In 1964, the Ottawa County Road Commission established a beautiful county park on the north side of Crockery Lake.  The land for the park was purchased in two separate parcels because the land had been divided by the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railroad right-of-way.  The south parcel, on the lake, was purchased on January 4, 1963 from Grace M. Ritter.  Grace had inherited the parcel from her brother, Henry M. (Harry) Grose.  Her only stipulation on the sale was that the Park be named for her brother.  The Ottawa County Road Commission, who had responsibility for Ottawa County’s parks at this time, paid $12,500 for the parcel.  By June, 1964, Grose Park contained parking, picnic tables, grills, and a shelter.

A 1967 report, from the Road Commission to the Ottawa County Board of Supervisors, describes Grose Park as “A 25 acre park located on the north shore of Crockery Lake.  This park has eight acres of forest with a great variety of hardwoods and pines.  It has a swimming beach and what’s more important the water is clean.  The park capacity is approximately 400 visitors a day.  It has playground equipment, 40 picnic tables, 4 stoves and an open shelter.”

The Road Commission purchased an additional 15 acre parcel, just north of the original parcel, from the estate of Anna Irene Fitch for $8,500 on March 25, 1968.   The Road Commission transferred the ownership of all of its park land, including Grose Park, to Ottawa County.  The Road Commission continued to maintain the parks until 1990, when maintenance was taken over by the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department.  

In 1998, Ottawa County received a $410,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for substantial improvements to the playground, picnic shelters, fishing dock and parking lot.  These improvements were completed in 2000.

Facilities at Grose Park include:  a Forest Picnic Shelter (reservable), a Lake Picnic Shelter (reservable), a fishing dock, sand swimming beach, children’s playground, modern restrooms, picnic tables and grills, nature trails, creek overlook platform, ball field, sand volleyball courts, and a horseshoe pit.  Barrier free facilities include both picnic shelters, restrooms, playground, fishing dock, creek overlook platform, some picnic tables and grills, trails to key use areas including a beach patio.

Grose Park is open from April 1 through October 31 each year, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  To reserve one of the shelters at Grose Park, contact the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Department at 888-731-1001, extension 4810.