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Shelby's newest park, Holland Ponds, is an ecological success
story. In 2001, the 200-acre former EPA superfund site located west of Ryan and north of 22 Mile Road, was declared free of
contaminants by the EPA. On July 30,2001, the property was transferred to Shelby Township from the State of Michigan. This
new Shelby park, dedicated November 4, 2001, was named Holland Ponds to honor former Shelby assessor Don Holland.
The
parkland is now used as a passive recreation area with nature trails available for hiking and wildlife viewing. An extension
of the walking trail to Yates Cider Mill has recently been completed.
The marshland and woods provide a home to a
variety of wildlife including deer, fox, blue heron, rabbits, geese, ducks, turtles, frogs and muskrat. The remains of an
old building foundation, possibly from an earlier farm or outbuilding, are visible near the 22 Mile Road entrance. From the
parking lot a trail leads west through marshland ending at two large ponds. A well defined section of the Clinton and Kalamazoo
Canal cuts through this area. A small shelter with picnic tables sits at the west end of the property.
History of
the Parkland
This "new" parkland has an interesting past. About 128 acres of the site was undeveloped recreation land
owned by the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority that was closed to the public because of contamination from the adjacent
former G&H Landfill Company (1957-1974). The now open Holland Ponds section occupies part of the former Huron Clinton
Parkland. The remaining acreage is undeveloped at this time. The EPA is maintaining the water purification plant on the site
to ensure the high quality of groundwater.
About 72 acres of the 200-acre site includes land that was the former Swiss
Valley Park (1921-1974) and also the 35-acre former Green Glen Park (1924-1974). These two privately owned Clinton River parks
were very popular with city dwellers looking for inexpensive weekend summer entertainment in the country. The popularity of
these parks peaked from the Prohibition era through the 1950's. The parks offered picnic facilities, bars, music, and dance
pavilions. Other activities included swimming and fishing in the uncontaminated Clinton River. Both park entrances were on
the west side of Ryan Road and traffic jams were common at closing time. The two parks were later acquired by the Michigan
DNR and closed to the public because of contamination leakage from the nearby landfill sites. Swiss Valley was located north
on the Clinton River with Green Glen on the south side. The 37-acre Swiss Valley Park property was sold to the DNR in 1974
by Ted Godzisz, the owner for 38 years. The DNR tore down all the existing buildings on the property at that time.
Green
Glen, in addition to picnic facilities, boasted a ski jump built in 1937, and was used for one year by a Rochester ski club.
A large sandy hill existed at the south end of Green Glen where motorcyclists would try their skill at hill climbing. Four
toboggan runs were added to the site in 1940. In 1943 an eight-lane bowling alley was built on the property complete with
inside bar and kitchen. Shortly after WW2, three bridges were constructed over the Clinton River to connect Swiss Valley,
Green Glen, and the adjacent Warsaw Park. It's estimated that the combined three parks at times drew as many as 12,000 to
15,000 people for one day.
The old Clinton River park property has returned back to Shelby Township for all to appreciate
again. This valuable land is now preserved for future generations to enjoy.
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