The recent warm weather has been an opportunity I have been taking to get back outside and stretch my legs without the bite of cold. One such place here in Bossier Parish to do so is the Mike Wood Memorial Park. Named for Mike Wood, a student athlete from Bossier who was tragically killed in an auto-accident in November of 1968, this park has been a fixture in the Shady Grove area for decades. From local events to simple day outings, the Mike Wood Memorial Park has been available and home to many thousands of people seeking a pleasant place to experience the outdoors.
Mike Wood was a talented student athlete in Bossier Parish during the 1960s. Playing for the Bossier High School (BHS) Bearkats, Mike played both football and basketball, and was already making waves in his freshman year. A Bossier Press article from December 29, 1965, noted that “Fraser was the ‘Kats leading scorer with 18 points, followed closely by Ronnie Martin with 17 and Mike Wood with 14.” Mike would make several more appearances in the local papers in the following three years and by 1967, Mike had made the All-Tournament Basketball team. In his senior year Mike was labeled the all-around athlete of the year for BHS as well as the all-city and the all-district defensive end.
With a storied career behind him, Mike Wood signed to the Louisiana State University (LSU) team as a freshman starter, only spending time on the sidelines due to a fractured collarbone. Most tragically, Mike Wood’s life was cut short in an auto accident on November 27, 1968, ending what should have been a star career before it could start.
The legacy of Mike Wood would not end with the accident, however. Less than a decade after his death, a plan for a park was put into place to memorialize him forever. The land for the park was bought in 1974 by the Bossier Parish Police Jury for $60,000. A mixture of federal and city money funded the amenities of the park at $150,000.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Bossier Parish Police Juror Ruben White delivered a memorial for Mike Wood. Mr. White detailed Mike’s life and how, should he ever have a son, he’d want him to be like Mike. Finally, it was Mike Wood’s mother who broke the first ground on the project, setting in motion a process that would see the park flourish into a wonderful place of community.
Built within the Shady Grove Neighborhood with relaxation and exercise in mind, Mike Wood Park has a variety of amenities such as tennis courts, a basketball court, a playground, a pool, and a nice walking path around the park. Mike Wood’s legacy of athleticism and dedication is remembered every time someone takes a morning run, enjoys an afternoon picnic, or plays on the playground equipment after school. The Mike Wood Memorial Park has been a fixture of the Shady Grove community for nearly fifty years and will continue to be so for many more.
If you have any photos or other information relating to the history of Bossier City or Bossier Parish, the History Center may be interested in adding the materials to its research collection by donation or by scanning them and returning the originals. Call or visit us to learn more. We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org. We can also be found online at https://www.facebook.com/BPLHistoryCenter/ and http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/
Images:
- Mike Wood listed as All City and All District Defensive End (BHS Yearbook 1968)
- Mike Wood Accepting the award for Best All Around Athlete (BHS Yearbook 1968)
- Mike Wood on the field, with mention of his LSU signing (BHS Yearbook 1968)
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