Windmill Island Gardens open for its 59th season
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — The Windmill Island Gardens has kicked off its 59th season on Saturday with the annual Run of the Mill 5k.
The race started Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and more than 200 runners participated. The race has a bit of a history, just like the gardens themselves. It started in 2013 when the community came together to raise funds to fix the DeZwaan Windmill.
Inside Holland’s historic jewel: De Zwaan Windmill
“Several years back the windmill wasn’t functioning and the community rallied around to raise money and get it back fixed, and this was one of the ways they raised money,” Matt Helmus, park manager at Windmill Island Gardens, said. “Runners wanted to keep doing it, so we kept it alive.”
The gardens are mostly known for Tulip Time, where more than 100 thousand tulips bloom on the island. This year, Tulip Time starts May 4 through 12.
Staff at the Windmill Island Gardens said they are packed during that time, but with their season officially starting, people can come to check out the flowers, windmill and more every day until Oct. 6.
“Windmill Island has always been a historic icon for the city. It’s the only authentic working Dutch windmill anywhere in the United States. So it’s a great opportunity for the history and the connection of the city of Holland back to the Netherlands again. But it’s also a beautiful park and gardens, and a lot of people think about this place just in terms of Tulip Time, but it’s beautiful all summer long,” Nathan Bocks, the mayor of the city of Holland, said.
You can find out more about other events scheduled at the gardens here.
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