Ozzie Hazen Township Park
Ozzie Hazen Township Park is located on a small tract of land 8 miles north of Garden, Michigan, and just south of where US-2 intersects with M-183. There’s a large parking area, bathroom, picnic tables, grills, grassy areas, and access to the beach. Located near the end of Big Bay De Noc, Ozzie Hazen Township Park is one of the few parks on the water on the Garden Peninsula.
I was the only one there on my first visit to the park. My dog, Scrappy, and I wandered around the park, enjoyed the breeze off the bay, and sat on one of the benches for 15 minutes, enjoying the view. The park is a solid place to stretch your legs on the way to the Fayette Historic State Park Campground and Ghost Townsite and has more amenities than Sac Bay County Park. That said, after visiting, I couldn’t help but wonder: who was Ozzie Hazen?
Ossie Delbert Hazen was born in Garden, Michigan, on October 21, 1898. On June 13, 1922, he married Hazel May Taylor, who was born in Detroit but moved to Garden at a young age to attend Garden Public Schools and Northern Michigan University. Ossie, often in the paper as ‘Ozzie,’ was a commercial fisherman. He and his wife, Hazel May, were active in the Garden community. Ossie was active in the church and on the Garden Township School Board. Hazel was in every group imaginable, from the American Legion Auxilary in Garden to the Congregational Ladies’ Guild and other church groups. The family went to Garden Congregational Church, a congregation whose building is still there, but the name has changed.
Ossie ‘Ozzie’ Hazen died on January 6, 1972, at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique. He was 73. Hazel Hazen died on March 27, 1991. Both are buried at New Garden Cemetery next to Big Bay De Noc School on M-183.
I’m not sure when the park opened or why it was named after Ozzie Hazen; however, the park is a nice testament to a lifelong resident of Garden. His wife appears to have been more active in the community, so remembering Hazel Hazen when visiting the park is fitting.
If you’re looking for a quick place to stop off US-2 on your trip or are heading into the Garden Peninsula, Ozzie Hazen Township Park is an excellent option!
