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Just a
little bit about ourselves, Mecosta County Park Commission was formed in
1965 to meet regional park needs in Mecosta County. The parks system is
run totally on user fees and offers access to many active and passive
recreational activities. Mecosta County Park Commission (MCPC) owns or
operates six campgrounds, all of which are situated on water and are
spread out among the 576 square miles that constitute Mecosta County.
The Park
Commission is run by 10 elected or appointed county residents who meet
once a month to direct the fulltime and seasonal staff that operate the
parks. MCPC has seven full-time staff members and approximately 34
seasonal staff members.
The
modern campgrounds are open from mid-April through October. We have
over 600 campsites available in our system on more than 500 acres. Some
of our parks take reservations while others are first come first serve.
Two of our modern campgrounds allow pets and two prohibit pets in the
parks.
If you
are interested in coming to visit and want more information on what we
have to offer, what it will cost or campground layout come on in and
check us out.
School Section Lake Veteran's Park
History
School Section Lake Park
is the oldest park in the system, purchased by the County in the 30s
from John Berry for $8,000. The 85-acre park began its development
with the construction of the pavilion and planting of the pine grove
adjacent to the park. Federal funds were made available for this
through the WPA and CCC. The buildings housing the restrooms were
erected in the 40s. The Mecosta County Park Commission added modern
camping facilities, complete with electricity and water, in the 60s.
Isaac Berry was a slave
born in Missouri in 1840 of a white father & black mother. In 1858 he
escaped to Canada and settled in Little River Ontario. He left
Ontario in 1875 and homesteaded in Mecosta County where he bought the
farm from the Government for 1.25/acre, calling it a pleasant view.
He set aside a piece of land for a school, in the hope that the
children would become educated. The 1st structure was a
log building, built in 1884, which was later replaced by the present
schoolhouse. His children – Marie (Berry) Cross, Madeline (Berry)
White and Josephine (Berry) Cook were born in the original log house.
Isaac Berry died in January 1914. Mrs. Lucy Esther (Millard?) Berry
died March 9, 1929. The depression caused the family to lose their
farm and the property was sold to the County in 1929 for $8,000.00.
The Little River Schoolhouse closed in the 30s.
More coming soon!!
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