McKeown Bridge Park

1. Why is this location important? While this is a rather small and out of the way opportunity, it does provide an intersection of nature, history, recreation, and scenery. It is not a key destination, but an interesting stop in the eastern portion of the Byway. The facility is open year-round and provides a variety of opportunities accessible to the general public.
2. How do the resources shown in this photo help to tell the Byway’s story? The photograph shows the McKeown Bridge across the Thornapple River and the plaque describing the history of the bridge. This ties the Byway’s natural resources, history, and recreation all together in one small park.
3. How is this resource linked to the other resources along the Byway? The bridge crosses the Thornapple River and lies between Hastings’ Downtown and Historic Charlton Park.
4. How is this resource linked to the roadway? The resource is several miles east of M-179, but is easily accessed.
5. Has this resources been recognized by any regional or national program or organization? Historical site.
Who owns this resource? Is the owner involved in the Byway Committee or the development of the Byway Management Strategy? Barry County owns the resource and has several representatives on the Steering Committee.