Prospect Park is located at the corner of East Cross and North Prospect in Ypsilanti's Historic East Side Neighborhood. Prior to becoming a park, the area was Ypsilanti's second cemetery, and was once the final resting place for approximately 250 people. Inspired by a nation-wide parks movement in 1891, a group of local women transformed the then-neglected cemetery into the City's first park. After raising enough money, the bodies were moved, the grounds were graded, trees were planted and paths installed. Luna Lake, a small, natural depression was turned into a pond complete with a rustic fountain.

Over the years, Luna Lake fell into disrepair and became overgrown with weeds and scrub trees. In 2000, the Historic East Side Neighborhood Association began raising funds to restore the area. This is the story of that process. [CONTINUE READING]