Park Township Airport | Park Township, Michigan
Built in 1937, Park Township Airport (KHLM) served for decades as a small general-aviation field—hosting everything from WWII pilot training to mail service and hobbyist flying. Over time, operations dwindled. Traffic shifted to nearby West Michigan Regional Airport (Tulip City Airport), leaving Park Township with aging runways, minimal income, and no regular commercial flights. In March 2020, voters rejected a proposed millage—a 10-year, 0.185-mill property tax to fund $1.4 M in runway and lighting upgrades—by a 56%-44% margin. Township leaders had committed to close the runway if the millage failed. With funding gone, the main paved runway was demolished in August 2020, leaving only the grass strip intact.
In response, the Township committed to repurposing the site for public use, focusing on recreation and conservation. A multi-phase public engagement process directed by planners (McKenna & OCBA) conveyed strong community support for maintaining the land as park space. Residents were invited to contribute ideas such as pickleball courts, splash pad, soccer fields, playgrounds, walking trails, drone zones, veteran/aviation memorials, or an aviation museum.
In January 2024, the Township Board approved a concept for a Community Park spanning 30–80 acres, featuring a native shortgrass prairie, trails, a splash pad, playground, and a future community center. A prairie of big bluestem, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, etc., is in development—expected to fully bloom by summer 2027. The park project comes with an estimated $9.5 million price tag and the Township is launching a capital campaign—with contributions, grants, and community fundraising. Meanwhile, community input sessions are ongoing (May–June 2022 and beyond) to finalize designs under three main options:
Consulting group McKenna describes this as a multi-phase, community-driven transformation of the flat runway site into a vibrant mixed-use recreational park.
After being around since 1937 and surviving WWII-era training and private aviation use, Park Township Airport closed in 2020 when local voters declined funding to maintain it. Since then, the Township has pivoted—turning the land into a future-focused park featuring native prairie restoration, trails, sports courts, playgrounds, splash pad, community center, aviation-themed elements, and more--driven by public engagement and set for phased development through 2027 and beyond.
In response, the Township committed to repurposing the site for public use, focusing on recreation and conservation. A multi-phase public engagement process directed by planners (McKenna & OCBA) conveyed strong community support for maintaining the land as park space. Residents were invited to contribute ideas such as pickleball courts, splash pad, soccer fields, playgrounds, walking trails, drone zones, veteran/aviation memorials, or an aviation museum.
In January 2024, the Township Board approved a concept for a Community Park spanning 30–80 acres, featuring a native shortgrass prairie, trails, a splash pad, playground, and a future community center. A prairie of big bluestem, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, etc., is in development—expected to fully bloom by summer 2027. The park project comes with an estimated $9.5 million price tag and the Township is launching a capital campaign—with contributions, grants, and community fundraising. Meanwhile, community input sessions are ongoing (May–June 2022 and beyond) to finalize designs under three main options:
- Option A: A regional pickleball hub + athletic fields + playgrounds + aviation/veteran memorial
- Option B: Splash pad + pickleball + playground + memorial
- Option C: Aviation museum + community center + garden/trails.
Consulting group McKenna describes this as a multi-phase, community-driven transformation of the flat runway site into a vibrant mixed-use recreational park.
After being around since 1937 and surviving WWII-era training and private aviation use, Park Township Airport closed in 2020 when local voters declined funding to maintain it. Since then, the Township has pivoted—turning the land into a future-focused park featuring native prairie restoration, trails, sports courts, playgrounds, splash pad, community center, aviation-themed elements, and more--driven by public engagement and set for phased development through 2027 and beyond.
