I grew up in Muskegon. I learned to ice skate at LC Walker Arena. I have attended so many events there, from college graduation to concerts to hockey games. It is a well loved place in Muskegon.

Mercy Health has purchased the right to change the name of our beloved LC Walker Arena in Muskegon, to Mercy Health Arena. Mr. Walker donated the funds to create the Arena for our beautiful city.

City Manager, Frank Peterson recognizes the contributions of Mr. Walker:

"His investments in our community are so vast that it’s almost impossible to keep track – but they benefit our community abundantly. For example, in 1922, Mr. Walker had a vision to create an inner park system and an outer park system. The inner park system provided dozens of playgrounds throughout Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, while the outer park system focused on larger recreational opportunities – culminating with the acquisition of 1,700+ acres throughout the county (1,200 acres of that, we now call Muskegon State Park). He was able to do this by convincing his fellow business leaders of the value of recreation – and most of these park spaces were bought and developed with the investments that he secured from fellow business leaders.

Here are some amazing assets that are here today because of L.C. Walker’s leadership:

• Pere Marquette Park

• Beachwood Park

• Kruse Park (formerly Bronson Park)

• Muskegon State Park

• Veteran’s Memorial Causeway

• Seyferth Park

• Brown Field (the ball field of Seyferth Park)

• Progress Field (MLK Academy, Muskegon Heights)

• Reese Field

• Sheldon Field

• McCrea Field

• Walker Park (North Muskegon City Hall and Library)

• North Muskegon Field (NM high school fields)

• Marsh Field (redevelopment of the existing field)

• L.C. Walker Arena

There are other legacies of L.C. Walker that are less known. Did you know that he helped create a fund during WW2 that raised more than $2 Million from 1942 to 1946? The fund was meant to help the community recover post-war. Only 10% was set aside for recreation. The remainder was set aside to help “local charitable and character-building agencies.”

L.C. Walker’s passion for Muskegon was unparalleled. The more I learn about him and his actions, the more I believe he is one of our community’s greatest benefactors. With that said, of all of the recreational assets and philanthropic investments he made over his 60+ years in Muskegon County, most did not carry his name until after his death. It’s very clear that his efforts were undertaken for many reasons – but personal recognition was not necessarily one of them." Muskegon City Manager, Frank Peterson.

Sign your name to let MH know, we would like to keep our traditions alive and honor Mr Walker. Please keep this petition going! Share with your friends!