2015 Community Profile Holland, Michigan

Holland, Michigan
Community Profile 2015
Submitted for the 2015
America in Bloom Competition
2015 Population Category: Champions/Mid-Sized Category
Year
Bloom Rating
Special Mention
Criteria or Other Award
2014
5
Circle of Champions
Population Category
Floral Display
YouTube Video
2013
5
Circle of Champions
Population Category
Heritage Preservation
2012
5
Community Gardens
Circle of Champions
Population Category
Environmental Awareness
2011
5
Population Category
Tidiness
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
2015 Municipal Information
4
Floral Display
5
Landscaped Areas
7
Urban Forestry
10
Environmental Effort – Sustainable
Development and Awareness
12
Heritage – Preserving Your Past for
Future Generations
17
Overall Impression
21
Best Idea
25
2
Introduction to Holland, Michigan
The accolades awarded to Holland, Michigan in recent years are many
and affirm a strong quality of life in this mid-size city where the
economy is dynamic, arts and educational opportunities are paramount,
community unity is tangible, and natural beauty is stunning. Holland’s
participation and recognition in America in Bloom over the past four
years is an affirmation of our achievements. Numerous city and
waterfront parks totaling over 500 acres display Holland’s wellmaintained aesthetic appeal. From being named one of “America’s
Prettiest Towns” by Forbes Magazine to being rated America’s second
happiest and healthiest city in 2009 by Gallup, Holland is a city eager to
please and willing to share its environmental attributes with visitors and
residents alike.
Downtown Holland is the centerpiece of the city’s thriving retail corridor. Numerous events on or
around Eighth Street give the community a diverse lineup of activities, including:
▪
The Street Performer’s Series every Thursday night in the
summer, drawing residents and visitors alike;
▪
Groovewalk, featuring diverse genres of music at various pubs,
cafes and eateries, and the Gallery Walk showcasing local
artists, galleries, and collectives;
▪
The Farmer’s Market, Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to
November featuring a weekly Chef Series; and,
▪
Live Mannequin Night, Sinterklaas Eve, an ice sculpting
competition, and holiday parades throughout the year.
Downtown Holland is also home to JPs Coffee and Espresso Bar, named a national “top-10”
coffeehouse by USA Today, and Lemonjello’s Coffee, featured by BuzzFeed as one of “24 Coffee
Shops to Visit Before You Die”. The revolutionary Snowmelt underground heating system keeps
the street and sidewalks “snow free” during the winter months and the refurbished train depot
hosts daily Amtrak service to Chicago, as well as the Indian Trails and Macatawa Area Express bus
systems.
The Tulip Time Festival, Holland’s annual tribute to Dutch heritage and the May flower, headlines
the city’s natural and historic European flair. Settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1800s,
Holland continues to value its Old World roots with popular attractions like Windmill Island
Gardens, home to the only authentic Dutch windmill in the US, and the Holland Museum and
Galleries featuring a fine collection of 17th, 18th, and 19th century art, furniture, and artifacts
from the Netherlands. New World sensibilities also prevail as Cinco de Mayo and Tulipanes
Festivals celebrate the culture and art of Holland’s large Latino population.
Artistic and educational opportunities also abound in Holland,
a college town. Hope College, a private, liberal arts
institution, houses nationally renowned academic educators
as well as its Great Performance Series and the Hope Summer
Repertory Theatre. The Holland Area Arts Council boasts a
full educational schedule and highly acclaimed exhibits. The
Holland Symphony Orchestra and Holland Chorale provide
concerts performed by talented area musicians.
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Holland’s numerous outdoor activities make it a popular destination for the physically active and
those who enjoy the outdoors. The watery expanses of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa appeal
to beachcombers, boaters, and fishermen while 125 miles of bike and jogging paths meander
throughout the city and the countryside.
Municipal Information
Population:
City Website:
Holland in Bloom Website:
City Contact Name:
AIB Committee Chair Contact:
Town Area in Square Miles:
Acres of Active Recreation:
Acres of Passive Recreation:
Volunteer Coordinator:
33,051
www.cityofholland.com
www.hollandinbloom.com
Steve Zwiep
Steve Zwiep
17.44
150
250
Jodi Syens
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Floral Displays
Attracting Attention with Colorful Plants
Municipal
A walk through our City parks and downtown shopping district will provide a fabulous display of
floral diversity, including 90 varieties of tulips planted in the spring, and cutting-edge annual
displays provided by the more than 130,000 annuals grown in the City’s municipal greenhouse.
The famous Tulip Festival provides thousands of visitors and our local citizens with the first
display of plant life in the spring. Over 400,000 bulbs are meticulously hand planted each fall by
Holland Parks Division personnel, thoughtfully planned into attractive groupings and designs. The
tulips are then replaced with annuals, ensuring that the splashes of color are sure to delight the
senses through the spring, summer, and fall. So come and immerse yourself in the wonders of our
City parks.
▪ Windmill Island Gardens - The curvilinear beds are first filled with 120,000 tulip bulbs
every fall for a stunning springtime display, complemented by over 200 daffodils, dozens of
galanthus, lilies, hyacinths, fritillaria, and other unusual bulbs. Beds of 30,000 annuals are
enlivened by fresh designs each year, using tropical plants and new annual varieties. The
whimsical Childrens’ Garden is a delight for the young and young-at-heart.
▪ Centennial Park - Sit in this tranquil park that dates back
to the 1840’s and let the beauty of this special place
surround you. Resplendent with more than 20,000
brightly-colored tulips in the spring and followed by 15,000
annuals in the summer, Centennial Park also features a
bronze sculpture of Holland’s founder, Rev. A.C. VanRaalte,
as well as hanging baskets, a gazebo and brick pathways.
Centennial Park was the original “Town Square” and
continues to fulfill its role as a focal point for the
community.
▪ Window on the Waterfront - Walk, jog, or bike through this 30-acre park located on the
banks of the Macatawa River, just two blocks north of downtown Holland. The park’s
natural beauty is enhanced by 90,000 tulips, the largest mass planting in the City, for a
spectacular burst of springtime color. In mid-to-late summer the park comes alive again
with carpeted annual flower beds alongside walking and jogging trails, inviting residents and
visitors to participate in a unique experience in this tranquil setting.
▪ Kollen Park - Situated along the shore of Lake Macatawa, Kollen Park
has large areas of green space where its visitors can can engage in
unstructured recreation and leisure activities, or enjoy twice-weekly
summer concerts and other special events. A combination of perennials,
tulips and annuals is enhanced by paved park paths connecting to the
Heinz Waterfront Boardwalk, and allow for the enjoyment of the
fountain from Quertaro, Mexico, and “The Immigrants” statue from the
province of Drenthe, the Netherlands. Kollen Park is a popular
destination for City residents.
Business/Institutional
Holland Hospital’s creative landscape design includes in-ground perennials and flower-filled
containers, as well as a contemplative healing garden.
