Spring Lake moves toward more accessible, year-round North Bank Park

A longtime park at the heart of Spring Lake could soon become one of the most accessible public spaces in West Michigan, following a recommendation for $400,000 in state funding to support a major redevelopment project.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended that the village of Spring Lake receive a $400,000 grant from the fund to help revitalize North Bank Park, formerly known as Central Park. 

If approved by the Legislature, the funding would support construction of a new pavilion and help advance a broader $3.5 million project designed to serve village residents as well as visitors from across Northwest Ottawa County.

North Bank Park had about 100,000 visits in 2024, with about 18,000 unique visitors. The village has about 2,500 residents, so most of the visitors came from outside the community.

“It is very much a regional amenity,” says Peter Vanderberg, assistant village manager. 

Universal access

The project will modernize aging infrastructure while creating a more inclusive recreational space. Structures at the park were built in the early 1970s and are well past their functional lifespan, Vanderberg says.

“We’ve done as good a job as we can keeping up on them, but it’s time for them to be replaced,” he says.

The grant would help support a new pavilion as part of a redesign that includes a heated, year-round public restroom, an outdoor fire pit, expanded and lighted pathways, a universally accessible playground, a renovated dog park, and a sledding hill. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027.

A central goal of the project is universal design, creating spaces that can be used equally by people of all ages and abilities without special accommodations.

“The playground will be universally accessible, totally barrier-free, and exceed ADA standards,” Vanderberg says. “The pavilion as well, and the bathrooms will be four family-style rooms, with two including adult changing tables.”

Those features are uncommon in public parks and are intended to support people with disabilities and their caregivers.

“What we’re trying to do is create a facility where everybody is able to use it equally,” Vanderberg says. “You don’t have to think about how to route around barriers. Anybody can approach it and use it equally.”

Vanderberg says every element of the project, except for the sledding hill, exceeds Americans with Disabilities Act standards, making it the only park in Ottawa County to achieve a universally accessible rating.

“This represents a large step toward achieving equity for a population that is very underserved in recreational opportunities,” he says.

Community has a voice

Community input guided the project’s development. The village conducted surveys, hosted open houses, and convened a stakeholder focus group made up of regular park users and community members.

“Possibly the most difficult part of any project is reaching your audience and giving everyone a chance to be heard,” Vanderberg says. “But we had some good community buy-in.”

The redevelopment is part of a joint recreation plan created by Northwest Ottawa County municipalities, a requirement for eligibility for state funding. The regional approach helps communities avoid duplicating amenities and stretch limited resources, Vanderberg says.

“We try not to replicate things that are happening in neighboring municipalities,” he says. “And it saves money, too.”

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant program is competitive, Vanderberg says, with many communities applying.

Local funds in the mix

The village has already secured $1,282,850 in funding commitments and plans additional public-private fundraising, similar to the approach used for the waterfront Tanglefoot Park project. 

Village officials say the redesign will create a four-season park that reflects how people use the space, whether they stop along a regional trail, visit with children, or come during the winter months.

“Trail usage really doesn’t slow down a ton (in the winter) because our residents are passionate about outdoor recreation, and this park ties directly into the Lakeside Trail and the North Bank Trail system,” Vanderberg says.

“There aren’t many parks you can go to in winter where you can use a heated bathroom, where the pathways are plowed and well-lit. It’s going to be really cool to have a space where trail users can stop, take a break, and use those amenities.”

Additional information about the project and future fundraising will be posted on the village website.

Renderings provided by the Village of Spring Lake and the photo by Peter Vanderberg.