Millennium Lake Beach
Walker, Michigan · Millennium Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $4
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Millennium Lake Beach
Millennium Park Beach is a developed, fee-based public swim beach on a roughly 100-acre man-made lake within Kent County's 1,400-acre Millennium Park in Walker, Michigan, just southwest of Grand Rapids. The park and its lake were created in the early 2000s by reclaiming former gravel and gypsum mining land, and the beach opened with the park in July 2004. As a swimming hole it is thoroughly developed rather than wild: a lifeguarded, well-marked swim area with a large sand beach, splashpad, and full beach house facilities, making it one of the easiest places to swim near Grand Rapids.
The beach sits on a former industrial sand, gravel, and gypsum mining site (including the former Domtar mine) that Kent County Parks reclaimed into a 1,400+ acre park spanning Walker, Grand Rapids, Grandville, and Wyoming along the Grand River corridor. The swim lake itself is described by the county as a clear, roughly 100-acre lake, distinct from the park's other water feature, Lake Leota, which is used for boat rentals.
Swimming at Millennium Lake Beach
Swimming takes place in a well-marked, roughly 100-acre lake beach with a six-acre sand shoreline. Visitor accounts describe warm, calm water with a gradual, gently sloping drop-off from shore to the marked swim boundary, making it well suited to families and young children; the beach is lifeguarded and has a designated swim area rather than open access to the whole lake.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is part of Millennium Park at 1415 Maynard Ave SW, Walker, MI 49534, about 2-3 miles from Wyoming, Standale, and Grandville; the park is also reachable by public transit per Kent County Parks.
Parking: Multiple parking lots serve different sections of the 1,400-acre park, per the official park page; no beach-specific lot capacity or fee was specified.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swim area. Parking Lots A and B connect via paved pathway directly to the VanAndel Beach House and swim beach ('between the entry to the park's main recreation area and the beach' per kentcountymi.gov). The park separately offers about 18 miles of trails (mostly paved, some natural-surface), including the paved Sandy Hansen Shoreline Trail loop around the lakes, but these are optional recreational routes, not required access to the swim area. Exact parking-to-sand walk time is not stated in official sources.
Trail map PDFs exist on the park's Trails page (kentcountymi.gov/1767/Trails) but do not label a specific 'beach access trail' distinct from the general path network.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Lifeguarded, well-marked/roped swim boundary on the lake; visitor accounts describe warm, calm water with a gradual, gently sloping drop-off from the sand beach, calling it good for young children. This is a supervised, developed swim beach rather than an open natural shoreline.
Parking
Lot
Parking Lots A and B serve the beach and adjacent Kids' City area, reached via paved paths; a separate off-season lot sits on the east side of Maynard Ave SW. Official sources describe a per-person beach admission fee (Adult $4, Senior $3, Child $2, under 2 free) but do not specify a distinct parking fee, so it's unclear if parking itself is charged beyond the beach entry fee.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms, changing rooms, lockers, and showers inside the VanAndel Beach House at the swim beach (per kentcountymi.gov).
Water clarity
Clear
Kent County Parks' own Beach & Splashpad page describes the swim lake as 'a clear 100 acre lake, with a well-marked swimming area.' Visitor accounts corroborate clean-looking water with a gradual, sandy drop-off.
Hours
Beach & Splashpad operate on a seasonal schedule (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, per 2026 Kent County Parks schedule) within the park's overall May 1-October 31, 7am-to-sunset season.
On the water
Restrictions: Only rental craft from the on-site DeVos Family Boathouse may be used on the water, private/personal watercraft (bringing your own kayak, canoe, etc.) is prohibited park-wide to prevent spread of invasive species. No motorized boats offered or allowed. Renters must have a valid driver's license and wear life jackets (provided). Boathouse accesses the ~100-acre combined waters of the lake surrounding the beach/rec area plus Lake Leota to the north, paddling under a trail bridge between them.
Rental season is roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather dependent; rentals begin at 10:00am with last departure 5:00-6:00pm depending on time of summer, all boats due back by 6:00-7:00pm.
Rentals nearby
Tandem kayaks, single kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, paddleboats, and row boats
Prices: Tandem kayaks & SUPs: $10/hr first hour, $8/additional hr. Single kayaks, canoes & row boats: $8/hr first hour, $6/additional hr. Paddleboats: $6/half-hour first, $4/additional half-hour.
On-site at Millennium Park, connected via a paved path to the beach near the Splashpad; this is the sole on-water rental provider since private watercraft are banned park-wide. · Rentals begin 10:00am daily in season; last departure 5:00pm (mid-summer) or 6:00pm (early/late summer); all craft due back by 6:00pm or 7:00pm respectively. Operates roughly Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting.
What regulars say
Visitors describe warm, calm water, a gradual, gentle drop-off from the sand beach that suits young kids, and clean-looking water.
Backstory
The site was reclaimed from roughly 1,500 acres of former sand, gravel, and gypsum mining operations (including the former Domtar mine); planning began in 1998 under Kent County Parks Director Roger Sabine and the Secchia Millennium Commission, with the park's grand opening in July 2004.
Millennium Lake Beach: FAQ
Does Millennium Lake Beach charge a fee?
Daily admission (2026 season, per Kent County Parks): Adults (16-62) $4, Seniors (63+) $3, Children (3-15) $2, ages 2 and under free; season passes also available.
Is Millennium Lake Beach kid friendly?
Lifeguarded, well-marked/roped swim boundary on the lake; visitor accounts describe warm, calm water with a gradual, gently sloping drop-off from the sand beach, calling it good for young children. This is a supervised, developed swim beach rather than an open natural shoreline.
Do I need to hike to reach Millennium Lake Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Millennium Lake Beach?
Parking Lots A and B serve the beach and adjacent Kids' City area, reached via paved paths; a separate off-season lot sits on the east side of Maynard Ave SW. Official sources describe a per-person beach admission fee (Adult $4, Senior $3, Child $2, under 2 free) but do not specify a distinct parking fee, so it's unclear if parking itself is charged beyond the beach entry fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Millennium Lake Beach?
Rental season is roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather dependent; rentals begin at 10:00am with last departure 5:00-6:00pm depending on time of summer, all boats due back by 6:00-7:00pm.
When is the best time to visit Millennium Lake Beach?
Summer, Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the beach, splashpad, and concessions are staffed; the broader park is open May 1-October 31, 7am to sunset.
What are the rules at Millennium Lake Beach?
Pets are not allowed in the beach area (trained service dogs are welcome). The beach/splashpad operates on a seasonal schedule (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day for full-service hours) within the park's overall May 1-October 31 season.