5
A number of downtown businesses and restaurants plant and maintain
window boxes and planters for both their front and back entrances, as a
complement to the City’s downtown urns and plantings. Restaurants
with sidewalk cafes also provide additional urns and planters to
beautify dining area.
In the Washington Square Shopping District, planters
and hanging baskets are filled with flowering
annuals, and raised planters offset the parking spaces
with daffodils, tulips, mugo pine, daylilies, and a variety of perennials. Drip
watering has been installed in the hanging baskets, and business owners and
volunteers help with the maintenance.
Hope College also enhances the city floral display by integrating flowering
trees, annual and perennial beds, and large planters into its campus
landscaping.
Residential
Residents of Holland take pride in their gardens, front, side and back yards, and work to provide
beautiful examples of color and texture to captivate the eye.
The residents of the Warm Friend, an independent senior living
facility in Downtown Holland, maintain a lovely decor of plants in a
patio that they and passers-by alike can enjoy. The flowers and
landscaping are lovingly tended by residents who are happy to
welcome visitors to this peaceful retreat.
Many homes in the Historic District are adorned with planters and
plantings that reflect the era in which they were built. Historic District residents take a
particular pride in the maintenance and upkeep of their homes, lawns and gardens.
Community Involvement
Tulip Time Inc. and the city Parks Division combine for a “Volunteer Tulip Bulb Planting Day”
annually. Numerous volunteers plant approximately 100,000 bulbs in six hours. The time is also
used to teach the volunteers about tulips, bulbs, and the planting and growing processes.
Following Tulip Time, 2014, the city Parks Division offered a “Tulip Bulb
Pull” day as a Fundraiser for the Holland in Bloom program. Local
residents and visitors were thrilled to acquire Dutch bulbs to plant in their
own yards that will bloom in the spring of 2015! The annual Tulip Bulb Pull
will take place again on May 30, 2015.
Each year in June, the Holland Horticultural Club arranges
for local growers to donate surplus annual flowers for pick
up by the citizens who live on the city’s Tulip Lanes. These
annuals replace the tulips the city plants every year for the
festival.
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Landscaped Areas
Designed Tree, Shrub, Turf, and Perennial Plantings
Municipal
The Parks Department has integrated eco-friendly designs and systems. Most parks include Toro
Sentinel Irrigation systems using evapo-transpiration rates to determine timing and quantity of
water to be applied. It has not only reduced the amount of water spent on irrigating, but on
maintenance hours as well. The Parks Department typically mows 200 acres of turf weekly
throughout the growing season. The remainder of park system is either passive or undeveloped.
The city is reducing maintenance by letting some sites remain in or return to a natural state. This
allows for less mowing, letting prairies grow wild (with occasional prescribed burns) and
constructing new wetlands.
In a celebration of diversity, the recently reconstructed and newly-named Unity Bridge connects
the City of Holland and surrounding townships to the north. A privately-funded sculpture entitled
“Uniting Sun”, designed by internationally acclaimed sculptor Cyril Lixenberg, was installed in a
landscaped traffic triangle just south of the bridge.
Windmill Island Gardens features 30 acres of manicured grounds set in 100 acres of wilderness. An
arboretum map allows self-guided tours of the 70 new varieties of trees planted in the last nine
years to replace dozens of ash trees removed due to the emerald ash borer. Walking tours with
staff horticulturists are also available upon request. Dedicated volunteers contribute more than
two thousand hours annually: trimming trees, transplanting annuals, and assisting in many other
landscaping capacities.
Kollen Park has 5 acres of lakefront with greenspace, boardwalks, fishing piers, playground and
picnic areas.
Period-appropriate landscaping surrounds the Cappon House, the home of Holland’s first Mayor,
coordinated and maintained by the local Garden Club. The fountain, traditional shrubs, and
mature trees create a Victorian atmosphere.
The Downtown Development Authority, a municipal entity,
partners with private businesses and individuals to develop
and maintain the central business district’s unique
environment, encompassing the downtown and 8th Street
Market. This landscaping includes 205 trees, 105 large 3-foot
urns, 36 public benches, 25 private benches, 50 waste cans,
and 10 bike racks that can accommodate a hundred bikes.
The private pocket parks sprinkled throughout the downtown
provide unexpected and delightful green space for visitors
and residents to relax and enjoy the view.
7
Ottawa County has completed its newest park, Macatawa Greenspace, in the City of Holland.
The 122-acre park encompasses the union of the Macatawa River and the Noorderloos Creek. The
restored wetland is home to many waterfowl, and bridges, boardwalks and observation decks
take visitors along the river for scenic view of the this natural greenspace.
Business/Institutional
Holland Hospital’s creative landscape design gives visitors a welcoming sense of entry. The design
incorporates beautiful masses of perennials, grasses, flowering trees and shrubs, and flower-filled
containers. There is also a Healing Garden near the chapel.
Excellent examples of eco-design are evident in our commercial
properties, such as Haworth Corporation’s green roof and Member
Garden, and Herman Miller’s Design Yard complex. Low
maintenance landscaping and sustainability are key for many local
businesses, both large and small.
Holland’s many churches also add to the beauty of the community
with their tall spires, well-maintained facilities, and exceptional
landscaping. Hydrangea, Rudbeckia, Perennial Hibiscus, grasses, and Echinicea all combine to
provide color, depth, texture and varying heights to please the eye. Central Wesleyan Church has
installed vast ornamental grass beds that enhance the landscaping and reduce the need to mow.
Ridge Point Community Church has committed a portion of its property as an integral part of the
Macatawa Greenway. The Ridge Point Natural Area includes 1.5 miles of public walking trails that
wind through 30 acres of grasslands and 10 acres of wetlands. The conservation efforts at this site
and others, comprising nearly 10 miles of rivers-edge land all along the Macatawa River, are
helping to improve wildlife habitat, attract birds to new wetlands and ponds, increase flood
water storage capacity, and improve water quality.
Hope College prides itself on its landscaping design and maintenance. The campus has many sitespecific planting beds that enhance the beauty of the grounds through the use of varying plant
color and height. The college horticulture team uses
perennials and grasses that need reduced care and water,
mulches with native hardwood bark, structurally prunes
foliage, plants trees that produce feed stock for birds,
strategizes plantings for a building’s shading or sun
exposure and for future natural development, and plants
native and zone-hardy species. In 2014, Hope College
was awarded certification by the Michigan Turfgrass
Environmental Stewardship Program, after completing a
three-year process. The award recognizes the College’s
commitment to environmental stewardship through its
ground maintenance practices.
A recent project at Hope College involved the closure of two streets by the City of Holland. The
college then created pedestrian walkways to integrate the east and west sides of campus. The
walkways include extensive landscaping, even extending to the edges of the railroad track that
bisect the City and the campus.
