Hoyt Park lies at the heart of downtown Saginaw, a highlight of the city’s urban park system. With a long history of year-round family fun, this well-loved locale is vital to the local community. It has earned its nickname as the “Grand Old Park.” Watch baseball or softball, go ice-skating or take a relaxing stroll among the trees.

In the early 1900s, as Saginaw flourished with lumbering and manufacturing, hundreds rushed to Hoyt Park every weekend. Baseball, hockey and tobogganing were popular, but ice-skating was king. At one point, over 7,000 winter sports patrons were recorded in a single day. Imagine these bustling crowds from a time gone by as you visit Hoyt Park a century later. 

Today, the life of the park is somewhat more subdued. Having briefly fallen into disuse, Hoyt Park was resurrected in 2008 by a group of concerned citizens. Summer and winter sports returned to the Grand Old Park. Look for volunteers from the Friends of Hoyt Park organization, which directs activities and maintains the parklands.

Walk the length of the park, passing the pleasing geometries of baseball diamonds and the lovely willow trees around the hilly area. In summer, these fields come to life with local leagues competing where generations have played before them. Settle in to watch some of the action, which includes youth baseball and adult softball. Elsewhere in the park, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air with a bike ride, jog or game of Frisbee.

For most locals, Hoyt Park is synonymous with winter sports. The hill provides opportunities for sledding adventures. Skating has recently been reestablished, delighting local residents. Visit the warming shack, which rents skates and serves hot cocoa.

Hoyt Park is located on Washington Avenue, very close to Saginaw’s Children’s Zoo and the Japanese Cultural Center. Parking is available at the southern end of the park and on the streets on either side. Check in advance to see on which days skating facilities are open.