Parkland School history of Flint, Michigan forgotten.

Parkland School was an elementary school ran by the Flint Community Schools in Flint, Michigan from 1913 to 1976.

Parkland School (Parkland Elementary School) was built as a 16-classroom building at a cost of $70,000 in 1913. The building itself was a 3 story school building in 1913. The building included a basement at the bottom. Edwin Sterner Co. has secured the contract for heating in the Parkland School. Parkland School educated grades Pre-Kindergarden through 7. Thousands of children were educated at Parkland School.

During the 1950s is when Parkland School saw several upgrades and expansions. Many rooms were added on as additions. Parkland School was enlarged in 1952. An auditorium was added in 1954. A multipurpose room was added sometime during that time period.

Parkland School was the center of the Dewey neighborhood for more than 6 decades. Mothers were taught homemaking. Breakfast was served to needy children at this school. Pre-schoolers received education here. However the school would go into decline by the 1960’s. Enrollment declined.


Parkland School closed in 1976 due declining enrollment declined. Flint Community Schools superintendent decided to close the school without realizing the consequences for its neighborhood. (Ref: Handkerchief Quilt, Carol Crane, 2011)
(Ref: SCHOOL SITE SLATED FOR NEW LIFE, Flint Journal, February 4, 1997)

Parkland School was reportedly heavily vandalized in 1977. This was after it closed. $30,000 or more worth of damage was done to Parkland School. At that time, cost of demolition was estimated at $30,000 or more.
(Ref: Flint Journal, 1977)
(Ref: SCHOOL SITE SLATED FOR NEW LIFE, Flint Journal, February 4, 1997)


Flint real estate dealer Robert J. Horton bought both Parkland School and Clark School for $43,560. Mt. Hermon Baptist Church (dba Mt. Hermon Caring & Sharing Development Corp.) bought Parkland School and its adjoining three acres from Robert J. Horton in 1995.

By 1997, the Parkland School building was in deplorable conditions beyond saving. Rev. Kim D. Yarber stated, “The school is in such bad shape that it cannot be saved.” It is one of the oldest buildings in the Flint Community Schools school district.
(Ref: SCHOOL SITE SLATED FOR NEW LIFE, Flint Journal, February 4, 1997)

A fire at the former Parkland School on East Pasadena Avenue caused an estimated $2,000 in damage. The property was the future home of the Mount Hermon Baptist Church. 80% of Parkland School was demolished in later 1997. (Ref: Flint Journal, October 14, 1997)


Today Parkland School sits abandoned and vacant. Flint Community Schools has the building for sale and lease. Parkland School is one of the oldest school buildings in the Flint Community Schools school district along with Central High School, Whittier Academy, Oak School, Dort School, and Durant Elementary School.

Parkland School is located at 3407 North Street Flint, Michigan, US 48505.