Portage Creek Bicentennial Park
Rate this placeNearby: Haverhill Park Texas Drive Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Portage Creek Bicentennial Park is a 130-acre recreational area located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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Summary
It was established in 1976 as a part of the United States Bicentennial Celebration. The park offers a wide range of activities for visitors including hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.
One of the main points of interest at the park is the Portage Creek Dam, which was constructed in the early 1900s and provides a picturesque backdrop for visitors. The park also features a 1.5-mile paved trail that winds through the woods and along the creek, offering beautiful views of the surrounding nature.
For those interested in wildlife, the park is home to a diverse range of species including deer, foxes, and a variety of birds. Fishing is also a popular activity at the park, with Portage Creek stocked annually with trout and salmon.
Interesting facts about the area include that the park was once used as a landfill and was transformed into a beautiful recreational area thanks to the efforts of local residents. Additionally, the park was used as a filming location for the movie "The Big Chill."
The best time of year to visit Portage Creek Bicentennial Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is mild and the flowers are in bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers different activities depending on the season, such as ice skating and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Overall, Portage Creek Bicentennial Park is a must-visit destination in Kalamazoo, Michigan, offering visitors a chance to experience the beauty of nature and engage in a range of outdoor activities.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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