FLINT, Michigan — Taking in everything that makes up Civic Park, I couldn’t help but think about all the memories made across decades in the neighborhood: all the friend groups that would meet up and walk through the streets until the sun went down, all the families that started and were raised in this community.

Looking at what was left, I wondered what could be done to get it back to the thriving community it once was — the community that so many, some of whom never left, yearn for. Speaking to residents, it became apparent that the neighborhood may never return to its former self, but there is plenty left to work with.

Community members want better for their neighbors and themselves, but not having the means or resources to do it makes it a bigger challenge than most would want to take on alone.

As Flintside revisits the five Flint neighborhoods we've covered over the years for our On the Ground series, let's take a look at the historic neighborhood of Civic Park through stoic, stunning photos.

Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, signs welcome everyone to the Civic Park Neighborhood which celebrated its centennial in 2019. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, Saints of God Church is a beacon of light in the community. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Sunset casts a picturesque tint on an abandoned house in the Civic Park area as a reminder of the past on Aug. 12, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Sunset falls on the Civic Park neighborhood family houses on Aug. 12, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, Dayton and Chevrolet Ave sit in the heart of the Civic Park neighborhood. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, the old Civic Park school holds a memorable place in the annuals of Flint history. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, a trailer for the African Tropical Savana Safari is outside the Urban Renaissance Center. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, at Civic Park's Centennial Pavilion. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, a large portion of Flint's population calls Civic Park their home. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, a father shows his children how to replace their fence in Civic Park. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, the Civic Park Community Gardening Project gives neighborhood residents access to fresh produce. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, painted on the side of a building, Civic Park calls itself an Ubuntu Village with the saying "I am, because you are." (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, a large mural celebrates Civic Park's 2019 centennial year. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Pictured on Aug. 12, 2024, flags welcome everyone to the Civic Park Neighborhood which celebrated its centennial in 2019. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)

Check out more stories from our 'On the Ground' series here.