The South Shore Village Shopping District maintains a planting strip that buffers the area between
the parking lot and the roadway. Rudbeckia, ornamental grasses and day lilies provide a slice of
color in this unique district. A state grant will help build a promenade linking the Heinz
Boardwalk to the businesses, as well as build a parking lot to provide better access and more
parking for this neighborhood business area.
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The Macatawa Watershed Project offers a Lawn Care Seal of Approval program to local businesses
who agree to certain practices including: limited use of phosphorous fertilizer, grass cut no
shorter than 3 inches, leaving a 3-foot buffer strip on properties adjacent to bodies
of water, and sweeping clippings back onto lawns to prevent runoff into storm
drains.
Padnos, the third largest recycling company in the U.S., exists in harmony within
walking distance of the downtown district. Stuart Padnos, a son of the company’s
founder, created many whimsical sculptures made of recycled materials that are
displayed along the roadway bordering the company and throughout the
community.
Residential
The Holland area benefits from informed, conscientious residential and commercial neighbors.
We are diverse ethnically, but remain unified around our love for our city. This is certainly a value
reflected in landscape maintenance and design and particularly in turf and ground covers.
Residents care about the appearance of their properties and the impact on our environment,
particularly the impact on our greatest local natural resource: Lake Michigan.
Many homes in Holland’s Historic District carry the authenticity
of their homes to the outdoors with traditional landscaping and
gardens.
The homes along South Shore Drive with their beautifully
manicured lawns along the lakefront show the beauty of a well
landscaped design.
A survey of local contractors and property managers reveals a
uniform dedication to a mowing height of 3”, which allows for
less weed control and less watering. Mowing is typically done just enough to provide for one-inch
clippings; most clippings are left to mulch into the turf or recycled at local recycling centers.
Community Involvement
Members of the Holland Garden Club design and maintain the gardens of the Cappon House and
the landscaping surrounding the Settlers House.
A dedicated citizen took on the job of designing,
building, and maintaining a gazebo garden at one entrance to
the city. He then donated the property to Hope College,
where it is utilized and maintained for plant research.
Many of the bronze sculptures in Downtown Holland were
donated by local residents. A walking tour provides residents
and visitors the opportunity to enjoy these works of art as
part of the natural landscape.
9
Urban Forestry
Municipal
The City of Holland received the “Tree City USA” designation for the 35th year in a row. The City
has written policies, bylaws and regulations and long and short term plans as required for the
“Tree City” designation.
Significant plantings of new trees were done over the last several years to enhance Windmill
Island Gardens. The Arboretum of Windmill Island Gardens has generated an inventory of the
trees by botanical name, common name and characteristics, and work continues on this effort to
provide visitors a more informed experience.
Van Raalte Farm, a 160-acre parcel originally purchased by Holland’s founder and owned by the
family until 1983, is a favorite spot for hikers during all season. Groomed paths offer an excellent
opportunity for a nature walk in the city. Original maples still stand and Holland produces maple
syrup through demonstrations by the DeGraaf Nature Center staff every spring. Periodappropriate plantings surround the residence.
Prospect Park is a 6.5 acre parcel of land in the south central
area of the City. Its history dates back to May 31, 1901, when
eight concerned Holland cities purchased this plot of land for
a sum of $1,830 in order to protect the last of the original
forest in or near Holland. The park includes a dense stand of
mature trees of many species, along with walking paths,
picnic tables, and a play area.
The ash trees throughout the City of Holland have been
decimated by the emerald ash borer beetle over the past few years. City staff is currently
nearing the end of removing over 1000 ash trees from the City’s right of ways, and parks. City
Council has approved the purchase of additional equipment and staff to help with this work, as
well as funding a tree planting program that will more than quadruple the typical stipend for tree
planting. This will allow for more than 500 trees to be planted each year for the next five years.
In 2013, the City collaborated with the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, Grand Valley State
University, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to develop an Urban Tree Canopy
Assessment. This assessment utilized GIS data and many hours of on-the-ground work, to help
determine where trees are lacking, and to assist staff in determining where to plant these new
trees.
The City of Holland and the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council again
collaborated on two granting opportunities in 2014 and 2015. A grant
from the Community Forestry Grant Program through the DNR will assist
in the planting of an additional 75 trees in a neighborhood that was
designated as a “tree desert”by our Urban Tree Canopy Assessment.
Planting will take place this spring. The second grant that is being
sought is offered through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative,
associated with the US EPA. This grant is specifically designed to help
replace trees affected by the emerald ash borer. The grant has been
requested in the amount of of $100,000 and, if approved, will allow for
the planting of an additional 500-600 trees over the next two years.
There will be a public-private partnership component with this project
as well. In order to increase the tree canopy even further, the City will
collaborate with private businesses and residents in the City of Holland.
It is intended to have 100 trees available for private citizens to who can
enter into a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement with the City and arrange to have a tree planted on
their private property. The Holland Board of Public Works will also be a partner in this effort,
10
and will supply educational materials for citizens that will explain the benefits of trees and how
they can help reduce energy consumption and protect the
environment.
Current Urban Forestry goals include the continuation of a deeper
understanding of our inventory and the development of stronger
policies and procedures. The work being done at Windmill Island
Gardens and on the Hope College campus is an excellent start towards
a comprehensive inventory. City staff is currently working with a tree
company to establish the scope of our public needs with regard to an
inventory, and exploring the best and most affordable ways to
accomplish this goal.
Business/Institutional
In 2014, The City of Holland and Hope College collaborated on a special tree climbing
competition. The Arbor Society of Michigan holds this championship at different locations
throughout the state, and the City was honored to have been selected to host the competition at
Prospect Park. The event brought in a couple of dozen competitors, as well as 200 spectators and
included activities for the community. The group also donated/planted two new trees in the
park. We are excited to welcome them back in 2015!
Residential
The citizens of Holland enjoy tree-lined streets with
magnificent canopies, the forested parks, and the natural
areas along waterways and roadways. Along with our Urban
Forest inventory and policies that ensure long-term health
and viability, Holland benefits from municipal employees who
do an excellent job utilizing best practices in our City.
Community Involvement
A group of highly motivated and talented gardeners make up the Holland Garden Club. This
group organizes the annual Arbor Day celebration that typically takes place at the end of April
each year. This year (as in the pat couple of years), the group will plant a tree at Windmill Island
Gardens. The club connects local senior citizens with a group of elementary children from area
schools to share in the celebration, and to assist in planting the tree. The history of Arbor Day is
read to the group, and a proclamation is presented by the mayor of the City of Holland. The
students recite poems, stories, and research that they have worked on in class related to trees
and the environment.
A local volunteer completed a comprehensive arboretum map for Windmill Island Gardens. There
are a hundred new and unique varieties of trees in the last eleven years with 160 new trees
planted.
