Illegal Activity Forces Closure at Holland State Park

If you’ve tried to swing by Holland State Park lately and wondered why the main parking lot is blocked off, you’re not imagining things. The park’s largest lot is officially closed until further notice.

It’s not because of the weather or maintenance, it’s because a few people haven’t been acting like good neighbors.

According to both the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the closure comes after months of ongoing “illegal activities” happening in the main lot. The announcement went out Tuesday on social media, and while the park itself remains open, access to one parking lot is now limited.

Local law enforcement says they’ve had to respond to repeated complaints about reckless driving, loud exhaust, and after-hours meet-ups in the lot. And that’s just the start.

The DNR, which oversees Holland State Park, has also reported destruction of state property, intoxicated driving, and several close calls between cars and pedestrians. And of course that stuff can get a lot more dangerous heading into winter weather.

To be clear: the park is still open for regular visitors every day from 8 am to 10 pm. A smaller parking lot near the entrance remains accessible. So, you can still get your beach walk in, you just might have to add a few extra steps from the smaller lot, especially now that snow and ice are in the mix.

Officials say the closure is temporary and meant to keep both visitors and staff safe. Once things calm down and the park can reasonably ensure safe use of the space again, the larger lot will reopen.

For now, though, the message is pretty simple: Holland State Park belongs to all of us. Treat it (and each other) with respect, so everyone can enjoy the space without closures or safety concerns.