Cooper offers rural peace and outdoor activities
Cooper is a Michigan township several miles north of Kalamazoo that offers a mix of peace and recreation. Although the township has several housing communities, farmland and woods make up most of this area. Outdoor destinations include the Kalamazoo Nature Center, a 1,100-acre site with over a dozen miles of trails, diverse habitats and artistic attractions like wildlife-themed sculptures. The Kalamazoo River also flows through the township, providing a convenient kayaking and canoeing spot. “It’s a very tight-knit community where everybody looks out for everybody,” says Cooper Township Supervisor Jeff Sorensen. “We also have many areas that are rural and agricultural and very beautiful neighborhoods with million-dollar homes in them. We’re very diversified.”
Ranch-style homes come with spacious lots
Mature trees surround many homes in Cooper’s neighborhoods. Some residents keep colorful flower beds, while others have spacious lots that make room for children’s play equipment and backyard pools. The housing includes many ranch-style, Cape Cod and modern traditional homes. There are also manufactured homes, Colonial Revivals and Craftsman homes. Home costs mostly go from $150,000 to $450,000. Homes with some of the largest footprints and lots run from $600,000 to approximately $1 million. Sorensen says the township also has some of the lowest property tax rates in Kalamazoo County, which draws homebuyers. “They’ll buy more house in Cooper Township than in other communities in Kalamazoo County,” he says.
Cooper offers hiking, fishing and swimming destinations
The Kalamazoo Nature Center's trails go through woodlands and a restored prairie populated with butterflies. Nature center landmarks include the historic DeLano Homestead, a Greek Revival house built by one of Cooper’s early settlers. Markin Glen Park has a full-service campground, tennis courts and two lakes that draw swimmers during the summer. The park also provides access to the more than 20-mile-long Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. The Crestview Golf Club offers a public 18-hole course, while water sports enthusiasts enjoy the Kalamazoo River. “I canoed there several years ago with a friend of mine,” Sorensen says. “We went from the city of Parchment all the way to D Avenue — which is a 4-mile stretch — and probably caught over 30 smallmouths and two very large walleye.”
Nena’s Cooper Cafe is a community staple
Nena’s Cooper Cafe is a community institution. “It’s really the only restaurant we have in Cooper at this time,” Sorensen says. “It’s where everybody in Cooper goes.” The laid-back mom and pop cafe serves classic American breakfast. The neighboring city of Parchment offers more options like Geno’s Golden Pizza & Pub and Buen Provecho Mexican Restaurant. Spad’s Twisters Soft Serve Ice Cream serves dessert from a walk-up window. The ALDI near Comstock Township offers a grocery shopping option.
Plainwell and Parchment schools serve Cooper
Two school districts cover Cooper: Plainwell Community Schools and Parchment School District. Plainwell gets a B-minus from Niche, while Parchment receives a C-plus. Schools under the Plainwell district include Cooper Elementary, which gets a B-minus. Other schools serving the area include Parchment Middle and Parchment High. The middle school gets a C, while the high school receives a B-minus. Students in the Parchment district may enroll in the Parchment Innovation Center, a program that tailors their learning to their career interests.
Community celebrates spring with Maple Sugar Festival
The community celebrates the springtime with March’s Maple Sugar Festival. The event brings many to the Kalamazoo Nature Center to enjoy pancakes topped with Michigan maple syrup. Activities include demonstrations on the traditional way of making the syrup — a process that involves boiling maple tree sap in iron pots.
Westnedge takes commuters directly to downtown Kalamazoo
Commuters here may take Westnedge Avenue to downtown Kalamazoo, about 5 miles south. The township is also located right off U.S. Highway 131. The highway goes to cities like Grand Rapids, about 45 miles north. Located 10 miles south of Cooper, the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport is the region’s hub for commercial flights. Residents needing medical care may go to Ascension Borgess Hospital south of Cooper. The area also experiences major lake-effect snowfalls.
