New multi-purpose pavilion rising in Beaverton

A recreational pavilion offering shade in the summer and heated shelter in the winter will serve Beaverton youth for years to come.

Now under construction, the 80-foot-by-100-foot structure could also be used to host farmers’ markets and other community events.

The primary purpose of the pavilion, funded by a Michigan community policing grant, is to provide a venue for recreation and other activities for children and families in Beaverton, a community of about 1,200 people in Gladwin County in central Michigan. 

“We welcome the opportunity for the children and  families in the community to be actively engaged in fun activities,” says Joan Cashin, who is the former superintendent of Beaverton Rural Schools.

What’s happening: The new pavilion is at Ross Lake Park, off M-18 at 435 Lang Road. The 17-foot-high structure will include basketball and volleyball courts, a possible indoor ice skating rink during the winter, and the potential for community activities such as movie nights and similar supervised gatherings.

The structure includes community restrooms with changing rooms to accommodate visitors to the park’s nearby splash pad, freeing up parking spaces currently blocked by portable toilets. The building features large overhead doors that can be opened or closed during inclement weather, expanding its potential uses.

The back story: The pavilion project has been entirely funded by a $689,409 grant from Michigan’s Community Policing Competitive Grant Program, says Beaverton City Manager Shannon M Sirpilla. That program provides funding to law enforcement agencies for community policing programs that develop collaborative partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

Leon Boyer, section manager for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, says the project focuses on providing a secure environment for recreation and relationship-building with local police, and falls under the categories of community engagement and programs for early intervention, at-risk engagement, and youth services.

Project goals: The space will be used in part to host programs designed and supervised by the local police department in a safe and structured environment for community engagement. The goals include:

• Promote recreational activities for kids ages 5 to 18 years old.
• Foster positive relationships between youth and local police.
• Provide alternatives to unsupervised activities
• Increase community participation (with the goal of decreasing crime, particularly theft, violence, and home invasion and promoting purchases at local businesses; better mental and physical health).
• Make Beaverton an attractive location for new families to live, work, and play.

What’s next: According to a January report by the Beaverton Department of Public Works, construction of the new building began last fall. The grant requires that the project be completed by September 30, 2026; the building construction is on track for a spring opening with a goal of April 1, according to Police Chief Brad Davis.