Tanglefoot transformation begins

Addy Wachter, Grand Haven Tribune, Mich.
·2 min read

Aug. 21—The shovels hit the dirt Friday morning to transform the village's Tanglefoot Park.

Village Council members and other local officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony at the riverfront park.

The project actually began about three years ago, according to Village Manager Chris Burns. Since then, the village has raised enough of its $1.5 million campaign goal to renew the park.

"Days like this come around once in a while and I always enjoy them," Village President Mark Powers said Friday. "I think that this was a wise decision about how to use this area. I am very glad that I played a small role in that and I am very glad that others came forward and did all the hard work necessary to make this happen."

Burns said that the original plans for the park were to have it up and running by Thanksgiving, but that wasn't possible due to COVID-19 restrictions and related issues.

Construction at the park will start sometime next week, Burns said, and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2022. GDK Construction Co. of Holland is the contractor.

Changing the layout of Tanglefoot Park will provide water access to the community, according to Burns.

"We have very little property that is waterfront available to develop," she said. "This is like the last parcel that the village has and it's turning into a public space that people of all abilities can enjoy."

Tanglefoot was a seasonal RV/trailer park for many years. It was closed in 2018 for repairs to its access road and hasn't been open since.

"When it was a trailer park, even though it was public, it felt very exclusive and people didn't feel like they could really enjoy the waterfront," Burns said. "That's going to change."

The plans call for a pavilion, splash pad and kayak rental.

Burns said that it is also very important to make it accessible to strollers, wheelchairs and individuals with mobility issues.

"Parks that were built 30 years ago really didn't take that into consideration, so we are very cognizant of that now," she said. "We want to make sure that we honor everybody of all abilities."

Burns is especially looking forward to the splash pad.

"The joy and the happiness that is provided to the littles just makes my heart so happy, so I am really excited about that," she said. "I am hopeful that the public sees the benefit and the use, and that they are here daily."