A familiar Taylor park celebrated a major anniversary this past Saturday.
Taylor Parks and Recreation hosted its Murphy Park Centennial Celebration Nov. 4 with a few hours of festivities. Participants celebrated the 100th birthday of the park through a program, live music and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
People who attended the celebration could also watch the Taylor Youth Ducks football game or participate in the American Legion Graham D. Luhn Post 39 Veterans 5K Beer Run.
Attendees of the Murphy Park Centennial Celebration pose for a picture with Taylor Parks and Recreation staff. The park’s 100th anniversary was celebrated with programs, live music and activities. Photo courtesy of Taylor Parks and Recreation
“It was a great day for Murphy Park,” said Ian Davis, Taylor Parks and Recreation’s programs coordinator. “Part of the reason we chose that day was we wanted to showcase that we often have multiple activities happening at once.”
The park, which is 120 acres, includes athletic facilities, playgrounds, swimming pools, a lake and multiple picnic sites.
The celebration began with an adult Zumba class at 10 a.m. An hour later, the Parks and Rec department hosted a tumbling class and a 100yard dash for the kids.
Additionally, there was a bounce house, a fire truck, food and music performed by Montana Lane.
The celebration concluded with a program that dove into the park’s history. Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Bybee, District 2 Taylor City Councilman Mitchell Drummond, Rev. James Davis and Irene Michna spoke during this time.
Davis said Michna, a longtime member of the Parks and Recreation board, was the featured speaker of the program. She shared stories about her involvement with Murphy Park over the years, such as her celebrating her first birthday
there. “She was the perfect fit for a commemorative event like this,” Davis said. “Her enthusiasm for the park, as well as her family being active members of the community, was just a great way to showcase the history of the park.”
While the celebration was an opportunity to honor Murphy Park’s past, Davis said it also served as a good chance to look ahead to future improvements. There is a master plan for Murphy Park, which details multiple projects to come.
Davis said there are three projects that stand out in the master plan. The pickleball court will be expanded by this summer, the track will be resurfaced by the winter of 2024 and a new pool will be built by summer of 2025.
“What’s exciting is that we have some really big investments coming up at Murphy Park,” Davis said. “Some of the bigger improvements that we’ve seen … So, it’s an exciting time to not only celebrate the past but look towards the future.”
Irene Michna, a longtime member of the Taylor Parks and Recreation board, describes her personal history with Murphy Park. Photo courtesy of Taylor Parks and Recreation
