MEMORIAL PARK
Memorial Park is located behind (west of) Watson Benzie car dealership, Memorial Park is a 30-acre parcel of land reaching from South Street to Grace Road. The Memorial Park Committee works with the township board to continue to improve the park. It’s used for class reunions, weddings, family gatherings, ball games, 4-H soccer, and many, many other gatherings.
Please note that we gladly accept donations!
Disc Golf
The disc golf course is located in Memorial Park at the south end. It’s a 9-hole course and is open to anyone wanting to play. Donations are accepted to maintain this fine course. Please call the township with questions.
Dog Park – Central Bark!
Benzie County’s first dog park (CENTRAL BARK, Dog Park) is located in the south east part of the park behind Honor Bank. It’s a great addition to our community and gives our otherwise leashed doggies a chance to get out and play with their friends. Benches are located in the fenced in area for humans as well as doggie bags, and a water station. You must clean up after your pets.
Walking Path
Paved in August, 2024, this 0.5-mile-long, 9-foot-wide walking path travels the perimeter of the southern half of the park, going by two of the four ball fields, the Pavilion Recreation Area (where there’s a pavilion, picnic tables, a playground, a disc golf course, and more), and via a footbridge crosses over a small tributary creek flowing over to the Betsie River. A small portion of the trail passes through some light woods by the creek. The path can be accessed via either the Pavilion Recreation Area parking area (the access is road is the western one on South Street) or the Dog Park parking area (the access road is on Grace Road). As with many other updates at the park, the trail was financed through the excise tax money that comes to the Township once a year.
Around the Park
HISTORY
In 1956, a local landowner started the formation of Benzonia Township park by selling 20 acres of land at a great discount to Benzonia High School for a football–baseball field with the provision that it would always be used for public use.
In 1979, the Benzie Central High School created new fields on Homestead Road and followed the provision by selling the 20 acres of football and baseball fields to Benzie County for $1.00. In 1980, a county committee was formed and representatives of field users were incorporated into a County Recreation Committee. The committee was Richard Ide, Chairman, from the men’s Slo-Pitch, and Gloria Walterhouse from women’s Slo-Pitch. Other committee members represented County Little League, the High School, and a Benzie County Board member.
In 1980, the Benzie County Board approved the enlargement and development of now a 30-acre parcel. (The committee had purchased another 10 acres from Harold Ridout using the same provision of public use.)
From 1980 to 1989, the volunteer committee had developed a full-scale park with four ball fields — one lighted and a soccer area. All this was accomplished by volunteer labor, donations, and grants that were available. The Benzie County Board of Commissioners recognized that the county could not continue to maintain that area, so in keeping with the provision, Benzonia Township stepped forward and accepted the park and all maintenance and development responsibilities.
Since 1989, the area has progressed into the very well-developed and fully-used township park that you see today. This includes a playground area, pavilion, picnic area, enlarging the soccer area, restrooms, and a volleyball area. There have been over $100,000.00 in improvements at no direct cost to the township or to taxpayers.
There have also been several Eagle Scout Projects completed at our park. They include the picnic tables, the entry garden area ,and the storage shed used for equipment for soccer and little leagues.
The park is kept in beautiful condition for all seasons. The township retains a full-time maintenance person for the nine-month active season. The township has kept the volunteer committee intact and is proud to have a non-fee township park open to all people wishing to use it.
