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Grand Haven Recreation- Past, Present and Future
By: Whitney Knollenberg
A very cold Grand Haven pier
If the picturesque beaches, unique restaurants, and the spectacular lighthouse aren’t enough to pique your interest in Grand Haven, Michigan then maybe the premier boating, fantastic fishing, and endless entertainment opportunities will be. Grand Haven is a nice tourism destinations in Michigan, according to Marci Cisneros, the Grand Haven Area Convention Bureau Executive Director. And with all of the recreation opportunities available it’s easy to see why.
Grand Haven is a part of Lake Michigan Beachtowns, a collection of coastal communities dedicated to offering relaxing, and carefree recreation along the coast of Lake Michigan. Other members of the Lake Michigan Beachtowns organization include Harbor County, St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland, Muskegon, Silver Lake, and Ludington. Beachtown’s has come together to provide an easy way for visitors to find all the recreation opportunities that Lake Michigan’s coastal communities has to offer.
The town of Grand Haven, is unique in the fact that is has been named Coast Guard City, USA. The United States Coast Guard has a Sector Field Office and base located in Grand Haven. The Coast Guard has brought a lot to the city, and the citizens of Grand Haven have celebrated their presence every year since 1924 with the annual Coast Guard Festival. The first Coast Guard Festival was a small informal affair, just a picnic hosted by the citizens of Grand Haven for the members of the Coast Guard. The event is slightly more involved now, hosting nearly 300,000 visitors each year. It is held the last weekend in July until the first weekend in August. Events include a parade, a carnival, a craft fair, 5K run/walk, car show, fireworks, and musical performances. And to maintain tradition, a picnic is still hosted in honor of the Coast Guard.
The Fourth of July has also become quite an event for the city of Grand Haven. It had been initially fostered by members of the community; however, it has now become a real draw for visitors from around the state. The city puts on a spectacular fireworks display over the Lake. This makes a boat a great place to view the show. In fact, hundreds of boat owners take advantage of this, and cover the surface of the water to form a floating fleet of firework observation. Grand Haven is also the home of the World’s Largest Musical Fountain which puts on a one of a kind display every night from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Even with all of the amazing attributes that Grand Haven has to offer, Marci Cisneros, Executive Director of the Grand Haven Area Convention Bureau is always looking for new ways to improve the area. Lately she has been looking to make Grand Haven an “EcoSmart†destination, and has started focusing on environmental issues. An “EcoSmart†destination is one that encourages environmental responsibility from industries surrounding it and within it, helps to conserve the environment which it in, and provides visitors with benefits from doing so. Cisneros recognizes the benefits of making Grand Haven an “EcoSmart†destination, and has found that the city has naturally fallen into the description of one. There are problems caused by pollution in the Grand River, which flows into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven. These problems however, have been reduced in recent years and have led to fewer beach closings and health risks.
Grand Haven has earned its right to be named one of the nice tourism destinations in Michigan. It has combined elements of the past, and made them into present day recreation opportunities for all to enjoy. Most importantly they are looking to the future for innovative ways to provide more recreational experiences for all.
Offical Website of Grand Haven, Michigan
