Popular Park in Holland Township About to Get a $1.1 Million Facelift

West Michigan has many great parks. One that has grown in popularity is about to get a $1.1 million facelift.

Michigan Parks May See a Lot More Visitors in 2025

When the economy is not doing well, Michigan residents tend to do things for recreation that are not expensive. We saw this during the pandemic, the uncertainty drove more Michiganders outdoors doing simple things to entertain themselves and spend time with family.

👇BELOW: The Only Destination For These Highways is Michigan State Parks👇

During the pandemic, fishing and hunting licenses in Michigan saw their biggest increase in years. Hiking, biking, camping, and gardening saw huge spikes.

West Michigan has many great parks to visit. Many parks are free to enter, while others require a park sticker for your vehicle to enter. If you purchase a yearly pass for your vehicle, you can go to most parks all over the state for a one-time fee.

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$1.1 Million to Be Invested in Popular Holland Township Park

Not far from 196 and the Macatawa River is Hawthorn Pond Natural Area. The park is on 40 acres, with Hawthorn Pond covering 5 acres. There are walking trails, a kayak launch, a fishing deck, and a boardwalk with a lookout station around the pond.

According to FOX 17, City Manager Steve Bulthuis announced a $1.1 million enhancement project for Hawthorn Pond Natural Area. The money will be used to build permanent restrooms, increase parking, and improve lighting.

A boardwalk will be added to 2.7 miles of trail that will be a part of the Makatoa Greenway.

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The new amenities will bring more park visitors, while enhancing the experience for the current visitors. The project should be completed by this fall.