History | Opportunity | Participate | Park Map


Photos by Amanda Pitts (left), Patty Rice (center) and Teresa Lett (right)          

History

Chief Hazy Cloud Park, originally named Grand River Park, was a 1.45-acre track of land on the banks of the Grand River when it was purchased in 1927. It was very well-wooded and contained several springs.

In 1928, the park's name was changed to Chief Hazy Cloud Park to commemorate the American Indian Chief Hazy Cloud, who with his tribe roamed the banks of the Thornapple and Grand Rivers.

In 2008 the park took a dramatic leap forward when the Kent County Parks Department acquired another 96 acres, with the assistance of a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land Trust Fund and a generous gift from the Amway Corporation. This new purchase quintupled the size of the park and increased river frontage to nearly a mile, making Chief Hazy Cloud Park a landmark recreation area for future generations.

For those of you who followed or participated in the Grand River Expedition 2010, you may recognize Chief Hazy Cloud Park as the final stop on Day 8.

Totaling 120 acres, Chief Hazy Cloud Park now offers an outstanding natural area to explore and enjoy on the shore of the Grand River. However, the integrity of the park is disrupted by two private parcels that are each surrounded by parkland on three sides. The Parks Department is now trying to purchase those properties to further improve the quality and long-term sustainability of the park. If successful, the buildings on the properties will be removed and the area restored to a natural state. One of the properties is currently for sale.

Our goal is to engage the community in raising $75,000 to be combined with other funds and partners to purchase the property.

Please join the effort today to improve the quality and integrity of the Chief Hazy Cloud Park. To make a contribution, click here to contribute online or complete this mail-in form to send with your contribution.

If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at (616) 458-2080 or at roger.sabine@kentcountymi.gov.

This is a project you will be glad you participated in, for yourself and for future generations. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Chief Hazy Cloud Park
21 Pettis Avenue (get directions here)
Ada, MI 49301