Laketown
Parks and Recreation Commission
Mission
Statement: The Laketown Township Parks and Recreation
Commission through its Board of Commissioners, staff,
programs, services, and facilities seeks to enhance the
quality of life and the environment, to acquire, conserve,
and protect natural resources, and to provide quality
leisure time opportunities for the benefit of the community.
Laketown Township is fortunate to have seven parks, six
owned by Laketown; one by the State (DNR). The Parks
Commission is made up of 7 elected commissioners. For a list
of recreational activities, scroll to the bottom of this
page.
Many people inquire about bringing domesticated animals
to the parks. Here are the excerpts of a township meeting
where this issue was addressed:
Domesticated
Animals Ordinance. To summarize, dogs on leashes are
allowed at:
Farview Park
Sanctuary Woods
Shore Acres
Huyser Farm
Horses are allowed at Farview and Shore Acres.
Every five years, the Parks Commission is required to
revise and update its community recreation plan. To view
the plan, click here:
2007 Laketown Parks and Recreation Community Parks and
Recreation Plan.
The Parks
Commission is currently studying the future uses of the
HUYSER FARM. To see a draft of our concept plan, click
here. The Commission would appreciate your ideas on
this plan. Feel free to contact any of the Parks and
Recreation Commissioners.
This year our park workdays will be the third Saturday of
each month from 9:00 a.m.-noon. If you would like to
volunteer at one of our workdays, arrive at the appointed
park on the scheduled workday.
Tools are provided—all we need is you!
Coming Events!
In a partnership with
the Outdoor Discovery Center, we are pleased to offer the
following:
Coming soon - Summertime Events...
Our mission statements: The
Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission through
its Board of Commissioners, staff, programs, services, and
facilities seeks to enhance the quality of life and the
environment, to acquire, conserve, and protect natural
resources, and to provide quality leisure time opportunities
for the benefit of the community.
Outdoor Discovery Center of Wildlife
Unlimited provides the people of West Michigan outdoor
learning opportunities to illustrate the benefits of nature
to human kind and to encourage stewardship of the natural
world.
Our partnership: Together, the
Laketown Township Park and Rec Commission and the Outdoor
Discover Center are pleased to bring the above winter
programs to the West Michigan Community.
For more information about the ODC:
Outdoor Discovery Center
A-4214 56th Street
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 393-WILD
odc@oaisd.org
www.outdoordiscoverycenter.org
Addresses of Laketown Parks and
Buildings:
Township Hall 4338 Beeline Road,
Holland
Wolters
Woods 6281 147th Avenue,
Holland
Shore
Acres Park 6602 138th Avenue,
Saugatuck
Felt
Mansion
6597 138th
Avenue, Saugatuck
Sanctuary Woods 4750 66th
Street, Holland
Laketown Beach 6710 142nd
Avenue, Holland
Farview
Park 6257 138th Avenue,
Holland
Huyser
Farm 4158 64th Street,
Holland
Graafschap Fire Department 4534 60th Street,
Holland
Old
Township Hall 6280 142nd Avenue,
Holland
Gibson
Cemetery 6487 138th Avenue,
Holland
Members of the Parks Commission:
| Michelle Sall |
|
Michelle.Sall@davenport.edu |
| Linda Howell |
Chairperson |
Linda.Howell@kentcountymi.gov |
| Karen Simmons |
|
ksimmons@chartermi.net |
| Kelly De Witt |
|
kellydw@mac.com |
| Chuck Strabbing |
Treasurer |
onams@sbcglobal.net |
| Ray Buursma |
|
rbuursma@chartermi.net |
| Laura Canaan |
|
canaanl@hotmail.com |
Farview Nature Park
6257 138th Avenue
Comprised of over 80 acres, Farview Nature Park has 1 1/2
miles of scenic trails. With several distinct ecosystems,
including pond wetlands, low dunes, deep woods, and open
meadow, this park is rich in flora and fauna.
