Van Raalte Farm Park
Benjamin Van Raalte, son of Holland's founder, built the home that still stands in the center of this park, now maintained as a nature and recreation area. You can hike or cross-country ski the marked & groomed trails or whoosh down the lighted sledding hill. Parking is located off 16th St., 24th St., and Country Club Rd. All entrances provide access to nature trails, and the 24th St. entrance also has a picnic shelter and playground. Use the 16th St. entrance for hiking or cross country skiing. Use the 24th St. entrance for the pavillion, grill, picnic tables and sledding hill. Cross-Country Skiing: Beginner to Intermediate 5K.
Amenities
This city park contains a nineteenth century farmhouse and outbuildings set on a hilltop overlooking pasture and woodlands that include a valley and a branch of the Black River. Parking is located off both 16th and 24th Streets and Country Club Road, providing access to nature trails, picnic shelter, play structures, as well as winter sledding and cross-country skiing. A MNRTF was granted to assist in the development of natural areas on the site.
- Degraaf Nature Center Sugar Shack
- Groomed Cross Country Ski Trails
- Historic Van Raalte Farmhouse
- Numerous Marked Nature Trails
- Parking
- Picnic Shelter
- Play Structures
- Winter Sledding