First Roadside Park - Iron County, Michigan - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

Located among a stand of old-growth forest is a small roadside rest area not too unlike the many roadside rest areas found across Michigan and in most other states (and in other countries as well). The only difference is that is immediately apparent to those who stop is the sign and plaque that claim this particular park to be the first of it's kind and to provide a history of how it came to exist:

SITE OF FIRST ROADSIDE TABLE, WIDE RIGHT OF WAY & ROADSIDE TIMBER IN MICHIGAN FROM THIS BEGINNING THE IDEA SPREAD THRU OUT THE STATE AND NATION 1919-1920

First Roadside Park In 1918 the Iron County Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation of the road commission, through its engineer-manager, Herbert F. Larson, to purchase this 320-acre tract of roadside virgin timber and to dedicate it as a forest preserve. The following year Iron County established Michigan's first roadside park and picnic tables. This was quite likely America's first such facility. Since then similar parks have been provided by most states for the comfort and enjoyment of the traveling motorist.

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