The Laketown Equestrian Trails Association and the
Laketown Parks Commission maintain horse trails through the
park. A reminder to all equestrians: please use the
designated horse trails -- not the walking trails.
Thank you for being safe and using our parks for exercise
and enjoyment.
The
Huyser FarmIn the late 1930s, Manuel and Lilah
Huyser purchased a 102-acre parcel at the corner of 142nd
Avenue and 64th Street in Laketown Township. They drained
the swamps, cleared the brush, straightened the creeks, and
created an extensive irrigation system. Many buildings
exist on the farm, largely constructed with wood harvested
from the wood lots on the property. The Huyser home was
built in 1939; its original plans still exist. Although the
home needs maintenance, it is structurally sound.
The Huyser Farm Sub-committee (part of the Parks
Commission) has developed a long-term detailed strategic
plan for the farm's preservation, development, and
maintenance. It hopes that through this plan the Huyser
Farm will become an educational and ecological center that
will draw interest from the residents of Laketown, the
general public, the schools, and visitors to the area.
The Huyser Farm contains nine vegetative communities with
a diverse flora representing 62 families and 295 species of
vascular plants. These distinct communities attract an
active bird population most of which are summer residents.
Laketown Beach
6710 142nd Avenue
Climb the steps at Laketown Beach, and see a spectacular
view of Lake Michigan. The stairway, leading up and over
the dune, helps protect the fragile dune environment while
affording visitors access to the lake.
Shore Acres Township Park
Located at the end of 138th Avenue, adjacent to the State
Park (at 6602 138th Avenue) Shore Acres Township Park
features basketball courts and a soccer field. The BMX
track sits on the top of the hill the Saugatuck Dunes
Correctional facility (formerly a prep school for the St.
Augustine seminary) occupied.
Sanctuary Woods Preserve
This park occupies approximately 40 acres in the
northwestern corner of Laketown Township on 66th Street near
32nd Avenue. This park was made possible with the
assistance of a generous gift from the DenUyl family and a
Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant. The development of the
property was accomplished through the assistance of a
Department of Natural Resources Coastal Zone Management
Grant.
Wolters Woods, 6281 147th Avenue.
| Name |
# of Acres |
Address |
Usage |
| Farview Nature Park |
87 |
6257 138th Avenue |
nature trails, bird-watching, horse trails - for
information about LETA, the Laketown Equestrian
Trails Association, please contact
Laura Canaan;
for current events, see below |
| Felt Mansion (Felt Estate
Restoration Project) |
4 |
6597 138th Avenue, adjacent to the State Park |
meetings, tours, rental facility for groups and
events |
| Gilligan Lake |
20 |
66th between 142nd and 144th |
fishing, small roadside park, unimproved boat
launch |
| Goshorn Lake |
30 |
65th Street (South of 138th) |
fishing, swimming, boating, boat launch |
| Old Township Hall |
1 |
6280 142nd Avenue |
meetings for small groups, History-related
events |
| Huyser Farm |
102 |
corner or 142nd Avenue and 64th Street |
nature trails, bird-watching, wildlife viewing,
future agri-rec facility |
| Kelly Lake |
20 |
66th Street, between 145th & 146th |
access limited to foot traffic from 66th,
fishing, swimming |
| Laketown Beach |
2.7 |
142nd, west of 66th |
beach access via stairs, swimming |
| Sanctuary Woods |
40 |
66th St. between 147th Avenue and 32nd |
trails, view of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan,
picnic tables, former interurban bridge,
bird-watching, wildlife viewing |
| Saugatuck Dunes State Park |
|
138th Avenue |
hiking trails to Lake Michigan, bird-watching,
picnic area, swimming, cross-country skiing |
| Shore Acres Township Park |
40 |
138th Avenue |
soccer, BMX racing, trails to Lake Michigan
through Saugatuck Dunes State Park, basketball
courts |
| Wolters Woods Township Park |
34 |
6281 147th Avenue |
Playground structure, horseshoes, nature trails,
shuffleboard, picnic pavilion, bird-watching,
wildlife |
