Grand Haven State Park occupies forty-eight acres of beach sand on Lake Michigan at the south side of the Grand River and harbor mouth in Grand Haven. Its shoreline was formed when harbor navigation structures interrupted the coast’s natural sand drift, creating a beach set between open water and a working harbor. The park is closely tied to the nearby pier, entrance light, and inner lighthouse, with a boardwalk extending upstream toward the commercial district. Established in 1920 as one of Michigan’s first state parks, it grew from a local public beach known as The Oval and remains an important place for swimming, camping, fishing, picnicking, and lake access.