Centennial Park was
the oldest market square laid out by Holland’s founder, the Reverend Albertus C.
VanRaalte, in 1847. The park established in 1876 as the city’s first park encompasses
one city block. Lights were added in 1894 ans oak benches in 1896. A newly constructed
octagon-shaped gazebo (1989 – non-contributing) of cream brick with red brick
rectangular inserts, metal roof, iron posts and decorative fencing is situated at the
north end of the park. Restrooms are located beneath the new structure. The older
underground restrooms (1904) are still intact and used only for storage. New red-brick
walkways (1989 – 1992), following the original gravel paths, provide diagonal and
circular paths through the park.An historic twenty-foot high porous rock grotto-like
fountain donated and built in 1902 by Dutch immigrant Tenius TenHouten serves as the focal
point of the park. The rustic coral fountain which is ringed by a Victorian-inspired iron
fence (1993) is planted in the summer with about 800 tiny plants that are carefully set
into holes cut in the porous tufa. Lush green moss provided a background for delicate
ferns, blue lobelia, pansies, trailing vinca, ivy, begonias and jewel-like fuschia.
To the south of the fountain lies a lily pool (1902) that is also ringed by an iron
fence (1993). The tufa rockwork is planted with ivy and colorful annuals. The pool is
stocked with goldfish during the summer months. Both the fish and the tropical plants
spend their winters at the city’s greenhouse a few blocks from the park.
On the west side of the park, facing River Avenue, a granite memorial to War veterans
is flanked by U.S. and Michigan flags as well as by porous rock flower holders (1902) that
display colorful annuals.
Centennial Park was given to the City of Holland in 1876 by the VanRaalte family to be
used as a public park and to commemorate the United States Centennial. It had originally
be used as the city’s main center of trade in a market square fashion. The planting
of trees was undertaken as a community enterprise, and each family’s memorial tree
was identified with an engraved metal token. Each spring the park is filled with tulips,
as it is an important part of Holland’s Tulip Time festival. Located near the center
of downtown Holland, it provides a peaceful oasis with many shade trees, benches, and
colorful gardens, an inviting respite from traffic and crowds. It is a living monument to
the efforts of nineteenth century Hollanders who responded to Michigan Govenor James J.
Bagley’s plea for citizens to plant commemorative centennial trees. One of a
dwindling number of Victorian-inspired public parks, Centennial Park is also an enduring
and well-preserved visual resource that commemorates the history of landscape design.