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Environmental Effort
Sustainable Development and Awareness
Municipal
Georgetown University Energy Prize – The City of Holland,
along with support from the Holland Board of Public Works, has
entered this national competition that challenges small to
medium sized communities across the U.S. to rethink their
energy use. Holland is one of 49 semifinalist cities competing
for $5 million and “change.” It is tracking and reporting
residential, municipal and K-12 school energy consumption over
the next two years and working to find innovative, scalable and
replicable solutions that can work for other communities. The
competition is serving as a catalyst to increase awareness and
action on Holland’s 40-year Community Energy Plan. An
Innovation Charrette, attended by 35 community thoughtleaders last August, kicked off the planning process. A detailed
program plan and activities can be found on www.hollandenergyprize.com. It includes
retrofitting more than 1,400 high-pressure sodium Cobra-head streetlights to LED technology.
Both the HBPW Board and City Council have approved the expenditure. Conversion begins in May
2015.
Grand Rapids Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year - Holland Board of Public Works Business
Services Director Dan Nally was named Newsmaker of the Year in the Sustainability category by
the Grand Rapids Business Journal early in 2015. The publication awarded Nally for his leadership
in building a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy future for the Holland community,
including development of the coming Holland Energy Park. In 2008, Nally and a team from HBPW
took the conversation about Holland’s future energy into the public space, eventually leading an
innovative Sustainable Return on Investment study to seek a solution that met the community’s
needs for sustainability, affordability and reliability.
Holland Energy Park - Holland Board of Public Works is pursuing the Institute for Sustainable
Infrastructure’s top honors for its new Holland Energy
Park using the new nationally-recognized Envision™
sustainability rating system. Envision™ has 60
sustainability criteria, or credits, divided into five
sections: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation,
Natural World, and Climate and Risk. The Holland BPW
has five Envision™ credentialed professionals on staff, and
plans to apply this rating system to other large capital
infrastructure projects in the future. See the “Best Idea”
for further information on the power plant project.
Clean Corporate Citizen Award - Holland Board of Public Works has been awarded the Clean
Corporate Citizen (C3) designation from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) for exemplary corporate environmental responsibility in its Electric Production
Department. The HBPW Electric Production Department demonstrated its environmental
stewardship by meeting several criteria for the C3 designation including the development and
implementation of an environmental management system, participating in a state pollution
prevention program and a strong environmental compliance record.
Neighborhood Environmental Partners Award – Also from the MDEQ, and for the fourth
consecutive year, Holland Board of Public Works has been awarded the Neighborhood
Environmental Partners Program Award for its outstanding commitment to environmental
community outreach. The Neighborhood Environmental Partners (NEP) program is a competitive
environmental awards initiative created by the MDEQ to encourage and reward businesses and
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neighbors to work together locally on pollution prevention projects. HBPW is a member of the
MDEQ’s Michigan Business Pollution Prevention Partnership program and is required to set annual
goals and report on its pollution prevention activities yearly. The large furniture manufacturer,
Herman Miller, was also granted this award for its Holland facility.
ENERGY STAR Certification - The Holland Board of Public Works has earned
ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
for its Service Center facility at 625 Hastings Ave. To earn the certification, a
building must perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for
energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the
EPA. HBPW has been an ENERGY STAR Partner since 2009 when it began its Energy
Smart energy optimization program and received the 2013 ENERGY STAR
Leadership in Housing Award for its significant contributions in promoting and verifying the
construction of energy efficient new homes.
Community Energy Services – The Holland Board of Public Works has invested in expanding its
scope of services to include community energy management. Four staff members are now
dedicated to helping customers and the community use energy and water resources wisely. The
expansion included hiring an energy efficiency engineer and a program administrator to assist
Commercial and Industrial customers in reducing energy usage. The new engineer is available to
walk through facilities with customers to help identify energy and money saving opportunities. He
also guides each customer through the improvement and incentive process to maximize energy
savings.
Energy Savings Exceed 1,100 Homes – The energy savings from the Holland Board of Public
Works 2014 multi-faceted energy optimization program is equivalent to the energy consumed by
more than 1,100 homes. The measure lifetime savings is 396,627,336 kWh, averting nearly
400MW of future power generation needs.
Business/Institutional
Herman Miller Energy and Sustainability Lunch Series – Herman Miller, Dr. Energy Saver,
Efficiency United, and the Holland Board of Public Works are working together to offer 20 minute
educational sessions for Herman Miller employees. Each session will focus on energy efficiency
and living sustainably. Some topics include: 15 signs your home has comfort and energy loss
issues, Holland Energy Park, LED lighting, the Community Energy Plan, HBPW rebate programs,
and much more.
CityFlatsHotel and Herman Miller Honored – The Michigan Business and Professional Association
named CityFlatsHotel and Herman Miller as two of Michigan’s Best and Brightest Most Sustainable
Companies. The winning companies were evaluated and scored by an independent research firm
in the categories of education, communication, strategic planning and operational
implementation, innovation and problem solving, building and ground, community leadership and
workforce and financial performance.
Haworth Zero Waste to Landfill – Haworth, another large
office furniture manufacturer headquartered in Holland, MI,
has a Zero Waste to Landfill goal that was driven by the
volunteer employee Ecommitment team and the Sustainable
Solutions team. These teams created a corporate challenge to
raise awareness of intra-company recycling and waste
reduction opportunities. The teams conducted regular audits
of W2E (Waste to Energy) and recycling bins to ensure all
were being properly utilized and to identify trouble areas.
Haworth members stayed up to date on the success stories,
common questions and answers, and results on an internal
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web site. This effort garnered excellent results that raised awareness and spurred
implementation of several ideas from members. One idea put easy-to-understand signage in hightraffic areas explaining recycling opportunities; another added more recycling and waste to
energy locations in its facilities.
Haworth Clean Chemistry in Action – Haworth has committed to removing 56 chemicals of
concern from its products by the end of 2015. The 56 chemicals were chosen based on a review
of common materials found within the supply chain which are identified by customers,
governments and NGOs as potentially harmful to people’s health and the environment. As part of
the banned chemical initiative, Michigan Extruded Aluminum agreed to switch coatings away from
hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium, which offered the same high performance with no
cost increase to customers.
Johnson Controls Builds Natural Playscape – Volunteers from Johnson Controls Inc. worked with
the Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway staff to install a natural playscape at
Maplewood Early Childhhood Center in August 2014. It was mostly made of trees donated by the
City of Holland that had to be felled because of the emerald ash borer. The playscape includes a
music wall, pipe wall, stepping logs, balance beam and a bridge.
Energy Optimization Participation – More than 130 companies completed energy efficiency
equipment upgrades in 2014 as tracked by HBPW’s Energy Smart program results and reported to
the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Residential
Home Energy Retrofit Pilot - The City of Holland took
another step forward in its pursuit of the Community Energy
Plan goals. A 25-house pilot program for Home Energy
Retrofits was launched in late 2014 and completed mid-2015.
