The Bay County Independence Park Boat Launch Facility occupies a former industrial area affected by petroleum and other chemicals and listed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a site of environmental contamination (Michigan I.D. #09000033). In the spirit of brownfield redevelopment, the site was redeveloped in an environmentally beneficial manner for personal enjoyment and recreational use through the joint cooperation of The Dow Chemical Company, Bay County, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and it was dedicated in May 2001 during the tenure of Bay County Executive Thomas L. Hickner.