PCCS : Happy 50th Birthday To 88.1 The Park!

Press release from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools:

02/14/2022 3:00 PM

Today we celebrate the 50th birthday of 88.1 The Park WSDP-FM! This student-operated radio station first signed on the air on February 14, 1972. The station was on the air for six hours that first day. A lot has changed over these 50 years, including power increases, going stereo, a switch to 24/7 broadcasting, and the utilization of so much new technology. “One thing has remained the same - the impact on the lives of students. As a former WSDP student, I can attest to that. You [can] see that impact in the lives of so many students that have been on [the 88.1] staff. Confidence, communication skills, leadership, team work, real world job experience and so much more”, Bill Keith, current Station Manager, said about the program. The station has been awarded the High School Station of the Year Award by The Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation for the last 4 years in a row.  

To celebrate the history of 88.1 The Park, the staff hosted an Alumni On Air Day on Saturday, February 12. Bill Collins, Plymouth Salem Class of 1976, and Tom Smith, Plymouth Canton Class of 1977, came together to discuss the history of WSDP and their experience as students. They also interviewed other former students and former station advisor John Seidelman. Since their experience with WSDP, Collins has gone on to become a Corporate Executive in Public Affairs for Ford Motor Company and Smith has had a long career in radio. Listen to the Alumni On Air Day here. 

The 50th birthday of WSDP-FM 88.1 The Park is also being celebrated at the Plymouth Historical Museum. An exhibit called “Connecting at the Speed of Life” looks at communication changes in Plymouth and includes a tribute to the radio station. The display includes a small studio set-up showcasing some of the early equipment from the station’s studio, and other memorabilia. This exhibit will be on display until June 2022. 

We are so thankful to all P-CCS staff and students for working hard to keep this station alive over the last 50 years. There will be a WSDP reunion on October 1, 2022 at Schoolcraft College. For more information, contact Bill Keith.

Today we celebrate the 50th birthday of 88.1 The Park WSDP-FM! This student-operated radio station first signed on the air on February 14, 1972. The station was on the air for six hours that first day. A lot has changed over these 50 years, including power increases, going stereo, a switch to 24/7 broadcasting, and the utilization of so much new technology. “One thing has remained the same - the impact on the lives of students. As a former WSDP student, I can attest to that. You [can] see that impact in the lives of so many students that have been on [the 88.1] staff. Confidence, communication skills, leadership, team work, real world job experience and so much more”, Bill Keith, current Station Manager, said about the program. The station has been awarded the High School Station of the Year Award by The Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation for the last 4 years in a row.  

To celebrate the history of 88.1 The Park, the staff hosted an Alumni On Air Day on Saturday, February 12. Bill Collins, Plymouth Salem Class of 1976, and Tom Smith, Plymouth Canton Class of 1977, came together to discuss the history of WSDP and their experience as students. They also interviewed other former students and former station advisor John Seidelman. Since their experience with WSDP, Collins has gone on to become a Corporate Executive in Public Affairs for Ford Motor Company and Smith has had a long career in radio. Listen to the Alumni On Air Day here. 

The 50th birthday of WSDP-FM 88.1 The Park is also being celebrated at the Plymouth Historical Museum. An exhibit called “Connecting at the Speed of Life” looks at communication changes in Plymouth and includes a tribute to the radio station. The display includes a small studio set-up showcasing some of the early equipment from the station’s studio, and other memorabilia. This exhibit will be on display until June 2022. 

This press release was produced by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.