The goal of this program was to determine the effectiveness
of energy saving measures when applied to Holland’s housing
stock. Results indicated an average 32% energy efficiency
gain with an average $14,500 investment. Learnings are
being used to design and implement a larger program to
make this service available to every city resident. The City of
Holland engaged the services of Schneider Electric, an
internationally recognized energy management firm, to
conduct the pilot program. Schneider Electric, using a team of certified energy auditors,
conducted a thorough on-site evaluation of each home and produced an individualized, costeffective plan to improve energy efficiency. Schneider Electric manages a team of professional
contractors to make the actual home improvements. Each home received a one-year guarantee of
energy savings.
The Holland Sentinel Retrofit Report Series - The “Retrofit Report” is a weekly column in The
Holland Sentinel tracking the people and process involved in the Home Energy Retrofit pilot and
the city’s participation in the Georgetown University Energy Prize. Coordinated by the City of
Holland, it is produced through the Home Energy Retrofit Task Force, one of six committees
driving progress on the Community Energy Plan. The column helps to keep the community
informed, while encouraging participation.
Building Energy Performance Labeling Pilot - The City of Holland is creating a comprehensive
building energy performance labeling program that accurately measures and appropriately
“publicizes” building energy consumption levels according to national energy standards. Ideally,
these energy labels would measure energy usage – by building design as well as actual usage and
be measured periodically by an independent testing organization. This is another citizen-led task
force working to reach the goals of the Community Energy Plan.
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Hope College Cottage and Dorm Competition – The first ever Hope College residential hall
sustainability competition, “Live Green, Save Blue,” started in February, following the kickoff of
the fifth annual Hope Cottage Energy Contest. The competitions aim to educate Hope students
about the benefits of conserving water and energy and reward them for doing so. “Living Green”
refers to the “enthusiasm points” residents earned by posting pictures of themselves living
sustainably, which includes taking pledges, attending activities or hosting events related to
sustainability. “Saving Blue” refers to the fact that the competition is also judged based on water
use, per person, in each dorm. The residents of the winning dorm each received a small prize and
a traveling trophy will be placed in the dorm until the next competition. The Cottage Energy
Contest (cottages are off-campus housing) is won based on the reduction of energy use per person
compared to a previous baseline. The grand prize was a dinner for the entire cottage at CityVu
Bistro, a restaurant that prides itself on being green and is housed in the first Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certified hotel in in the Midwest, located in
downtown Holland.
Community Involvement
Holland - Hope College Sustainability Institute – The Holland Community Energy Plan Education
and Outreach Task Force recommended formation of a Sustainability Institute and supporting
endowment. With grants from the City of Holland, Holland Board of Public Works, the Holland
Zeeland Community Foundation and Funder’s Network, the vision became reality in 2014.
Partnering with Hope College, Holland’s goals for the Institute are:
a. Become a Sustainability Educator;
b. Become a Research Center for Sustainability Best Practices; and
c. Make a Difference: Replicate and Grow Sustainability Success in the Region.
Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore Series – This new series is a
collaborative partnership between Herrick District Library, League of
Women Voters, Holland Sustainability Committee, Hope College, Grand
Valley State University and others which seek to inform and empower
Holland area citizens to live more sustainably. Each monthly event features
a keynote speaker and break-out sessions on different themes related to
sustainable living (e.g. energy efficiency, air quality, water conservation,
food).
Herrick Library Energy Series –
Herrick District Library has teamedup with the City of Holland to offer
a lecture series on the topic of
sustainable energy. Focusing on
energy options in our region and Holland’s pursuit of “$5
Million and Change” through the Georgetown University
Energy Prize competition, this free, three-part series
offered great information for Holland area residents.
Topics included: “Thoughts on Energy for the Greater Holland Area: Holland’s New Energy Park,”
“Renewable Energy 101: Policy and Thinking about Energy Differently,” and “Energy Efficiency
and the Triple Bottom Line: How do we get there?”
Partnering for Recycle Rewards Event – This annual event, hosted
by the Holland Board of Public Works and partnering with other area
utilities, Comprenew (a job-providing environmental ministry), Hope
Church, Herman Miller and a local radio station, is held each May.
Residents drop off, for free, old electronics and Freon-containing
appliances. Customers receive a $50 rebate for working
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refrigerators/freezers and $15 for working air conditioners/dehumidfiers. At this event and over
the course of the 2014 year, 305 units were collected and recycled properly, keeping them out of
the landfill and saving 319,669 kWh (equivalent to the annual use of 32 homes)!
Water Festival – This annual event focuses on our water-filled landscape, organisms we share it
with, and how to use it wisely. The Water Festival will be better than ever this year with a grand
focus on education. Hosted on Windmill Island, the festival will be an area for people to discover
Holland’s history with water through live performers, learn about the watershed and why it is
important, find out ways to keep water safe and how to preserve this precious resource. Festival
visitors can see native watershed animals, catch a trout in the trout pond, kayak around the
island, play a number of educational games, bike around the island and identify invasive species,
among many other activities – all of which are free thanks to generous community sponsors and
volunteers.
Tulip Time Conservation Initiatives – The Tulip Time Festival Board and
staff teams up with the Holland Board of Public Works to feature/promote
a conservation tip of the day on the home page of the Tulip Time website
for all of April through the first week of May and focuses on ways to save
water and energy. The Festival also has a Quick Trip Shuttle to encourage
public transportation and utilizes Chef Container for recycling services
through the course of the event. During the Arts & Crafts Fair, an award is
given to the best upcycled or green style booth. Tulip Time also features
the only parade in the U.S. powered by battery!
Recycling Downtown – The recycling containers in downtown Holland received new signage this
year to more actively encourage recycling and engage the public to the instructions on how to
recycle properly.
Project Clarity – Our “Best Idea” in last year’s application
is making great strides. The community has already raised
$8.8 million of the $12.5 million goal. Project Clarity is a
community-wide effort to remediate the water quality
issues of Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa watershed.
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Heritage Preservation
Preserving Your Past for Future Generations
Municipal
Windmill Island Gardens celebrates the 50th anniversary of
the journey of the DeZwaan Windmill from the Netherlands to
Holland, Michigan; its reconstruction on the site reclaimed
from the Macatawa River; and the opening of the facility in
April of 1965 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands as the
first visitor! A season of events is planned, starting with a
community run and open house on April 18, 2015. After the
tulips are done blooming, over 100 varieties of annuals grown
from seed in the production greenhouse on the Island will be
featured in a variety of yellow and gold shades to celebrate
the Golden Anniversary. The greenhouse is a 100 year-old
Lord & Turnham design originally imported for Marigold Lodge on the shores of Lake Macatawa. It
was acquired by the City of Holland and moved in 1965 for use in growing annuals, and later
converted to a tropical conservatory. A nomination for the DeZwaan Windmill to be placed on the
State Register of Historic Places is also being prepared in conjunction with the anniversary
celebration.
