Teacher’s $1M gift spurs $20M investment to make Holland a winter destination

Can one generous person’s dream inspire an entire community? In the case of Frank Kraai, the answer is a joyful yes. Decades after he first imagined a winter gathering place for his neighbors, his vision has finally come to life.

Hundreds of residents gathered Friday under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 50s to celebrate the grand opening of the Holland Ice Park — a new winter attraction built on Kraai’s generosity and his long-held hope that Holland families would have a place to skate and connect during Michigan’s coldest months.

Kraai wasn’t there to witness the moment. He died July 11, 2024, at age 88, after a life spent serving the community he loved. He taught for 40 years in West Ottawa Public Schools and was known for his lively downtown tours and his annual appearances as Santa Claus.

His love for winter went back to childhood, to long afternoons skating on a frozen pond in the woods with his younger sister and neighborhood friends. Vonnie Elhart, his sister who is 13 months younger, attended Friday’s celebration with two daughters and her granddaughters, honoring the brother whose gift will help families for generations.

“We used to go ice skating,” Elhart says. “We had a pond close to where we lived, and we’d go out in the woods and clean it all off. We’d build a fire to stay warm, and we had the whole neighborhood — about 15 of us — out there together.”

Those childhood memories stayed with Kraai throughout his life. Elhart says her brother believed Holland’s children deserved the same kind of winter joy he experienced as a kid. 

“He was just such a generous person,” she says. “He always gave such beautiful, memorable gifts. And this park, this was one of his gifts to everyone.”

Bringing memories to life

Kraai, who was single and didn’t have children, considered the community his family. He wanted to give people a reason to come downtown during long Michigan winters. Tulip Time fills the city each spring, and summer brings crowds to Lake Michigan and Holland’s busy sidewalks. Winter often meant fewer visitors, quieter streets, and limited options for families looking for outdoor recreation.

He believed a public ice ribbon, or skating path,  could change that. Kraai began donating small amounts to the city of Holland decades ago, marking each contribution for a future ice rink. His vision gained a major boost late in his life, after he had become a millionaire through decades of careful investing. He contacted the city with a promise that changed everything: if construction began before he died, he would donate $1 million.

That pledge sparked a wave of support. Local families, foundations, businesses, and public partners contributed more than $9 million toward the $11.5 million project. Total investment surpassed $20 million, including the extension of the snowmelt system and upgrades tied to the Ice Park.

Mayor Nathan Bocks says Kraai’s generosity changed the project’s future.

“Frank wanted a place that would bring people together,” Bocks says. “He remembered the joy of skating as a little boy. We built exactly what he dreamed of.”

During his speech, Bocks played an audio clip of Kraai saying, “I may not live long enough to see it, but my heart is going to be right in that ice.”

Kraai did not want the entire park named after him, but the pond will carry his name, Bocks says.

The Ice Park sits along Sixth Street in Window on the Waterfront, on the edge of downtown Holland.

Elhart says her brother would have loved the final result.

“He’d be smiling and happy and excited,” she says. “He just wanted people to enjoy something together. That’s who he was.”

All the amenities

The Holland Ice Park’s signature feature is a winding ice ribbon — the largest in Michigan. It has already drawn comparisons to Chicago’s famous Maggie Daley Park, leading some to call it a “mini Maggie Daley.”

After the ribbon-cutting, three groups were chosen to be the first to skate the new track: students from a local homeschool cooperative, the West Ottawa hockey team, and the Hope College hockey team. Hope students have also volunteered to offer free skating lessons.

The city delivered everything on Kraai’s wish list. The facility features an ice pond, a half-regulation curling sheet, skate rentals, and three fireplaces. One fireplace can be reached only by skating, a detail Bocks says Kraai would have loved. Holland extended its trademark snowmelt system along the sidewalks and pathways around the Ice Park, keeping access clear and safe throughout the winter.

The Ice Park is open Tuesday through Sunday from Nov. 14 through March 15, weather permitting.

Park users must purchase tickets in advance at HollandRecreation.com, where hours and more details about reservations can be found. No tickets are sold on-site.

“For those who intend to join us and get on the ice, we strongly encourage people to take their open skate tickets in advance,” says Kemri Hilton, Holland’s recreation program coordinator. “We expect many sessions to be at capacity.”

The ribbon and pond together hold up to 150 skaters at a time. Hilton says keeping that number steady helps create a safe, enjoyable experience.

“Open skate tickets are $10 per person,” she says. “That includes 90 minutes on the ice and complimentary skate rental. You’re welcome to bring your own skates, but you still need a ticket.”

Curling sheet reservations for groups of up to eight cost between $75 and $125, depending on the date and time.

“We want people to plan ahead,” Hilton says. “The worst thing would be families bundling up, coming down here and discovering tickets are sold out.”

Year-round activity

The park was designed to stay active in every season. In warmer months, the space will host recreation programs, community events, and outdoor classes. The design also supports Holland’s biking network and will be used for cycling activities through new partnerships.

“This isn’t just a winter facility,” Bocks says. “Frank wanted something that brought people together in every season.”

City staff expect the Ice Park to strengthen the winter economy downtown by drawing families and visitors and supporting nearby restaurants and shops.

Hilton says community enthusiasm has been immediate.

“We’re thrilled to see people embracing this space,” she says. “It’s exactly what we hoped for.”

Kraai’s dream brought the community together, and now it will give families a place to make memories year after year.

“He wanted people to come together,” Elhart says. “And now they will, year after year.”

During the ceremony, Bocks announced that Kraai’s own worn, brown leather skates — the ones he used throughout his life and often displayed when talking about his dream — have been donated to the park. They will be kept in a plexiglass case on-site as a permanent tribute to the man whose vision helped create the Ice Park.