Oakfield Township offers a natural backdrop and rural lifestyle
Wabasis Lake, in Oakfield Township, is a popular recreational spot rumored to have buried treasure. The lake takes its name from an Odawa chief who was said to have hidden gold and silver inside a limestone cave near the water. That cavern has been filled to discourage treasure hunters, though locals still visit the famed location. Away from the lake, most of the township is farmland and forests filled with oak, maple and pine. Oakfield Township Supervisor Darcia Kelley says, "We don't have much here. This is a very small, rural community." What the area does offer, Kelley says, is outdoor recreation. The township has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Homes range from lakeside cabins to New Traditional builds
Many of Oakfield Township's homes are spread across fields and forests. There are also waterfront properties along the area's many lakes, plus cul-de-sacs and dead-end roads lined with houses. Buyers can find two-story farmhouses, lakeside cabins and ranch-style homes. A handful of New Traditional houses built over the past decade are scattered throughout the community. Parcels of land are also available. Most homes sell for between $240,000 and $650,000, though some waterfront houses can cost from $750,000 to more than $1 million.
Children attend schools in Greenville and Cedar Springs
Multiple school systems serve Kent County. Students in the north may attend Cedar Springs Public Schools; others are zoned for Greenville Public Schools. Both districts have B ratings on Niche. Baldwin Heights Elementary has a B-plus, Greenville Middle has a B and Greenville Senior High has a B-minus. Students can apply for school choice options at several out-of-zone public schools in the region.
Wabasis Lake Park offers swimming, hiking and camping
Wabasis Lake Park is the community's premier outdoor destination. The 400-acre lake offers a sandy beach, fishing docks and a four-lane boat ramp. Hiking trails lead through forests and wetlands. There is also a play area, plus camping sites. Nearby Greenville has more outdoor options, including Tower Park, which has a disc golf course and a trail, and Baldwin Lake Beach. Seasonal hunting is permitted at Flat River State Game Area, about 12 miles away.
Businesses along M-57 and Harvard Avenue
Many businesses are along 14 Mile Road, including a Dollar General and a Marathon gas station. Kelley says Oakfield Township only has two restaurants, Halfway Diner and Harvard Tavern. Gary Crump, a local business owner, says residents purchase produce from farm stands in the area and visit nearby cities for more grocery options. "Greenville is about 7 or 8 miles [away]. It has a Meijer grocery store. There's a Walmart Supercenter and other stores like JCPenney, Marshalls and Five Below," Crump says. Greenville also has more dining options, from national chains like Applebee's, to local establishments like Margo's Family Restaurant, which serves breakfast and lunch.
Drivers have access to Greenville and Grand Rapids
This car-dependent community's main route, M-57, is being widened to accommodate new businesses. Corewell Health Greenville Hospital is about 7 miles away. Drivers can reach Downtown Grand Rapids in roughly 25 miles. Gerald R. Ford International Airport is approximately 30 miles from the township.
The region has some risk of flooding. Kent County also has a high number of vehicle accidents caused by deer.
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Written By
Ashley Kennedy