In 2013, a Strategic Planning Committee prepared a fresh vision for the future of Windmill Island
Gardens. Several key components were developed that resulted in the launch of a $2.1 million
fund raising campaign. The first project was the repair and renovation of the 254-year old
DeZwaan Windmill, completed in late 2013 at a cost of approximately $700,000. Funding was
provided by private donors, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Prince
Bernhard Foundation, the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills, and the City of Holland. The
Michigan Historic Preservation Network presented an award for this project in May of 2014. A
grant has recently been approved to help fund the design and construction of a northside
pedestrian bridge and southside pathway system to enhance public access to Windmill Island.
Construction is expected to occur in 2016.
The Herrick District Library’s Genealogy Collection focuses mainly on materials that record Dutch
immigration to Michigan during the 19th century, along with history of the founding families and
the early settlers of the Holland area. Classes are offered to assist residents in accessing and
utilizing a variety of genealogy tools.
In September 2013 a group of leaders assembled for a day long strategic planning process with a
historic architect to discuss the future of the structures on the Van Raalte Farm Homelot that
includes the house, two barns, a modern garage and the recently completed sugar shack used for
community programming and education. Findings of the plan have been distributed to the Parks
and Recreation Committee and City Council, funding for immediate stabilization for the house
has been approved, and capital funds are being allocated for the next four years.
Kollen Park’s history began in the late 1800’s as the site of a basket
factory. The park developed in 1929
after the property was donated to
the City by the widow of a
prominent Holland lawyer so that
the common man could enjoy the
waterfront. The Immigrants
statue, a gift from the people of
Drenthe in the Netherlands, overlooks Lake Macatawa.
Celebrations and events abound in Kollen Park, all free to
the public. They include American Legion Band concerts,
Tulip Time fireworks and festivities, Tulip Time Kinderplaats,
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4th of July fireworks, Holland Symphony Orchestra concerts, Labor Day Board Walk, Miranda Park
Party for children, and National Night Out.
Centennial Park is located within a local historic district. Designation within the district provides
for protection from any inappropriate alteration in the park. This is important since the park’s
original purpose was to serve the community and provide a focal point for the local markets. The
park was originally used for grazing cows in the city’s early years, has a vast array of trees dating
back to the founding fathers. A bronze statue of the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of
Holland and Hope College, faces toward Hope College and Pillar
Church, Holland’s first church. The statue was given to the city for
its Sesquicentennial in 1997.
Heritage monuments and statues appear in parks throughout the
city. From The Immigrants statue at Kollen Park to Geertje &
Cornelis at Window on the Waterfront, they help tell the history of
Holland.
A Macatawa Greenway project connects different areas of the city
along the water via a boardwalk. This ongoing project also preserves the wetland areas. Most
recently, the project connected Kollen Park to Window on the Waterfront. The Greenway also
offers canoeing opportunities for the community to keep members connected to the community’s
heritage on the waterway.
Business/Institutional
The Holland Historical Trust (HHT) enriches Holland by having the
present dynamically interact with the past. By collecting,
preserving and communicating the past, the Trust focuses on the
power of the past to shape its future. The HHT is the
administrative body for the Holland Museum, the Holland
Armory, the Cappon House, the Settler’s House, and the Holland
Museum Archives and Research Library. The educational facilities
and collections represent a diverse heritage and are accessible
to all. The HHT supports the Civil War Muster at Van Raalte
Farm, and traditional teas and ice cream socials at the Cappon
House and Settler’s House.
The Joint Archives of Holland is dedicated to preserving Holland’s heritage by:
▪ Collecting, caring for, interpreting and making available unique resources such as the
archival collections of Hope College, Western Theological Seminary, area governmental
units, and other members
▪ Managing the records of Hope College faculty and scholars, including extensive oral
history collection
▪ Sponsoring the Holland Historical Society
▪ Serving as a history research center for its members, Hope College students, faculty
and staff, and the general public.
The HHT, Hope College, the Joint Archives, Herrick Library, the Holland Historical Society, the
Holland Horticultural Club, and the Holland Garden Club all plan yearly programs for the
continued education and enjoyment of members and the community at large. The Holland
Historical Trust and Hope College continually seek grant programs to improve and preserve their
programs and history.
There are several companies in Holland actively engaged in preserving, repurposing and
renovating buildings. One example is Scrap Yard Lofts, formerly a storage building for the Louis
Padnos Iron & Metal Company, the building has been repurposed into a commercial and
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residential space. Other reuse examples: Evergreen Commons (former school), Tower Clock
Building (former bank), Holland Area Arts Council (former furniture store), Baker Lofts (former
furniture factory), Black River Charter Academy (former chemical company), and Vanderbilt
Charter Academy (former shoe manufacturer). All these projects were done with funds raised in
the private sector.
Dr. Albertus C. Van Raalte, Holland’s founding father and
visionary, felt education was the key to success for the Holland
community. Hope College, chartered in 1866, traces its roots
to1851 and the creation of the “Pioneer School.” As the
community’s needs progressed, this school evolved into the
Holland Academy and then into Hope College. Historic buildings
on Hope’s campus include Van Vleck Hall, the campus’s oldest
building and a survivor of the 1871 Holland fire that destroyed
70% of the city; the President’s home (1892); and Graves Hall
(1894). Some of the newer buildings reflect the architecture of
the older buildings.
The Pillar Church, dedicated in 1856, is a fine example of Greek revival architecture, with its six
soaring pillars that give it its name. The church was one of the very few buildings to survive the
devastating fire of 1871, and remains a place of worship. Its majestic organ provides music for
the services as well as for public concerts throughout the year. The Heritage Room displays the
church’s historic documents and artifacts.
The Dutch Heritage Coordinating Council continues its work to promote increased cooperation
and collaboration between community organizations involved in the preservation and promotion
of Dutch heritage in the area. In addition to the annual Fall gathering, the DHCC has published a
Directory of Heritage Organizations in West Michigan, and an an Illustrated Guide for Historical
Tours of Sites of Dutch Influence in Western Michigan, in conjunction with the Dutch American
Historical Commission, which also includes a bicycle tour. Visitors may access the website,
www.dutchheritagewestmichigan.org, which is updated to reflect activities and events sponsored
by members.
In 2013, the Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau published A
Guide to Holland’s Historic Site, a walking tour identifying important
historical structures documenting the development of the
community. The CVB also published A Guide to Historic Holland’s Art
& Architecture, containing both a walking and driving tour
highlighting outdoor art and features of historic buildings.
