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GrahamPark
GrahamPark in Sumpter Township is a part of the histo-
ry of the community.
The park is named for and was dedicated to the memory
of Roy Graham, the only Sumpter Township Police officer
who lost his life while on duty. The park was originally dedi-
cated tohismemoryNov. 6, 1985.
The land for the park was first purchased by the town-
ship in November of 1971 under the direction of then
Supervisor Elmer Parraghi. The Sumpter Township Parks
and Recreation Commission had only been in existence
since June of 1970.
The township paid $14,900 for the 10-acres of land on the
northwest corner of Sumpter and Wear roads. Township
officials named the first park in Sumpter Township Wear
RoadPark.
A rededication ceremony
took place July 24 1993 and a
memorial plaquewas installed
in the park. In 2006, a 20-year
memorial ceremony took
place attended by Ofc.
Graham's family, friends, area
police officers, township offi-
cials and a crowd of citizens.
Banotai Park
Banotai Park has been an amenity of Sumpter Township
since 1978.
Maintenance at the park began in earnest in 1990 when
Supervisor Marvin L. Banotai assigned the work to the
Parks and Recreation Commission and scheduled several
community events in the park. Banotai enlisted the help of
the Huron Valley Conservation Club to stock the lake and
conduct fishing clinics.
The parkwas renamed in 2004 inmemory of Mr. Banotai.
In 2005, Supervisor Johnny Vawters and the board of
trustees agreed to a five-year plan of the Parks and
Recreation Commission for improvements at the park. In
2005, more than $40,000 was spent in the park on improve-
ments, maintenance and pavilions. Following those
improvements, an official dedication ceremony took place
naming the park for
Supervisor Banotai and offi-
cially naming the body of
water SherwoodPond.
Since then, constant
improvements have been
made at the park, including
wheelchair accessible rest
rooms and two fountains.
Parks are part of township tradition
Graham Park
Banotai Park
