Veterans Memorial Park is the central park of

Bay County, Michigan Bay County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 103,856. The county seat is Bay City. Bay County comprises the Bay City, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Saginaw-Midland-B ...

. The park, approximately , is located along the west bank of the

Saginaw River The Saginaw River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed November 7, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Sh ...

Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city and county seat of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and it is the principal city of the Bay City Metropol ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Across the river is another city park, Wenonah Park.

Features

Veterans Memorial Park includes many features, including a public

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...

sports field A pitch or a sports ground is an outdoor playing area for various sports. The term ''pitch'' is most commonly used in British English, while the comparable term in American and Canadian English is playing field or sports field. For most sports t ...

, an

arboretum An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...

, an exercise track, a memorial to war veterans, and a Riverwalk that runs the length of the park and beyond.

Liberty Harbor Marina

Liberty Harbor Marina is a public marina in Veterans Memorial Park located north of Veterans Memorial Bridge. It is certified by the

Michigan Department of Natural Resources The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor a ...

and includes 99 berths, a

concession stand A concession stand (American English, Canadian English), snack kiosk or snack bar (British English, Irish English) is a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, amusement park, zoo, aquarium, circus, fair, stadium, beach, swim ...

, and a

parking lot A parking lot (American English) or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface ...

Kantzler Memorial Arboretum

Kantzler Memorial Arboretum is an arboretum located in a plaza landscaped with plants maintained by civic and private organizations around the area. It is located along the Saginaw River near the Community Center. Along the north-side of the arboretum is a inlet once used for ship building, known as the Davidson Dry Dock. Over the mouth of the

dry dock A dry dock (sometimes drydock or dry-dock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Dry docks are used for the construction, maintenance, ...

is a

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

that joins with the Riverwalk.

Santa House

Santa House is a log building leased annually to Santa House Inc. every December. It is located near the entrance to the park's John F. Kennedy Drive entrance.

Trombley House

Trombley House is Bay County's first frame house. It was completed in 1837 by Joseph Tromblé and moved from 24th and Water across the river to the park in 1981. It is owned, maintained, managed, and primarily used by the Bay County Historical Society.

Fitness Park

Fitness Park is an exercise track specifically equipped for

disabled people Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

established in 1986. The looping track breaks off from the Riverwalk and proceeds through designated exercise areas.

Events

A number of community events are held at Veterans Memorial Park, such as

concert A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety a ...

s, the

Bay City Fireworks Festival The Bay City Fireworks Festival is an American Independence Day festival held each year around the 4th of July on the Saginaw River near Veterans Memorial Bridge in Bay City, Michigan. In addition to the fireworks display, the festival also feat ...

, Pig Gig, River Roar, and Walleyes for Warriors.

References

External links

* {{official website Military monuments and memorials in the United States Parks in Michigan Saginaw River Tourist attractions in Bay County, Michigan