Goodrich Commons
I’ve been going to the Goodrich Commons since I was six years old. Over the years, the reasons for my time spent there evolved, and the park did, too. That said, the Commons are still mostly the same as the first time I went there around 2000.
The highlight of the park for many is the Kearsley Creek, which is dammed at the foot of Hegel Road to make the Goodrich Mill Pond, a structure first completed in the 1840s. It’s been modernized numerous times over the years, and although it isn’t the prettiest sight in the world, it is a landmark that anyone who grew up in Goodrich will be familiar with.
As a child, I fished this creek frequently. Though most of my efforts were further downstream, near the baseball fields across from Reid Elementary School, I’d often try my luck under the dam with some success. The largest fish I ever caught here was a roughly 30-inch-long pike, but incredibly skinny. My friends and I caught largemouth bass here, rock bass, bluegill, and the occasional creek chub. Further down the creek, there are better fishing spots; however, some of the biggest fish my friends and I pulled out of the Kearsley Creek were under the Goodrich Mill Pond Dam. If you don’t have luck at the Commons or near Reid, it’s worth heading down to Atlas County Park, which gets you closer to the Atlas Millpond.
In addition to the Kearsley Creek, the Goodrich Commons has more to offer. There are basketball and tennis courts, which have varied in quality over the years but are still absolutely usable. There are lines for Pickle Ball now, too, which shows how recently upgrades have been made here.
The grassy area has a pavilion where the Goodrich Farmers’ Market used to meet. The market is trying to move elsewhere, but the area is still used for events like Good Times in Goodrich in the summer. I remember going to the festival in the summer and seeing numerous vendors that sparked my interest, like the Humane Society and face painting. There was a 3v3 basketball tournament, which a few of my friends won one year.
There’s a small playground here, too, and numerous picnic areas. I remember as a kid, someone would always put one of the picnic tables into the river and have their lunch with their feet sitting in the river.
The Goodrich Commons is a small park, but it’s always been at the center of downtown Goodrich and has always had improvement plans in the works. Though nothing significant has happened here since I was a kid, it still hits me with nostalgia whenever we walk by. Bring a fishing pole and a picnic lunch, and make a day of it!
