PROJECT PROFILE
Reed City Pocket Park & Splash Pad
Reed City, Michigan
MUNICIPAL PARK CONSTRUCTION
Transforming an abandoned lot into a gathering place for the whole community.
Gerber Construction served as general contractor for the Reed City Pocket Park and Splash Pad — converting a long-neglected parking area into a vibrant public space in the heart of Reed City.
The site had sat abandoned for nearly 20 years following environmental remediation. With funding secured through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Gerber was selected as low bidder and led the project from ground-up development through a successful April 2026 completion.
Keegan Brown
With 17 years of commercial and municipal experience, Keegan manages projects from planning through execution — coordinating teams, schedules, and resources to keep work moving efficiently. His background spans budgeting, estimating, scheduling, permitting, and field supervision, with a track record that includes the Downtown Big Rapids Facade, Big Rapids Riverwalk, Big Rapids Library, FSU University Center, and FSU East Campus Housing.
CHALLENGE
A remediated site sitting idle for nearly two decades.
The project site had completed environmental remediation but remained undeveloped for close to 20 years. Activating it required careful coordination of site conditions, funding requirements, and community expectations — along with weather-related timing adjustments during construction.
APPROACH
Self-perform the core work. Coordinate the rest.
Gerber self-performed site work, concrete, carpentry, and general trades — maintaining direct control over quality and schedule. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and asphalt were subcontracted to trusted partners, keeping the project moving across all trades simultaneously.
RESULT
A community award winner and a lasting neighborhood asset.
The City of Reed City received a formal award through the project, recognizing its impact on the community. The completed park now hosts weekly Thursday night events, seasonal festivals, and daily recreation — bringing sustained activity to a formerly dormant site.
A parking lot becomes a destination.
The Reed City Pocket Park and Splash Pad replaced a long-abandoned lot with a fully programmed public space designed for year-round community use. The development includes a new parking area serving downtown businesses and visitors, an interactive splash pad with water features, a stage area sized for small gatherings, concerts, and festivals, and a recreation zone with picnic space and an outdoor fireplace with seat walls.
Gerber brought its self-performance capabilities to bear on the site work, concrete, carpentry, and general construction, while coordinating closely with subcontractors on the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and asphalt scopes. That combination — direct control where it matters most, and trusted trade partners for the rest — kept the project on track through a multi-phase schedule that carried from summer 2025 through spring 2026.
The project is part of an ongoing relationship between Gerber, design partner VandenBrink, and the City of Reed City — a collaboration built on a track record of quality municipal work and genuine investment in the communities Gerber serves.
The City of Reed City received a formal recognition award through the project — a reflection of what the community built here, and the partners who helped make it happen.
PROJECT GALLERY
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