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Parks, Trails, Historic Spots & More in Coldwater, Michigan





Coldwater is an historic city in Branch County with many beautiful old houses, bed and breakfasts, and churches. The city has several public parks and a recreational trail located along the Sauk River.

Coldwater Parks

Heritage Park is Coldwater's largest recreation area and is located on the northwest side of the town. The park's athletic facilities include baseball/softball diamonds, tennis courts, soccer fields, and a swimming pool. The Heritage Recreation Building includes basketball and volleyball courts. Furry friends like the dog park at Heritage Park.

Parkhurst Park on Grand Street has a large playscape that is popular with kids. It's a great place for games with basketball courts, shuffleboard courts and horseshoe pits. Picnic shelters, playgrounds, and a short, paved walking trail are also at the park.

Rotary Park features a boat launch on South Lake and a picnic shelter. The park is a favorite spot with fishermen who use the fishing pier at the park and fish from the area near the boat launch. The park's gravel trails wind through the woods and connect to a trail that continues along the Sauk River to the Linear Park on Riverside Drive.

Waterworks Park features a large playground, baseball diamond, picnic areas, soccer fields, and horseshoe pits. The park is located along the Sauk River and is sometimes used by fishermen. A trail and bike route starts on the east side of the park along Sauk River Dr.

Jaycees Park and Jefferson Park are two of the smaller public parks in Coldwater. Jaycees Park has basketball courts and a small playground. Jefferson Park is located adjacent to Jefferson Elementary School. The park has a baseball diamond, playground, basketball hoops, and picnic areas.

Branch County Memorial Park is located west of the Coldwater city limits and features a campground, boat launches, and picnic facilities. A small swimming beach on South Lake is a short distance from the campground. Reservation information is available from the Branch County web site.

Trails & Walking Routes

Coldwater has a couple of trails for walking, jogging, and biking.

A gravel trail starts at Rotary Park and goes east along the Sauk River. The trail becomes paved at the Linear Park and ends a short distance from Race Street on Riverside Drive. Walkers and joggers can use a sidewalk route through downtown Coldwater and along Chicago Street/US-12 to connect to the trail and create a longer exercise route.

Heritage Park has several paved trails that wind around the park.

On the southeast side of Coldwater, there is a paved trail and bike route along Sauk River Drive.

Bike Routes

A bike lane along US-12/Chicago Street leads from the west side of Coldwater to downtown. There are also several city streets, including Western Avenue and Grand Street, in Coldwater that have wider vehicle lanes, where you can ride along the paved shoulder.

Near Oak Grove Cemetery, a wide shoulder starts along US-12 that continues to Bronson. You can use the paved shoulders to ride to and from Bronson. You'll pass the airport and several farms along the way. The bike route has a few hills.

Always use caution and obey traffic laws when riding along shoulder of a road. Before you go, it's a good idea to check the State of Michigan's construction database to make sure there will not be any construction on the road that can interfere with your ride.

Kayaking and Boating

The boat launch at Rotary Park provides easy access for recreational boats, kayaks, and canoes to the Coldwater River, South Lake and Cemetery Lake. Note, if you paddle a kayak down the Sauk River from South Lake, there is a small dam on the river at Waterworks Park.

More About Coldwater

Coldwater was established in the the early 1800s, and several historical markers in the downtown area describe the city's founding and the history of a few buildings, including First Presbyterian Church and Branch County Courthouse.

An entertainment destination in Coldwater for many years, Tibbits Opera House presents several live stage performances throughout the year. Tibbits opened in 1882 and has entertained generations of visitors. The theatre has been been undergoing restoration to return the old building to its original magnificence.

Coldwater has several bed and breakfasts in historic buildings, including the Chicago Pike Inn & Spa, Benedict Doll, and Victorian Mansion. In the Chicago Street/US-12 area near I-69, there are a few hotels.

The shopping district is along Chicago Street/US-12. There are several family-owned shops in downtown Coldwater and larger stores, like Meijer, located near I-69.

Eateries in Coldwater include family restaurants, casual dining, and fast-food places. Allen's Root Beer Drive-In, an old-style drive-in restaurant on Chicago Street, is a popular stop for lunch and dinner. Dairy Queen on Division Street is a great spot for a tasty treat.






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