Holland State Park’s Suspicious Reason For Closing Main Parking Lot

Considering we are off to one of the snowiest starts to winter in Michigan history, going to the beach is probably the last thing on many of our minds here in West Michigan. Even if you wanted to, most state and county parks in Michigan have been closed for the season. But while many of the parks are not currently being maintained, that doesn't mean they are closed, exactly.

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For example, Holland State Park has been "closed for the year" since it closed its bathrooms on October 22nd. But that doesn't mean the park is entirely unavailable until next season. The main parking lot stays open 24/7, so people can still go to the beach if they choose, just without the extra amenities of a staffed beach.

But an unusual post on the Holland State Park Facebook page has drawn unexpected attention to the park after it announced that the main parking lot would be closing until further notice due to "ongoing illegal activity". Obviously, the phrase "ongoing illegal activity," without any elaboration, sparked considerable intrigue among the public.

READ MORE: Grand Haven State Park Begins Seasonal Closure for 2025

To the surprise of many, Holland State Park actually expanded on the kinds of illegal activity taking place at the park: Off-roading, Malicious Destruction of State Property, Reckless and Careless Driving, Enter and Remain After Hours, Vandalism, etc., and "after-hour meetups".

Considering that the parking lot staying up during the winter isn't a new choice for the park, it's shocking that the park hasn't run into these kinds of problems before. Or even if issues like these have persisted for years, it's curious how severe they were this year for the park to choose to close the lot.

Again, the park is still open, with a smaller parking lot designated for now.

Speaking of parks, check out the upgrades made to Ludington State Park earlier this year.