Park Township blends lakeshore beauty with active living
Located along 6 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Park Township lives up to its name: The waterside community features more than a dozen parks open all year long. “Winter doesn’t slow us down,” says Tantzi Habsburg, a Realtor with Re/Max Lakeshore who has lived in the area since 2017. “We’re lively all the time here, and that’s just one of the things that makes it a great place to be.” Beaches, dunes and trails are a big part of the community appeal, attracting campers from all over the country. The township is also right next to Holland, a lively city known for its Dutch traditions.
Holland State Park beach on Lake Michigan and other outdoor activities
Locals and campers visit Holland State Park, which features a large beach on Lake Michigan. “We don’t want the rest of the world to know about it,” Habsburg says with a laugh. “It’s one of the main draws and gets incredibly busy.” Along with swimming, windsurfing and relaxing in the sand, a day at the beach can include walking on the pier and seeing the historic Bid Red Lighthouse or grabbing some ice cream at Beachplace. A boardwalk and 200-plus steps lead to the top of Mt. Pisgah, a 157-foot-tall dune with views of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. Locals keep their boats in the many marinas in Lake Macatawa, which feeds into Lake Michigan. Tunnel Park has a smaller beach along Lake Michigan, accessible from a pedestrian tunnel through a dune. “Local lore is that there was once a zoo here and the zookeeper lived on the east side of the dune, and he built the tunnel to take his animals to the lake,” Habsburg says. Both beaches require payment for parking. Riley Trails offers 300 acres of hiking paths. During the winter, the trails are used for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and "fat biking" (riding a mountain bike with wide tires).
Suburban developments and dune-top waterfront homes
The median home sale price in Park Township is $450,000 compared to $340,000 in Holland. The township has a wide range of housing options. Inland suburban developments feature ranch-style, Colonial Revival and New Traditional homes. Multimillion dollar properties face Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. Waterfront homes are typically elevated and protected by dunes. Many feature long staircases that go from the backyard to the beach. The boardwalk is also lined with homes facing Lake Michigan, though they don’t sell often. Those homes don’t have driveways, but they do have access to a private parking lot by the boardwalk.
In 2023, short-term rentals were banned in residential zoning districts. Homeowners cannot rent out their properties for less than 28 days.
Dual enrollment and an IB program at West Ottawa High School
Of the five elementary schools zoned to Park Township, students may attend Lakewood Elementary, which receives an A grade from Niche. Students from each elementary school are split between B-plus Macatawa Bay Middle School and A-minus Harbor Lights Middle School. All students matriculate to West Ottawa High School, which receives an A and offers an International Baccalaureate program as well as a dual-enrollment program through five participating colleges.
Restaurants by Lake Macatawa and retailers a short drive away
The township has a few restaurants near Lake Macatawa. Lolo’s Bar & Grill is the only one right on the water. It’s next to a marina, where diners can enjoy tacos, drinks and weekend live music until it closes for fall and winter. Other restaurants by the lake are on the other side of Ottawa Beach Road. Some options include Reservoir, which serves artisan Italian-American food, and Dune Dogz & Treats, where visitors can order various hot dogs and desserts from the window and eat at a picnic table. Shoppers have easy access to Family Fare Supermarket, and several national big-box retailers are about 3 to 10 miles away on U.S. 31.
Tulip Time and Parade of Lights in downtown Holland
It’s common for Park Township residents to head to downtown Holland for annual events. One of the biggest events is Tulip Time, a 10-day festival celebrating the community’s Dutch heritage. It includes planting millions of tulips throughout the city, clog dancing, a carnival and fireworks. Sinterklaas, the Dutch form of Santa Claus, makes an appearance at the annual Parade of Lights. The holiday tradition has the community gathered downtown at night to watch floats decorated with Christmas lights.
A 45-minute drive to Grand Rapids
U.S. 31 is the closest major highway and connects to Interstate 196. Lakeshore Drive runs along the coast and can be taken about 20 miles north to Grand Haven. Travelers can also drive 45 minutes to Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford International Airport, about 40 miles away.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
