Nice playground in a so-so area. It's close to downtown, and the area seemed a little sketchy as I…read morewas driving in. They are trying to gentrify the area immediately surrounding the park- new homes, park seems new-ish. There was some trash strewn about, including a liquor bottle. During our visit, a woman walked by and told me to look around before playing because this park has been know to have some illicit paraphernalia, and last year a child was stuck with a needle at this park. Overall, seems like a nice park in an okay area, but maybe not?

Hackley Park is a great park year round. During the summer months they have live music on the…read morestage. Every Friday during the summer they also have a free event called Parties in the Park with food trucks, live music, etc. It is one of my favorite summer traditions. In the winter the park turns into a magical display of Christmas lights! It is worth visiting if you are in the area or passing through! There are great photo ops too. Hackley Park is so historical and special to Muskegon. A great place to have a picnic and a great place to take in some Christmas cheer!

This park is really nice. It's set up with a stage where they can hold large outside events. There…read moreis lots of shade with the nice old trees. Since we have been here, there have been at least 3 events. It gives you that small town feel, with modern amenities. Muskegon has done a great job revitalizing their downtown area.

Nice park! The playground is pretty big and the walkways give a great view of the lake and boats…read more There is also a nice pavilion for concerts and space for picnics. The only downside is that the look is pretty outdated-everything is painted a weird blue/green and could use an update. The playground equipment also looks pretty old. I've noticed some trash along the walkways, so I'm not sure who cleans the park, but overall, it is a nice downtown addition and gives some nice walking paths with a view.

Good size playground for kids 10 and under. Separate area for toddlers. Seating for us lazy adults…read moreall around. Tranquil setting with walking paths. Entrance is just south of the big ship and huge Amazon building.

Nice Park - easy to get to, good amount of parking, nice pavilion, the sand was nice, fountains to…read morewash your feet, good amount of space on the sand. First time here - The bugs today were outrageous. These little flies were unbearable and therefore didn't stay long.

This beach is operated by Ottawa County. During the summer months, you are required to pay to…read morepark. They probably have room for 100 cars. You can get an annual tag from the county. A Michigan state park tag will not work. Weekends the lot can fill up. In that case you can park for free less than a mile down the road at Coast Guard Park, or even Fire Barn Park for that matter. If you're going to do that, drop off your family and friends along with your beach supplies at the entrance. That way only one of you have to walk back and forth. They have a nice wide asphalt path. Good excersise plus you saved about $8. Park no longer allows dogs, no alcohol either. They have a nice pavillion that sometimes get reserved in the summer. There are grills and picnic tables too, but not many. There are outdoor showers and feet washing stations and a convenient bathroom. But last time I was here, the beach has been extended way out. So if you are on the water with you blanket and umbrella, it is quite a hike to the johns. This is a good family beach too with the playground. Downside to some may be there are no touristy shops that you can walk to like Grand Haven SP. But to me, that is blessing. Not a whole lot of teenagers come here and never been any fights break out like they have at GH. I hope this beach stays how it is and the county doesn't try to commercialize it.

What a great park…read more Clean, easy access and nicely space out. Amenities include rest rooms, three shelters, playground, BBQ grills, volley ball courts, soccer field, horseshoe pits, a small board walk and fishing area. I went here to drop in on one of the free summer concert series events and they were raffling out prizes including local restaurant meals and a few bikes for kids!

This is a hidden gem for nature lovers. A fairly new park that conserves nature and lets one…read moreenjoy the beauty of the untouched outdoors. There are a variety of hiking trails, some are a bit rugged and some trails aren't marked very well. But that is the beauty of this park. It is a great way to get away from the noise and commercialization of downtown Grand Haven. It is so quiet too. Except for some distant industrial noise, you will only hear the sound of nature. This is not a place you would want to bring a group of screaming kids....there is no playground, no swing set. You don't throw a frisbee or football around and there is no baseball diamond or picnic table. Go directly across the street to Coast Guard Park if you want to grill a hamburger or let the dog run loose or let kids run around. There is no camping or fishing here either. If you want that activity, go over the Grand Haven State Park. Swimming is not allowed either, but go down the road to the beach if that is your thing. But if you want to get away from the noise, the rowdy campers, the money-grab you will find near the Musical Fountain....this is your peaceful and pristine oasis. I just hope that it doesn't become commercialized like so many other parks in this county have.

Pere Marquette offers exceptional access to beautiful Lake Michigan, one the world's natural…read moretreasures. There is ample paid parking. Weekend day rates are $15. There is a snack stand, offering ice cream, nachos, and other treats, as well as beach equipment rentals. The sand is soft and visitors will enjoy spreading out on the expansive beach. The water is clear and features a sandy bottom. Just north of the snack stand is The Deck, the preeminent dining establishment in this area of Muskegon. The establishment features al fresco dining and stunning views of Lake Michigan. There are swings and other fun view points. If you're in Mitten, Pere Marquette is worth the drive. You simply cannot beat Lake Michigan's splendor.

August came along and Nate and I still hadn't been to the lakeshore, so we hopped in the car and…read moredrove to Pere Marquette Park beach on a cloudy Sunday recently. The beach was completely empty when we arrived around 11 am and stayed pretty quiet the whole time. Parking at the beach is $20, which I thought was incredibly expensive, but it's good for the whole day. I'm used to parking for free at state parks since I have a recreation pass. It was a bit windy, but not chilly - although the water was freezing. I personally enjoy an overcast day at the beach, so we packed a picnic and some chairs and just sat and read for a bit. The beach is large, with lots of room to spread out. There's a nice smaller playground, a snack bar with ice cream and hot food, a little store for beach essentials like sunscreen, and super clean bathrooms. The restroom I used was a huge, single stall room with a bench- really nice for changing and probably great if you have little kids. I was impressed by how clean the bathroom was. We walked to the pier and checked out the lighthouse, which was a nice little walk. The Deck is right on the beach and is a great spot for live music, drinks, and food. I'd be curious to see this beach in the peak season - I'm sure it probably gets pretty busy.

We stumbled upon Pigeon Lake driving on Lakeshore Drive for miles looking for public access to the…read moreLake. The drive up is absolutely gorgeous and lined with dense trees and forests including paved trails for running or biking. There are mostly private homes here with gated access so this is your best bet if you want to get some beach time or hiking in...Or maybe you plan on camping here for a few days... There is a park daily entrance fee of $5.00 for residents, $8.00 non for vehicles. Camper's are also allowed for an additional fee. Dogs are welcome and can be unleashed through a separate beach entrance. The park itself is densely populated with trees and just incredible. Watch out for ticks here.. This is a little paradise. Take the 57 steps up the Outlook for amazing views. Walk up the hilly sand dunes and explore...this is a fresh water sand dune park and worth the destination. Amazing landscapes here.. Park itself is very well kept and clean. Showers and restrooms are located at entrance with vending machine. A few small grills and picnic tables are on site... I can't say enough good things about our experience here... Amazing park. Stay for the sunset!