Park Township, “Come home to Play.” Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 “Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.” – John Muir ................................................................. 5 Community Description .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Location ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 South Side ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 History ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 The Parks of Park Township: Then and Now ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Growth of Resort Parks 1890 -1915 ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Creation of Park Township 1915 ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Peak of Resort Parks 1915-1925 ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Change in Park Patronage 1925-1930 .................................................................................................................................................. 11 First Public Parks 1925 - 1930 ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Administrative Structure ........................................................................................................................................................................... 13 The Parks Team ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Parks Team Positions and Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Township Manager ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Parks and Recreation Director .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Park Township Master Plan, 2020 update: Where Quality of Life Maters 1 Park Township, “Come home to Play.” Maintenance Director ................................................................ ....................................................................................................... 15 Parks Team Positions and Responsibilities (continued) Recreation Coordinator ........................................................................... 16 Finance Director ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Organizational Chart ............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Parks and Recreation funding ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Recreation Inventory ................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Recreation Facilities Map ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 State Parks ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 30 Holland State Park............................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Holland Harbor Light House (Big Red) .............................................................................................................................................. 31 DNR Boat Ramp ................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 County Parks ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Tunnel Park ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Riley Trails ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Historic Ottawa Beach Parks (Including Mt. Pisgah and new Ottawa County Marina) .................................................................... 33 Land Conservancy ................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Local Parks............................................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Prominent Local Parks Inventory: ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 Wendt Park ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Winstrom Park Disc Golf Course ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 Virginia Park ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Cooper Van Wieren .......................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Park Township Master Plan, 2020 update: Where Quality of Life Maters 2 Park Township, “Come home to Play.” ................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................... 43 Albert C Keppel Forest Preserve ..................................................................................................................................................... 44 Ransom Park .................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Stu Visser Trails ................................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Ottawa County Fair Grounds ............................................................................................................................................................ 47 Community Center Park .................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Skate and Dog Park ........................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Park Township Plaza ......................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Boat Launch and Kayak Park ............................................................................................................................................................