Park Township Neighbors (PTN) is a 501c4 non-profit organization established by families, individuals, business owners, and community leaders working together to improve everyone’s experience in Park Township.
Unfortunately, PTN is currently engaged in a short-term rental lawsuit. See evidence at: Revisionist history in Park Township
We deeply appreciate the natural beauty, wide range of recreational opportunities, and high quality of life that Park Township offers residents and visitors alike.
Our hope is that other people and families from all walks of life can continue in sharing the beauty of our abundant natural resources and the generous hospitality of the hardworking, kind people who call Park Township home.
A Rich History of Welcoming Families
Park Township has a long and rich history of being a popular vacation destination, with Holland State Park being one of the most visited State Parks in all of Michigan.
Because of the natural beauty, recreation, and hospitality of our community, families have been coming to visit, vacation, and make memories in beautiful Park Township for over a century.
Many residents now live in Park Township specifically because of their initial experiences vacationing and creating family traditions in the historic Ottawa Beach area, which started more than 130 years ago as a resort cottage destination.
We want to keep those traditions alive for current and future generations with respect and kindness for our community and all neighbors.
Balanced Stewardship
Park Township is extremely fortunate to be uniquely positioned amidst numerous, highly desirable, ecologically significant features unique to West Michigan. Together, these features help define the character of our community.
Visitors and Residents are drawn to the beauty and recreation our lakeshore has to offer. Everyone values and enjoys the scenic views, access to water, open spaces, farmlands, bike paths, and beautiful vistas.
Our outstanding environmental assets must be respected and properly maintained so that future generations may also enjoy them.
In 2022, Park Township officials worked with input from community members on drafting a set of vacation rental regulations to help balance seasonal visitors and year-round residents.
Our community needs a balanced set of regulations to allow homeowners who have a longstanding history of renting their homes to continue doing. We need rules to ensure families vacationing in our community are kind and respectful to year-round neighbors.
While regulations are an important and needed tool to help provide both homeowners and visitors a set of reasonable, common-sense guidelines to follow, regulations are also needed to help limit the number of vacation rental and seasonal homes so that our community retains it’s character, vibrancy, and charm.
And on March 14, 2024, that happened. Park Township passed Ordinance No. 2024-01, which makes it clear that new short term rentals are only allowed in C-2. Or in other words, that new short term rentals are definitively not allowed in residential zoning districts. PTN is litigating regarding existing short term rentals.
Working Together
Our hope is that by working together with Park Township officials, reasonable rules and regulations can be agreed upon that, at a minimum, will allow the small number of existing vacation rentals (250-300) to continue welcoming families and visitors to our beautiful community, protecting year-round residents, and creating a limit on the number of licenses for new rentals.
We welcome families to continue the tradition of visiting and vacationing in our community in ways that respect, protect, and enhance Park Township for our residents and businesses.
Looking to the Future
The most current Park Township Master Plan sets out a compelling vision for 2030 as:
Vision Statement
…………………….
In 2030,
Park Township will be…
…a sustainable community
with a strong identity,
known throughout the region
for its high standard of quality,
varied housing options
and richness of natural assets.
Its residents and visitors alike will enjoy access to
abundant water resources, wide ranging recreational
opportunities and rural open spaces
via an interconnected system
of walks, paths and trails.
Please Join Us
Please join us and become a part of Park Township Neighbors. Help us keep working toward the vision of a Park Township where residents and visitors alike will enjoy access to abundant water resources, parks, farmland, and wide ranging recreational opportunities that we all enjoy, now and for generations to come!
Click here to become a member.
