Behind Delhi Township’s immaculately maintained green spaces and colorful planters is a dedicated team of permanent and seasonal staff. Each year, the township hires five seasonal gardeners who work tirelessly to enhance and maintain Holt’s natural beauty.
These seasonal workers, active from May until “the plants start dying,” as Grounds and Facilities Manager Beau Arledge humorously puts it, are responsible for the manicured appearance of all township properties. Parks and Recreation Manager Troy Stowell emphasizes the thoroughness of their work, noting, “They spend a lot of time winterizing the plants for end-of-season care so that they stay healthy and mature over winter.”
The scope of their responsibility is impressive. Between the Parks Department and Grounds division, the team manages everything from Valhalla Park to the Veterans Memorial Park, including all municipal properties, planters, and landscaping along Cedar Street from Keller Road to the roundabout.
Veterans Memorial Park holds a special place in the township’s landscape. “I don’t think you’ll find a more manicured park in Mid-Michigan,” Stowell explains. “It’s style is a passive park where you can enjoy lunch, have some contemplation, and get away from the hustle and bustle. It’s not as active as other parks with playgrounds, and that is by design.”
When asked to choose his favorite among Delhi’s parks, Stowell laughs, “I don’t think we can say that!” He continues, “It just depends on my mood. I’m the father of three, so it’s nice to take a stroll let the kids just run around in our more playful parks. But the nature lover in me loves Esker Landing and the boat launch.” Arledge shares his own preference: “I love Valhalla because it has everything you could want—swimming, walking paths, the playground, and the trails.”
The Delhi Trails, which connect north to the Lansing River Trails, are also under the parks department’s care. For Stowell, who moved to Delhi Township in 2014 after serving as the Eaton County parks director, the work is both professional and personal. “On top of this being my job, as a resident I have a vested interest in making things look good here. I have a double-edged pride in the township.”
In a community without a traditional downtown or extensive shopping district, parks play an especially vital role. “When asked what Delhi is known for, the parks are always in the top two or three,” Stowell reflects. This sentiment is echoed by Arledge, who simply states, “I like keeping the town nice. That gives me motivation.”
As spring approaches, watch for the return of Delhi’s seasonal gardeners and the blooming results of their dedicated efforts throughout the community.
For more information on Delhi parks visit:
https://www.delhitownshipmi.gov/206/Parks-Recreation
or visit Delhi Trails.com:
https://delhitrails.com/