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 five 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.

Pending Grant Applications

• 2010 Natural Resources Trust Fund Town Hall Grant Application
• 2010 Land and Water Conservation Town Hall Grant Application
• 2010 Wolters Woods Grant Application

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 56^th 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
Chuck Strabbing	Treasurer	onams@sbcglobal.net
Bill Snyder		snydercllc@charter.net

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 Farm

In 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	959	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