Holland State Park
Encyclopedia
Holland State Park is located in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, in Park Township
, Ottawa County
, four miles (6 km) west of the city of Holland
. The park covers about 142 acre (0.57465412 km²) on the northern side of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa
with Lake Michigan
, and consists of separate Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan units. The former features an extensive campground, a beach on Lake Macatawa, and a public boat launch, and the latter features a smaller, paved campground, a pavilion with a snack bar and other facilities, and a broad sandy beach along Lake Michigan. The adjacent channel breakwall is a popular walk in the summer, though it is not intended for public use and can be treacherous during adverse weather. The park features several dune
areas, picnic areas and playgrounds, as well as views of Holland Harbor and the Holland Harbor Light (Big Red).
In 2004, more than 1.2 million visitors came to Holland State Park, making it the most used park in the Michigan State Park system. Holland's pristine white sand beach, boat access to lakes Michigan and Macatawa, and freeway access to large population centers such as Grand Rapids
, Lansing
, Detroit
, and Chicago have all contributed to its popularity.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in Park Township
Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan
Park Township is a civil township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,579. As of 2006 the population was 18,351.-Communities:...
, Ottawa County
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
, four miles (6 km) west of the city of Holland
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
. The park covers about 142 acre (0.57465412 km²) on the northern side of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa
Lake Macatawa
Lake Macatawa is a lake in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lake is about long with a maximum width of and a surface area of 1,700 acres The average depth of the lake is variable but generally less than , excluding a navigation channel of fixed depth that crosses the lake to...
with Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, and consists of separate Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan units. The former features an extensive campground, a beach on Lake Macatawa, and a public boat launch, and the latter features a smaller, paved campground, a pavilion with a snack bar and other facilities, and a broad sandy beach along Lake Michigan. The adjacent channel breakwall is a popular walk in the summer, though it is not intended for public use and can be treacherous during adverse weather. The park features several dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
areas, picnic areas and playgrounds, as well as views of Holland Harbor and the Holland Harbor Light (Big Red).
In 2004, more than 1.2 million visitors came to Holland State Park, making it the most used park in the Michigan State Park system. Holland's pristine white sand beach, boat access to lakes Michigan and Macatawa, and freeway access to large population centers such as Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and Chicago have all contributed to its popularity.
Facilities and activities
- Swimming
- PlaygroundPlaygroundA playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Picnicking
- Picnic Area
- Picnic Shelter
- CampingCampingCamping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
: Two campgrounds offer 309 sites with electrical service. There is also a camper cabin.