Ann LaCroix, Village of Fruitport Clerk/Treasurer
[Fruitport, MI, June 4, 2018] The Village of Fruitport is announcing the acquisition of nearly three acres of waterfront property on Spring Lake. This waterfront property is adjacent to Pomona Park in the heart of the Village of Fruitport. Through a directed and generous donation from a publically anonymous donor, the Village of Fruitport acquired the property from private owners on June 1, 2018. No funds from the Village of Fruitport were used to purchase this property. The property is being added to Pomona Park.
“The addition of this beautiful property to Pomona Park reinforces our efforts to increase public access to Spring Lake and provide more recreational opportunities in the Village of Fruitport,” said Roger Vanderstelt, Fruitport Village President. Vanderstelt went on to thank the Fruitport Village staff for their hard work and diligence on seeing this project through. “It was touch and go for a while, but we all stayed steadfast to the effort,” he said.
Pomona Park is an 8.5 acre, waterfront, community, park in the Village of Fruitport that offers boating, fishing, picnicking, and kayaking as well as a multi-use path, a band shell, a playground, and temporary space for carnivals and special events. Winter activities also take place with sledding as a highlight. Pomona Park serves a much larger population than just village residents due to its public boat launch and the annual Old Fashioned Days celebration over Memorial Day weekend. Pomona Park also boasts a rich history in music and dancing and was once a popular resort for its mineral springs.
Fruitport Village Trustee, Amy Haack said, “It literally took a village to see this effort finally come to fruition and we are thrilled to add a chapter to the history of Pomona Park.” She thanked the publically anonymous donor and said, “It is reassuring to know, there are still caring and generous people left in the world.”
The Village of Fruitport encompasses one square mile of land in Muskegon County. The Village has an approximate 1,100 residents and is bordered by Fruitport Township (west, north, east) and by Spring Lake Township (south). Fruitport Village is positioned between two exits on I-96 which allows for easy access to Pomona Park, Spring Lake, and other amenities.