Long-awaited Tanglefoot Park opens with ribbon-cutting

Marking the culmination of years of work, Spring Lake residents celebrated the opening of the long-awaited Tanglefoot Park on Friday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

This property had been an RV park, but the four-year undertaking has transformed it into an open, universal-access waterfront park that is available for all to enjoy. From the beginning, the vision for the project was to create a community hub. The park has lakefront access for fishing, boating, and kayaking, as well as a large pavilion that holds up to 299 visitors. It also has a splash pad that should be a new hot spot for kids of all ages this summer.

The ceremony began with Village President Mark Powers and Village Manager Christine Burns, who thanked the donors who brought the park to life and the many residents who came out to celebrate and show their support. 

Board members then gathered behind the blue ribbon while Powers used a pair of giant scissors to cut the ribbon and officially open Tanglefoot Park.

Can accommodate variety of events

Tyra Jonas, the village’s communications specialist, helped coordinate the ceremony and has been working to make this new attraction a reality.

“It was amazing seeing the boards, donors, and community members gathered into one space,” Jonas said, “and it reminded me of the close-knit community Spring Lake really is and how it truly takes a village. I am so excited to see how this park can bring people in and help our community grow.”

Fundraising for the $3.5 million project was led by the Village’s Downtown Development Authority, and supported with a major grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Residents Jess and Skylar Garrison served as the co-chairs of the Tanglefoot Park Transformation Capital Campaign. Construction kicked off last summer with a groundbreaking ceremony.

This new space will be a rental venue for everything from weddings and community events to art exhibits and theater performances. It will also be the new location for the Spring Lake Farm & Garden Market, shielding vendors and visitors from the elements.

For questions regarding Tanglefoot Park and to learn more about how to rent the space, check out the FAQs on Spring Lake’s website or call Village Hall at 616-842-1393.