times will be between 2 and 7pm on weekdays. During those times, costs will be about 1.5 times higher than usual. The company said that encourages customers to shift power usage to times when it isn’t so expensive. [WWMT]

Sunflowers for highways

If you’ve noticed dead vegetation along the median of U.S. 131 near D Avenue, it’s not your imagination. It’s intentional – part of a project to plant pollinator gardens along the freeway. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to plant sunflowers in the median beginning next year. It was supposed to happen this year, but the funding didn’t work out. MDOT also plans to plant sunflowers at the interchange between 131 and Interstate 94.

The project is part of an effort to make state roadways a little more ecologically friendly. Sunflowers are particularly good for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies. Both insects have faced declining populations in recent years and there is a concerted effort to boost their numbers. Asked whether these gardens could lead to more smashed bugs on windshields, MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa told WMUK that doesn’t appear to be an issue. “A couple of things that we’ve learned from other studies. … the higher and lower speed roadways have a lower mortality rate … than roads kind of in the mid-speed, say 45-55 mph,” he said. [WMUK]

Things To Do In Kalamazoo

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3 of a Kind – Hilton Garden Inn
6:00PM 5/31

Board Game Night – Main Street Pub, West Main
6:00PM 5/31

The Heavy Heavy – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
8:00PM 5/31

Karaoke – Shakespeare’s Pub
8:30PM 5/31

Wednesday Comedy Night – Final Gravity Brewing Co.
8:30PM 5/31

Open Mic – Satellite Records
5:30PM 6/1

Old Time Jam – Old Dog Tavern
6:00PM 6/1

The ABC’s of Roses – Wenke Greenhouse
6:00PM 6/1

Sound Immersion w/ Ola Sagrada Sound, Backyard Yogis – Jerico
7:00PM 6/1

Music Exchange Series: Sophia McIntosh + Lexi Adams – The Clover Room
7:00PM 6/1

Brontë Fall & Friends – Dormouse Theatre
7:00PM 6/1

“Don’t Call Me Michael,” a stand up comedy show – Crawlspace Comedy Theatre
7:30PM 6/1

Lucius Fox – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
8:00PM 6/1

Historic Walk: Business & Industry in Kalamazoo – Meet at Gazelle Sports
8:00AM 6/2

Art on the Mall – Kalamazoo Mall
12PM 6/2, 9AM 6/3

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair – Bronson Park
12PM 6/2, 9AM 6/3

The Kennedy Affair – Perry Harley-Davidson
5:00PM 6/2

5:01 Ditch Friday on the patio with DJ MEL-V – JungleBird
5:00PM 6/2

June Art Exhibit Opening Night – Black Arts & Cultural Center
5:00PM 6/2

Music with Steve Kamerling – Brick + Brine
6:00PM 6/2

State On The Street: Lady Ace Boogie Presents – State Theatre
6:00PM 6/2

Kalamazoo Pride – Arcadia Festival Place
6PM 6/2, 12PM 6/3

Pitch Night – Startup Zoo
6:00PM 6/2

2023 Sweet Heart Dance – Portage Zhang Senior Center
6:00PM 6/2

LOVKN – Historic Grain Elevator, Portage
6:30PM 6/2

The Search for (Ancient Microbial) Life on Mars – Kalamazoo Astronomical Society
7:00PM 6/2

Run 4 Cover – Presidential Brewing Co.
7:00PM 6/2

Pride After Party wsg the Incantations – Old Dog Tavern
9:00PM 6/2

Pride Party – Final Gravity Brewing Co.
9:00PM 6/2

Live Music with Crazy Mic – The Dock At Bayview
9:00PM 6/2

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