Residential
The City of Holland has an active historic preservation program that includes the establishment of
historic district and designation of landmark properties. Approximately 500 properties are
includes in historic districts, where a citizen commission reviews exterior improvements and
issues Certificates of Appropriateness. In 2014, a total of 34 applications at 26 unique properties
were considered. This level of oversight is appreciated by the residents in order to preserve the
character of Holland’s oldest neighborhoods, and the Holland Historic District continues to be a
much sought after address in the city.
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Community Involvement
Tulip Time in Holland takes, no doubt, one of the largest community involvement efforts in the
country! Initiated in 1927 by local high school teacher Lida Rogers, who suggested that Holland
adopt the tulip as its flower and set aside a day to celebrate, the Festival became an annual
event in 1929. Every year since, Holland blooms with tulips, flowering trees, and thousands of
volunteers. The community dons Dutch costumes to host, educate,and entertain the half million
visitors who come to enjoy Holland for the Tulip Time Festival. Community partners and sponsors,
over 800 volunteers, hundreds of Dutch Dancers and parade participants, and many others make
Time an exceptions community event. Local residents interrupt their regular schedules to help
visitors enjoy the festival and our community. Hundreds of schoolchildren march in parades,
Dutch dance, play in bands, and perform in other musical productions. Service groups and
societies provide help during the weeks surrounding Tulip Time.
Community volunteers are involved in all aspects of the Holland Historical Trust, from
participants in the Civil War Muster to museum docents and visitors service personnel. The
Holland Museum’s activities sponsors include many local businesses, industries, and prominent
citizens.
In early 2014, Dr. Robert Swierenga of the Van Raalte Institute at Hope College, published his
three-volume, 2600 page book, Holland, Michigan: From Dutch Colony to Dynamic City. The book
took ten years to write and research, and is the most comprehensive telling of Holland’s history
from its settlement to the present day.
Local residents organize the annual Memorial Day Parade, which starts in the downtown area and
ends at the Pilgrim Home Cemetery. There, a ceremony is held to honor those who served and
continue to serve our country. The all-volunteer American Legion Band leads the parade and many
elected officials assist in the program.
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Overall Impression
Municipal
The positive appearance of city facilities and grounds is of
paramount importance to City leaders. Key facilities – Police
Station, City Hall, three fire stations, the Transportation Services
Building and the Parks/Cemeteries Building – all have staff who
maintain the grounds; however, the City has recently established
a single employee within the Parks Division responsible for the
coordinating maintenance of grounds at all major City facilities,
in order to bring increased emphasis on upkeep and
improvements.
During the non-winter months, the City of Holland operates two street sweepers that sweep all
curb and gutter streets every two weeks, and non-curb and gutter streets at least twice per year.
The Streets Department has an ongoing maintenance program for street repairs, street sweeping,
roadside maintenance and mowing, installation and replacements of signage, and the upkeep of
boulevards on East 16th Street and Washington Boulevard.
The City’s mandatory refuse collection and curbside recycling for residential properties, along
with the annual curbside Spring Cleanup and Fall Leaf Pickup programs, help property owners
maintain their properties.
The Padnos Transportation Center is a hub for the city’s public transit system as well as intercity
bus and Amtrak rail service. The City of Holland leases part of the building to the Macatawa Area
Express (MAX) public transit system. MAX thoroughly maintains the building and grounds at this
key entrance to the city.
The Parks Department maintains twenty parks and recreational
facilities encompassing over 500 acres throughout the
community. Parks may be found to suit every need. Some are
quiet and passive, allowing for peaceful contemplation of the
well-groomed surroundings; others provide playgrounds and
picnic tables for families and neighbors to get together. Parks
Department staff takes care of mowing, planting, weeding,
and the maintenance of trails, paths, benches and other
amenities.
The city’s Department of Community and Neighborhood Services provides a variety of services,
programs, and enforcement tools that ensure our neighborhoods and commercial districts are
great places to live, work, and play. In particular, the Neighborhood Liaison Program targets
neighborhoods with the purpose of empowering residents to get involved in their community in
order to make a difference; reclaiming neighborhood relations, and increasing and improving
community services; promoting safe, healthy, peaceful and attractive neighborhoods; and
establishing Neighborhood Watch programs in order to reduce crime in neighborhoods.
The city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) secures
comprehensive public and private support for downtown
revitalization, stressing innovation, historic preservation within the
context of economic development, and creative ways to plan for
downtown Holland's physical and organizational development. All of
downtown Holland is tied together through attractive, high-quality,
well-programmed and well-maintained unifying elements including
physical elements that define and establish a quality pedestrian
character, and programmatic elements that lend a vibrancy and
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liveliness to the Downtown experience. Unifying physical elements include high quality
streetscape improvements (plant materials, flowers, trees, seating, and bike amenities);
extensive and inviting sidewalk connections and variety of
parks and outdoor gathering space; pedestrian friendly
wayfinding signage and business directories; water, fountains
and pools connecting Downtown to its Great Lakes
environment; attractive free parking; and an innovative and
effective snowmelt sidewalk and street heating system.
Downtown Holland is seen nationally as one of the most
successful downtown revitalization programs in the country
and received a Great American Main Street Award in 1997.
Importance is placed on the appearance of downtown
buildings and signage with special attention towards ensuring
signage and building improvements that contribute positively to the character of the downtown
as determined by the DDA’s Design Review Board.
DDA staff work with other city departments, particularly the Parks and
Streets Divisions, to coordinate the necessary ongoing maintenance
activities. A major effort includes the continual maintenance and
enhancement of the physical features of downtown through pedestrian
lighting, plantings, trees, benches (36 public and 25 private), urns, 50
trash receptacles, 3 recycling containers, brick sidewalks and crosswalks,
way-finding signage, bike racks (10 installed to date), parking lots and a
parking deck. Streets and sidewalks are swept and repaired, planters are
filled with seasonal flowers and plantings, and amenities are installed for
the convenience of visitors.
Holland recently participated in PlacePlans as one of 8 cities in the State of Michigan selected
through a competitive process. This technical assistance drew together professionals, property
owners and interested neighborhood leaders for conversation and long range strategic plans for
the Western Gateway area of Downtown. The plan outlines a strategy for creating a “food
innovation district” as one option for the Western Gateway area, including next steps for city
staff and food sector businesses in exploring this development option. The plan additionally
identifies a number of opportunities for new business growth in and around downtown Holland.
Finally, the plan includes a range of recommendations to build on Holland’s existing cultural,
economic, and environmental assets to strengthen the downtown as a whole.
Business/Institutional
Hope College, a distinguished four-year, liberal arts,
undergraduate college located in the heart of the city, is
committed to providing facilities that offer outstanding support for
learning, teaching and research. The college’s commitment to
maintaining the grounds is equally evident, and the campus’
proximity to the city’s downtown is complementary in every way.
Holland is also home to eleven neighborhood commercial districts.
Each district has a unique character that reflects the community that surrounds it. The local
businesses support their neighbors by offering goods and services within a short distance of their
homes.
