Swim and play on a sandy beach with lakeside playgrounds at Versluis Park.

Versluis Park, the park for Versluis Lake, is the perfect spot to take the kids on a hot day. It has two playgrounds, a small sand beach with a swimming area, short trails, a fishing area, a kayak and canoe launch, and sand volleyball courts. There is one playground right on the sand next to the beach and a slighter larger one nearby by the picnic area. The one on the sand is a pretty basic playground and has a large tube to crawl through, ladders, monkey bars, and a covered area in the center. The other playground will probably be more exciting for kids (despite the fact that it’s not right next to the beach) and has slides, climbing ropes, climbing bars, and a long walkway with interactive elements all along it.

The swimming area is small but will still keep everyone entertained. Kids will love playing in the sand and I recommend bringing sand toys, small shovels, and buckets for extra fun. There are some rules for the beach that you should be aware of, like no flotation devices besides lifejackets (you will have to bring your own lifejackets, they do not have them here), no swim masks that cover the nose, no food on the beach, no glass, and no children under 10 in the water without an adult. There are no lifeguards on duty so keep an eye on young children and swim at your own risk. The lake is an old gravel pit, which means that right after the sandy roped-off beach area is a 30-foot drop-off. At the beach, there is a ramp that goes straight into the water for wheelchair users. For those who want to enjoy the water but not swim, you can bring your fishing poles for the 2 fishing piers or bring a kayak or canoe.

There is a boardwalk and walking path all along the water that connects all the features of this park. The path is about a mile. For lunch, you can bring a picnic and eat at any of the many picnic tables or pavilions. You can also opt to eat at one of the many restaurants and fast food places right outside of this park. Public restrooms (the women's room has a changing table), foot baths and parking are available very close to the beach and playgrounds.