Hired under Mayor Gary Cook and retained by two successors, Hite oversaw decades of growth across the city's park system before stepping down for health reasons
After 22 years as Superintendent of the Plymouth Park Department, Mike Hite announced his resignation at Monday's Park Board meeting.
Hite was hired by Mayor Gary Cook and served all 16 years of Mayor Mark Senter's administration. When Robert Listenberger was elected mayor, he too asked Hite to remain and oversee the city's park property — a testament to the continuity and trust Hite built across three administrations.
Hite's tenure spanned more than two decades of additions and improvements to the Plymouth park system. The timeline of his accomplishments tells the story of a community's green spaces expanding and modernizing year by year.
In 2005, the park added the 20 acres behind the old Menominee School for the Greenway Trail, and the next year saw the first phase of the Greenway Trail. In 2010, the City of Plymouth dedicated the downtown park area to the park department, and the next year the community naming process selected River Park Square for the property.
In 2012, Hite completed the Dog Park in Centennial Park, and in 2013, Phase 1 of River Park Square was built. In 2015, the north basketball courts in Centennial Park were renovated, Freedom Park was installed at Packard Woods, the restrooms were renovated, and Price’s Memorial Park was given to the park department.
In 2016, the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Court Project was completed, and in 2020, Phase II of the Greenway Trail was finished.
Hite has been instrumental in moving the various city parks forward. 2022 was a busy year with Phase II of River Park Square built, the Pony and Packard Slow Pitch diamonds renovated, and the Nixon Field dugouts renovated. 2023 was another busy year with completion of the North Complex with new and additional storage, the Hoosier Old Wheels playground was renovated, Webster playground received upgrades, and the park department received an additional 12.6 acres for Price’s Pond from the Collins residential project.
The new sport of pickleball came to the Plymouth Park Department in 2024 when pickleball courts were added to the Mary Beth Hunter Tennis Complex. That year, Superintendent Hite also put in new fencing at Nixon Field, the fastpitch diamonds, and the large diamond at Packard Woods.
Hite told park board members that his health has forced his retirement, but that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and his grandchildren.
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