Institutional properties in Holland are recognized for proactively and meticulously maintaining
their facilities and properties.
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Public, private and charter schools that offer K-12 education take great pride in the appearance
of their facilities and grounds. The Holland Public School System has recently completed an
upgrade of each of its school facilities, and totally reconfigured its high school campus to provide
21st Century Learning in a flexible, welcoming, creative, safe, energy efficient, high value,
technology-supported, and student-centered environment.
In addition to providing a spiritual dimension to the life of the community, many of the churches
are housed on large campuses with well-defined and maintained facilities and grounds that offer
space to enjoy and reflect on the beauty of the surroundings.
Residential
The City of Holland promotes and encourages residents to be proud
of their property, and mindful of the benefits of well-maintained
homes and yards. The city also provides a
variety of programs to assist in exterior
repairs for income-eligible property
owners. Whether it’s a smaller central
city lot or a larger parcel on Lake
Macatawa, residents show their pride and
creativity in landscaping and
maintenance activities.
Community Involvement
Local schools provide volunteers for sporting, music, and art activities. Many of these same
volunteers carry their commitment into Little League activities, other summer recreational
activities, and a variety of year-round opportunities for area youth.
At Windmill Island Gardens, Walter’s Gardens and Spring Meadow Nurseries provide donations and
plant products. The Holland Horticulture Club has improved landscaping
around the entrance sign to more drought-tolerant species and provided
funding for other acquisitions, while the Holland Garden Club has
established the Children’s Garden and supports Arbor Day activities.
Carter’s Kids (a Carter Oosterhouse charity) and Lake Michigan Credit
Union were instrumental in the construction of a children’s playground.
Over 800 volunteers participate in the annual Tulip Time Festival in a
variety of positions, while nearly 150 companies provided financial and
in-kind support as sponsors. The celebrations of heritage and diversity
also includes the annual Fiesta, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the
Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival, and Dutch Winterfest, all of
which rely heavily on community support and volunteerism.
Local companies are always willing to sponsor volunteer activities. The Tulip Time Festival,
Fiesta, Tulipanes, the Civil War Muster, Holland in Bloom, Thursday Street Performers, Friday
Concerts in the Park, and runs and walks to raise funds for charity are just a few examples of
yearly events that our local companies support generously.
Area professionals volunteer their time and expertise to provide valuable ideas and direction on
projects and improvements impacting Holland. These volunteers serve on a wide variety of
committees and City Boards and Commissions such as the Design Review Board, Downtown Parking
Committee, Planning Commission, Historic District Commission and many more. Community
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members work hand-in-hand with private and public entities to ensure Holland is a great place to
live, work and recreate.
The Hope Academy of Senior Professionals is an an organization dedicated to providing lifelong
learning and service opportunities for retirees, both at Hope College and throughout the
community.
The City of Holland has partnered with Escape Ministries, Ottawa County Michigan Works,
Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Manpower, Lakeshore Advantage, the City’s
Department of Public Safety, the Holland Public Schools, and local employers on the Holland
Youth Connections Work Program This initiative, entering its third year, provides at-risk youth
with job experience, career skills, and a chance to serve their communities.
To Sum It All Up
An award-winning city, Holland has been recognized by a host of organizations including: Forbes
Magazine as one of the Top Five Cities in the U.S. with the lowest crime rate; Money Magazine for
being one of the nation’s Top Five Places to Retire; A.G. Edwards as one of the Top Ten Cities on
their Nest Egg Index; and the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index as the #2 happiest, healthiest
place to live in America - right between Boulder, Colorado and Honolulu, Hawaii! The National
Trust for Historic Preservation also considers Holland one of “Dozen Distinctive Destinations and
was awarded their “Great American Main Street” honor. And just this year, the Tulip Time
Festival was recognized by the Huffington Post as one of America’s 14 Best Small Town Festivals,
and by MSN/Travel as one of America’s Best Spring Flower Festivals. Holland was featured by
Smithsonian in its feature “Where to Catch Tulip Mania” (we came in right behind the
Netherlands!), by Midwest Living as one of 6 Places to Celebrate Spring in Michigan, and both the
City and Tulip Time are featured in a new National Geographic book called “Abroad at Home”.
Even more than the accolades, however, is the resounding endorsement of our residents who
recognize Holland as the best place to live, play, go to school, work, raise a family, and grow old.
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Best Idea - 2015
Locally-owned and operated power generation has been a key factor to Holland’s vitality and
economic success over the past century. The Holland Board of Public Works has operated a coalfired generating plant located on Lake Macatawa in Holland for the past 75 years. In 2006, the
HBPW began searching for a way to meet the city’s fast-growing demand for power. Using an
inclusive, community-driven process, the HPBW conducted an exhaustive Sustainable Return on
Investment (SROI) study to evaluate not only affordability and reliability, but also the social,
sustainable, environmental and health impacts of a variety of different options. The results
pointed strongly toward the construction of a new combined cycle natural gas plant as the
primary power source, supplemented by the purchase of wind energy from existing providers.
This will result in dramatic reductions in greenhouse gases and particulate emissions, while
achieving significant gains in energy and cost efficiency.
After a comprehensive search, HBPW chose a 26-acre site for the new plant at the eastern
entrance to the community. Its close proximity to downtown will support expanded snowmelt
and potentially district heating (enlarging snowmelt mains to provide a heat source for downtown
and/or Hope College buildings). This site also has a waterfront location on the marsh bordering
the Macatawa River, and provides for the improvement and environmental reclamation of a
blighted area at the City’s eastern gateway and the expansion of the Macatawa Greenway and
park trail system.
The Holland Energy Park’s design was developed under the leadership of a blue ribbon panel,
comprised of a cross-section of educational, environmental and community leaders. The
committee decided that in addition to being a world-class power resource, the plant should act
as a gateway into the city and as a park destination, seamlessly integrating into the surrounding
natural space. The project will meet three goals: first, to be a world-class resource that will
provide a sustainable and long-term energy source and be an educational hub; second, to be a
destination that would make people feel comfortable, provide activities that draw the public and
be a node to connect people to the community; and third, to be a gateway would celebrate both
the community and facility, express the context for how the facility fits the community and
enhance access to, and the experience people may enjoy in the area.
Site clearing activities were completed during 2014. Sustainable practices employed in the
cleanup of the site include the recycling of building materials as a result of the demolition of
existing buildings, salvaging of interior fixtures for use by a local non-profit, repurposing and
reclaiming tree trunks and stumps for landscaping and wildlife habitats, removal and recycling of
over 300 discarded tires from the wetlands, and implementing a management plan for invasive
species. Site mobilization is underway, with the combustion turbine generator expected to be
delivered in July of 2015, and the project completed in February of 2017. It’s an exciting time to
be part of a community that does things right!
(For further information, including the “Restoring the Land” video, please go to
www.p21decision.com).
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