Ella Sharp Park

Ella Sharp Park is located on 562 acres along the banks of the Southwest Branch of the Grand River in beautiful Jackson, Michigan. The landscape of the park varies from relatively flat to heavily rolling and hilly. This provides a great location for a park full of fun and activities for everyone. The park holds a challenging golf course, beautiful flower gardens, miles of hiking trails, basketball courts, soccer fields, a golf learning center, softball fields, and many other facilities for athletics and casual enjoyment of the outdoors.

The 562 acres were donated to the city of Jackson by Ella W. Sharp, the largest park donation to the city. She bequeathed her farm to the city to be developed as a park and maintained through a trust fund from her estate. Beginning in 1912, this family farm was developed as a public park. park roadways were laid out as well as the picnic and play areas, the golf course, tennis courts, and ball diamonds, and the gardens. The Merriman-Sharp Farmhouse became the beginning of the Ella Sharp Museum.
In 2001, the Golf Course went through a restoration and redesign. The park's landscaping plan for the main park entrance was also professionally redeveloped, including new signage, additional trees and beautiful flowering shrubs.

This park currently features an eighteen hole golf course, eighteen hole miniature golf course, golf practice and learning center, four tennis courts, two picnic shelters, Olympic size swimming pool, rose garden, Carter’s Corner Play Structure, two lighted softball fields, three regular softball fields, ten soccer fields, four baseball fields, one basketball court, playground areas, cross country ski trails, and the Ella Sharp Museum.

Mini-Golf

• Ella Sharp Park's 18 hole miniaturized golf course holds fun for everyone. The mini course is open 7 days a week. Please call for Seasonal Hours @ 517-788-4696

Golf Course

• Ella Sharp Park's 18 hole golf course provides a challenge for golfers of all levels. The course touts two of Jackson County's most challenging golf holes (2nd & 12th holes) along with an array of other well manicured fairways and greens. Call the club house for availability at (517)788-4066.

Golf Learning Center

• Ella Sharp Park's Golf Learning Center is a great place to learn how to play golf, brush up on your skills, or just go to hit a few golf balls. The center includes 25 tee stations over looking a well manicured range with 5 target greens. The center also has a sand bunker and a large putting green for practicing that short game. For those golfers that are looking for more than just hitting a few balls around, the learning center also has a wide range of classes available for youths and adults. Classes and private instruction by PGA Golf Professional (Eric W. Terrian) are available for both beginners and veteran players. Please Call for Seasonal Hours @ 517-780-4799.

Lighted Softball Fields

• The park includes 2 full service fenced and lighted ball fields. Field #1 has a scorer's building while field #2 has a rain shelter.

Open Field Sports Area

• The park includes 3 full size football fields, 3 softball fields, 4 full size soccer fields which can be used as 8 smaller fields.

Fishing Area

• The park has a stretch along the banks of the Grand River which is available for fishing. The area is handicapped accessible and is located in the southeast portion of the park.

Paved and Unpaved Walking, Jogging, and Bike Trails

• The park includes a 1 mile path that connects from Fourth Street with Museum and with the South Jackson Street entrance. In addition, the park also keeps some rough trails that meander through natural preservation areas in both the East and West sides of Fourth Street. These trails are ideal for walking, jogging, and cross country skiing. Cascades Cycling Trail Map

Tennis Courts

• The park upkeeps 4 paved tennis courts on a first come first serve basis.

Basketball Court

• The park upkeeps one basketball court located at the South Jackson Road entrance.

Playground Equipment

• Includes Carter's Corner located across from the Ella Sharp Museum

Meeting Facilities

• The Jackson Recreation Department will reserve either the Ella Sharp Park Rose Garden (near the entrance of Ella Sharp Park) or the Rotunda (across from the Museum) for your wedding. The Ella Sharp Park Carters Corner Picnic Pavilion or the West PicnicPavilion are also available for rental. See Ella Sharp Museum for their Facility Rentals.

Golf Course

Founded in 1923, Ella Sharp Park's 18 hole golf course provides a challenge for golfers of all levels. The course, restored and redesigned in 2001, touts two of Jackson County's most challenging golf holes (2nd & 12th holes) along with an array of other well manicured fairways and greens. A driving range and concessions available on site. Call the club house for availability at (517)788-4066.

Golf Learning Center

Ella Sharp Park's Golf Learning Center is a great place to learn how to play golf, brush up on your skills, or just go to hit a few golf balls. The center includes 25 tee stations over looking a well manicured range with 5 target greens. The center also has a sand bunker and a large putting green for practicing that short game. For those golfers that are looking for more than just hitting a few balls around, the learning center also has a wide range of classes available for youths and adults. Classes and private instruction by PGA Golf Professional (Eric W. Terrian) are available for both beginners and veteran players. Please call to schedule your lesson @ 517-780-4799.

In 1912, Ella Sharp’s farm and home were willed to Jackson for the creation of a park and museum, which opened in 1965. The Ella Sharp Museum features an 1860’s log cabin, the Dibble one-room schoolhouse, country store, print shop, doctor’s office, woodshop and the Merriman Sharp Farmhouse.  The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History also houses six galleries including the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art, the Jackson History Gallery, a clock gallery and three galleries featuring traveling and “in house” exhibitions. Thousands of visitors are drawn each year for the Ella’s major festivals Sugaring & Shearing (spring), Art, Beer & Wine Festival (summer) and Fall Harvest Festival (fall).

Admission to the galleries is free every Saturday.

The Grand Community Room at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History is the perfect place for your next grand event. The 3,000-square-foot room features an outdoor patio, catering kitchen, and stage to accommodate a wide variety of uses. A huge, arched window looks out onto the surrounding park and a mid-19th century log house.
   

• Reunions
• Holiday parties
• Weddings
• Seminars
• Annual meetings
• Award ceremonies
• Galas
• Graduation parties
• Rehearsals
• Staff meetings
• Luncheons and banquets
• Dramatic presentations