Genesee County, MI — Outdoor recreation has been an incredible asset to Genesee County residents for decades, and there’s so much more to come. Thanks to a partnership between Genesee County, The Mott Foundation, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the City of Flint, the 230-acre Flint State Park project is set to transform Genesee County into a destination for outdoor recreation.
Once the project is completed, a contiguous river passage that has been absent for more than a century will be restored. This includes a whopping 25 miles of waterways for fish passage and providing new opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and other water-based recreation. Just off the riverbanks, there will be mountain and road biking, disc golf, a huge play garden, hiking trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more.
One of the lesser-known, but potentially most transformative aspects of the project is the Happy Hollow Nature Area. Located west of downtown Flint (east of Hammerberg Road, south of Powers Catholic High School), Happy Hollow is a wooded natural area centered on the confluence of Swartz Creek and Thread Creek.
Right now, a crew from the Upper Peninsula is busy creating mountain bike trails throughout the site. Once completed, Happy Hollow will offer visitors something very different from a traditional city park. Its wooded landscape, creek corridor, and trail system will provide opportunities to hike, explore nature, and experience outdoor recreation typically associated with destinations much farther from an urban center.
The trails are taking shape, and we are certain residents will be blown away by the landscape of Happy Hollow.
And here’s the best part: In the future, these recreational assets will be connected by trails all across Genesee County.
Construction of the trails is set to be completed in 2027, though areas of the site may be open this fall.
Happy Hollow and all of Flint State Park will be operated and maintained by Genesee County Parks.
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