Protect Grand Haven Trees
Mission
Sustain through stewardship: ensuring our trees’ health, vitality and survival.
This stand of trees is one of the few remaining locations of uncut woodlands in Michigan—it’s an incomparable local treasure.
Dr. Alexandra Locher
Our Fundraiser
Some trees knew your great grandparents.
They should know your great grandchildren too.
When you adopt a hemlock tree, for a minimum donation of $15, you will receive your own unique tree tag number, including the latitude and longitude coordinates for a living tree; a new friend.
Remember, some of our trees are small, and some are tall. We need them all!
What are we fighting?
We are fighting invasive diseases that threaten the survival of beech, oak and hemlock trees. The Grand Valley State University’s Natural Resources Management Students, who were studying Forest Ecosystem Management, gave the following recommendations in their 2018 report titled “Conservation of Grand Haven Parks, Duncan Woods, and Mulligan’s Hollow.”
- Prevent the spread of beech bark disease, oak wilt, and hemlock woolly adelgid
- Remove invasive vegetation.
- Increase regeneration of oak and hemlock by 40%
- Increase regeneration of beech by 15%
- Monitor the parks annually
Prevention of hemlock woolly adelgid
In partnership, with the City of Grand Haven and the West Michigan Conservation Network, formerly West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), have completed the treatment of hemlock trees within the park to prevent the spread of hemlock wooly adelgid
Duncan Woods
Duncan Memorial Park (known familiarly as Duncan Woods) is the namesake of Robert and Martha Duncan. Its approximately 40 acres of unspoiled virgin woods lie between Lake Forest Cemetery and Sheldon Road. This wooded park, includes numerous walking trails, a parking area, and picnic tables. Robert Duncan arrived in Grand Haven in 1851 and established a law office above the Henry Griffin Drug Store. Though the lumber industry was still in its infancy, Robert foresaw that the area would soon be barren of its majestic old-growth trees. To set aside some for posterity, he purchased 50 acres of virgin woods, which at that time were outside the city limits.
Martha Duncan was always interested in civic betterment and the beautification of the city. She was an active member of the Grand Haven Woman’s Club, served on the City Park Board for many years, and supported the city library. The Woman’s Club raised money to construct the stone pillars at both entrances to the park. On October 22, 1913, Martha deeded the wooded acreage to the people of Grand Haven in memory of Robert. Money for the maintenance of the park came from a trust fund set up by Martha in 1920. After the trust was closed in 1973, a bequest by former mayor Richard L. Cook was used for maintenance and improvements.
This location has 3661 hemlock trees.
Mulligan’s Hollow
On October 4, 1851, Alfred and Louisa Bennett, an African American couple, purchased a parcel of land east of Five Mile Hill. It became known as Bennett’s Hollow. In years prior to that, Ottawa Indians used the Hollow as a meeting place, once in 1819 to honor their dead and again around 1844 to receive the annual payment owed them for ceding their land to the federal government. Today we call the area Mulligan’s Hollow, a name that came into use when tugboat captain John Mulligan bought the parcel in the 1880s.
By 1917 the City of Grand Haven had title to the site. It was used as a CCC Camp during the Great Depression and as a Coast Guard boot camp during WWII. After the abandoned buildings fell into disrepair, the area was used primarily for recreation. In 1963, the last standing building, was converted into a warming hut for the Ski Bowl. The 89 acres of Mulligan’s Hollow were officially dedicated as a city park in 1973.
This location has 2628 hemlock trees.
Lake Forest Cemetery
In 1867 Grand Haven City Council saw it was time to move the cemetery from what is now Central Park. To that end, five years later, the city paid $1,000 to Galen and Mary Eastman for 40 acres in Section 29 of Grand Haven Township.
This land, off Lake Avenue near Lake Michigan, provided sufficient land for a new burial site. The first interment was in September 1873. In 1891, the city acquired from Samuel Glover 40 acres at the north end of the cemetery. The 80 acres are known today as Lake Forest Cemetery.
This location has 2282 hemlock trees.
