Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/author/mollywright/)
After immigrating from India and working everywhere from the Middle East to Europe and a cruise ship in between, Chef Rajeev Patgaonkar has learned the importance of building a community—wherever you are.
An East Lansing resident of 28 years Patgaonkarhas built his community through his job as a chef, often volunteering with local organizations such as the Lansing chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and most recently AgeAlive.
Katrina Jeffreys in front of her company, Fur Real Dog Snacks’booth at the Holt Farmers’ Market. Her dog Nyxi is pictured behind her. Picture this: you wake up on a Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. You are absolutely famished, yet decidedly walk past the fridge and go outside. You find yourself at the brightly muraled entrance of the Holt Farmers’ Market. You walk in and are greeted with neighborly smiles and homegrown charm.
For suburban Americans, the idea of a public park seems commonplace. But how many of us know what elements go into making a park, let alone a good one?
Molly WrightAnna Bigelow and her daughter Sarah, 3, on the playground at Valhalla Park in Holt.
Luckily for residents of the Greater Lansing Area, the Holt-Delhi parks department seems to have the answers.
Recently under new leadership, the director, Troy Stowell is a longtime parks department employee and Holt resident has been in charge for the past month. “I’m actually a Holt resident myself so when this position came open at the end of 2021 it felt like a natural fit to come in and apply to see if I can better the parks system and improve my hometown,” says Stowell. This may be a tough initiative as Delhi Township already boasts an impressive list of parks as well as roughly 9 miles of interurban trails and pathways for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. The trails are a combination of paved walking paths and hiking trails to ensure accessibility and connect the Holt community with the Lansing River Trail (a 25.3-mile paved path along Grand River).
“All of our trails connect with either schools or parks or neighborhoods, so a lot of people, especially when the weather gets a little better outside, you’ll see them on our trail system.
For suburban Americans, the idea of a public park seems like a rite of passage, an important facet in all our coming-of-age stories. But how many of us know what elements make a park a good park?
Anna Bigelow and her daughter Sarah, 3 in May, on the playground at Valhalla Park in Holt.
Luckily for residents of the Greater Lansing Area, the Holt-Delhi parks department seems to have the answers.
Recently under new leadership, the new director, Troy Stowell is a longtime parks department employee and Holt resident has been in charge for the past month. “I’m actually a Holt resident myself so when this position came open at the end of 2021 it felt like a natural fit to come in and apply to see if I can better the parks system and improve my hometown,” says Stowell. This may be a tough initiative as Delhi Township already boasts an impressive list of parks as well as roughly 9 miles of interurban trails and pathways for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. The trails are a combination of paved walking paths and hiking trails to ensure accessibility and connect the Holt community with the Lansing River Trail (a 25.3-mile paved path along Grand River).
According to Parks and Recreation Director Troy Stowell, the Holt-Delhi parks department has plans to continue expanding the trails due to their popularity.
“Our trail system here in Holt I think is second to none.
Three nuns who teach at Resurrection School and Capitol High School in Lansing came to Granger Meadows with makeshift sleds to enjoy their snow day.