Parchment City Hall

The City of Parchment traces its beginnings to the founding of the Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company in 1909. The Company was started by Jacob Kindleberger in an old sugar beet factory on the bank of the Kalamazoo River a few miles north of Kalamazoo. The company made parchment paper and hence the City’s name of Parchment.The company’s first employees lived in tents near the mill or commuted in riverboats back and forth from Kalamazoo. Others rented rooms from farmers.As the Company grew, the community grew around it. In 1915 the Company built six houses along Riverview Drive, later eight more were built. Plats were laid out and the City’s first street “Oak Grove” was built.

Mr. Kindleberger and a committee of citizens worked out a plan for a model village. In 1930 the population in the mill area had grown to 511 residents. That year an election was held and the Village of Parchment was carved out of the northern part of Kalamazoo Township.Under the guidance of Jacob Kindleberger, the mill, and the Village Commission, great progress was made. New streets were built, sewer pipes layed, signals installed and a business district formed. Taxes were low as the mill still bore the greatest part of the expenses for municipal services such as police, fire, streets, water, sewer, and park maintenance. When the mill was idled by adverse economic conditions such as the depression of the 1930s, Mr. Kindleberger would put the employees to work on town improvements ensuring that everyone earned enough to feed their families.By a vote of 183 “yes” to 1 “no” the citizens of the Village of Parchment voted to become a 5th class city in 1939.The City of Parchment has a population of 1,817 people based on the 2010 uncontested Census.

Kindleberger Park

The City of Parchment is home to beautiful Kindleberger Park.Kindleberger Park was donated to the City by the Jacob Kindleberger family for the enjoyment of our citizens. The park is approximately forty acres and is located at the intersection of Park and Maple Streets.The park offers a four-diamond Little League complex, two softball diamonds, two new playgrounds, five covered picnic pavilions, tennis courts, paved walking paths and a beautiful sunken formal garden complete with a gazebo.

The Kalamazoo River

The City of Parchment is a riverfront community bordering the Kalamazoo River for approximately 1.4 miles.The river is a valuable asset providing recreational opportunities, natural beauty and wildlife habitat. Considering this, the City of Parchment is active in working to preserve and protect the Kalamazoo River.

Waste and Recycling Services

Effective June 1, 2009, the following changes were made to residential recycling, allowing numerous other plastics to be recycled: commingled container recycling consists of plastic, glass and metal CONTAINERS that are usually generated in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room and NOT a garage.

Plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 are now acceptable as follows:

• #1 – pop, water, flavored beverage bottles (clear and green).
• #2 – milk, juice, laundry detergent and fabric softener containers.
• #3 – Narrow neck containers only – household cleaners, health & beauty bottles.
• #4 – Grocery containers: margarine tubs, frozen dessert cups, 6-pack rings.
• #5 – Grocery containers: yogurt cups, syrup (narrow neck), ketchup bottles.
• #7 – Other narrow neck containers only.

Garbage

Garbage is picked up every Wednesday and must be to the curb by 8AM with no exceptions. Pickups falling on or after one of the following holidays will be one day late. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in your collection. The following holidays are observed: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.The City has an exclusive contract for waste removal and recycling which provides significant savings to our residents. It also offers you the convenience of addressing your concerns to City Hall who will act as liaison with waste removal personnel. Only trash that fits in the bin with the lid securely fastened is picked up. Any extra waste must be put into specially marked bags available at City Hall.

• Garbage (every Wednesday - cart must be out by 8AM) but cannot permanently remain at the curb. No carts should ever be placed in the roadway.
• Recycling (every other Wednesday, cart must be out by 8AM).
• 95 gallon Yard Waste Container (every Wednesday April 1 – November 30).
• Contact City Hall if interested.
• Once a year bulk trash pickup April 26 – 27 (once through the City each day).
• Trash Bags $3.50
• Bulk Trash Tags $12.00
• 30 gallon Grass/Yard Waste Bags $6.50

Please bag as much trash as possible and put all trash in your cart. Keep your cart at least three feet from any object such as cars, light posts, trees, mailboxes, recycle and yard waste carts. Placing your cart with the opening towards the road will help Republic to close the lid properly and helps placement when setting it down. City Ordinance requires your cart at the curb no earlier than 8 PM Tuesday and returned no later than 8PM Wednesday. State law prohibits the commingling of yard waste and garbage. Waste Services will not pick up more trash than can fit in each bin with the lid closed. Any extra waste must be put into specially marked bags available at City Hall. Hazardous items are not picked up and you should call the Household Hazardous Waste Center at 373-5211 for information. All questions, comments and problems should be directed to Parchment City Hall by calling 349-3785. The Solid Waste Agreement contract calls for any issues to be handled within 48 hours.

Vehicle Recycling

Make-A-Wish of Michigan can tow away, auction off, and recycle old cars free of charge. Proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish of Michigan.