KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – After working over four years to restore Portage Creek in Milham Park back to its natural state, Kzoo Parks officials say the work in complete.
The restoration work at the park on East Kilgore began in 2021 with the removal of the park’s dam.
This second phase focused on the portion of Portage Creek that is further south and included removing accumulated organic material from the creek to create a deeper, more uniform water flow. The removed material was reused to narrow the stream banks, returning the creek to a more natural condition and supporting healthier aquatic and riparian habitats. Native plantings will be installed along the creek this spring to further enhance the restoration efforts.
The two smaller pedestrian bridges over the creek had to be removed in order for this work to be possible, but the larger pedestrian bridges are still available for access over the creek. This $576,000 project is partially funded through a $75,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Habitat Grant.
In addition to the work on Portage Creek, a larger park improvement project is scheduled to begin later this year. Kzoo Parks has been awarded a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to support enhancements at Milham Park along with $1.7 million in Capital Improvement Plan dollars.
Planned improvements for 2026 include building new overlook decks along the north side of Portage Creek with accessible walkways, repairing the main parking lot on Kilgore Road, relocating the small parking area off Lovers Lane into the park to improve safety, and adding more accessible parking spaces.
Milham Park is one of the city’s most widely used parks, encompassing more than 66 acres. Outside of a new playground built in 2023 and replacing the restroom building in 2025, significant improvements to the park have not taken place in over 20 years.
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