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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, March 13, 2022, pg. 9 Spring is clean-up time. It has been great to see the increased interest in restoring and developing Albion’s numerous parks in the city in all areas of our community. What has been accomplished in Holland Park, for example, serves as an example of what can be done with other parks in our community. One of our "lesser known" parks is Barnes Park, located along the north bank of the Kalamazoo River millpond across from Riverside Cemetery in the southern edge of town. For many years, this site, located along Water St. at the ends of Edwards and Adam streets, had been a dumping ground for municipal sidewalks and construction debris, surrounded by dead willow trees. During the 1960s, the Albion Beautification Committee, headed by former Albion Mayor Hugo A. Rieger (1885-1972) identified several locations around town for clean-up. Rieger teamed up with local conservation/beautification activist Truman L. Barnes (1916-1991) to clear out the riverbank area along Water St. Truman was involved with the clean-up of the Kalamazoo River for many years, and also was director of the Albion Recycle Center beginning in 1972. Truman was also scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 128, sponsored by the Gleaners insurance company. In June, 1966, the scouts, led by Truman, conducted the initial clean up the area. Several years later, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service chipped in some funding of $27,400. That amount was matched locally for a total of $54,800, for the establishment of the Water Street Park. Trees were planted, a boat launch installed, and picnic tables were added. In 1983, the Albion City Council voted to rename the park Barnes Park in honor of Truman L. Barnes. A small boulder was placed with a bronze plaque that reads, "Dedicated by the grateful citizens of Albion to Truman L. Barnes whose long and persistent labors in behalf of conservation and river beautification have greatly enriched this community." The Park was officially dedicated as part of the Festival of the Forks activities on September 15, 1984. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of the initial clean-up in June, 1966. On the left is Hugo A. Rieger. On the right is Truman L. Barnes. The men are observing Gleaner Boy Scout Troop 128 clearing out and cleaning up the area. Notice on the left that Water St. was then just a dirt road. In the distance is Riverside Cemetery. How many of our readers remember Truman L. Barnes?  On the left is Hugo A. Rieger. On the right is Truman L. Barnes, June 1966 Boy Scout Troop 128 Clean-Up
All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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