Kollen Park

The fee machine sometimes runs out of paper, so you won't get a printed receipt even though you paid. Pay with a credit card — if the machine jams, you'll need proof of purchase because parking enforcement here does not mess around. They will ticket you.

Don't let even a couple feet of your trailer hang into the grass. They'll slap a ticket on your windshield fast, sometimes before you're even back from the water. The 73 trailer spots sound generous, but longer rigs eat up space quickly on busy days and you'll be tempted to fudge it. Resist that temptation.

The ramp itself is solid and the water depth drops right off the end, so you won't be fighting shallow water to float your boat. That said, when lake levels are down, smaller boats are fine but keep an eye on your draft closer to shore.

When you come back at the end of the day, expect random cars parked in both lots — people just sitting there with engines off, not launching or retrieving anything. It can make maneuvering a trailer annoying, especially in the dark. Try to time your takeout before full dusk if you can.

Three lanes and a steep drop-off at the ramp mean you're in and out quick compared to some of the other Lake Macatawa launches. It's a city park though, so weekends bring families, playground traffic, and trail walkers competing for the same general space. Weekday mornings are a different world — practically have it to yourself.