51st annual Community Day a success

(Photo by Meryn Creasman)

(Photo by Discover Holland)

On Saturday, Sept. 3, Hope College students joined Holland residents for the 51st annual Hope/Holland Community Day. It was a celebration of the close relationship between the city of Holland and Hope College and a great event to attend this Labor Day weekend. Community Day benefited from great weather. The picnic on the DeVos Fieldhouse lawn started at 11 a.m. There were plenty of options for food: hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetarian enchiladas and black bean burgers to name a few. Musical entertainment was provided by the Holland American Foreign Legion Band as well as Karizma.

At 1:30 p.m., Hope Football played Monmouth at the Ray & Sue Smith Stadium. Monmouth won 44-3 and the game drew a crowd of 3,095 fans. Hope’s opening football game also served as the debut of new head coach Peter Stuursma. Stuursma formerly coached at East Grand Rapids High School, where the football team won seven state championships. Zeeland High School Marching Band performed during halftime.

Windmill Island was open for the festivities from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Community Day tickets granted free admission to community members. Windmill Island is a popular destination in Holland for students and community members, particularly during Tulip Time. But the beauty of the park can be enjoyed throughout the year. The playground and the antique carousel were open for children, while De Zwaan was the main attraction. This 255-year-old windmill came to America from the Netherlands in 1964. Windmill Island is also home to 36 acres of canals and beautiful gardens. Other points of interest include unique Windmill Island shops and the Post House museum. This building is a replica of a 14th century inn and serves as a visitors center.

This is not the only event of the fall where Hope and Holland come together. This Saturday, Hope students will be volunteering for “Time to Serve” at over 30 sites around Holland and Zeeland. On Oct. 1, The Pull will draw an enthusiastic crowd, students and public alike. Homecoming starts on Oct. 21 with events in Downtown Holland and the Homecoming 5K Run the following Saturday. On Oct. 29, the Nykerk Cup returns to DeVos Fieldhouse.

Hope and Holland have a close relationship, perhaps because so many students from Holland attend Hope. Students have many opportunities to volunteer and work in the area. Downtown is a popular place for students to live, eat and shop, with many businesses offering student discounts at the start of the year. This level of community support is extraordinary and is surely