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- Hess-Hathaway Park Events & Rental Information
Hess-Hathaway Park Events & Rental Information
Photos
Please view our photo gallery for more images of the park.
Summer Hours (April 15-October 15)
The park is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Winter Hours (October 16-April 14)
The park is open Friday - Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. It is closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Fees
There is no admission fee to enter the park. However, during special events you may be asked to give a donation at the gate.
Rentals
All rentals must be scheduled at least 10 days in advance. To secure your date you must pay the rental fee along with the damage deposit fee. To reserve a park pavilion, park gazebo, Community Building, guided animal tour or hayride contact the main Waterford Parks and Recreation office at 248-674-5441.
Facility Evaluation Form (PDF)
The following are available to rent at Hess-Hathaway Park:
Enjoy this YouTube video of our 2018 Funtober event!!
Birthday Party Packages
Standard Package includes:
- Gazebo for 3 hours (Gazebo seats 32)
- Guided Animal Tour
- One Hayride (Wagon seats approximately 25)
- May-October 15th
Upgraded Package includes:
- Community Building for 3 hours (seating for 32)
- Guided Animal Tour
- One Hayride (Wagon seats approximately 25)
- May, July-October 15th
Fee
- Standard Package $125, $155 for non-residents
- Upgraded Package $250, $280 for non-residents
- 11:00am - 2:00pm or 3:00 - 6:00pm
Refunds/Cancellation Due to Inclement Weather
- Call and leave a message at Hess-Hathaway Park to let the Farm Staff know you will not be coming 248-360-3814.
- Waterford Parks and Recreation Department will make every attempt to reschedule the Birthday Party Package date during the current calendar year. Renter must notify the Waterford Parks and Recreation Department 248-674-5441, the next business day following your scheduled rental date to reschedule the Birthday Party Package. If it cannot be rescheduled during the current calendar year, renter will received a full refund minus a $20 cancellation fee.
Group Activities for Schools, Churches & Scouts
Available by appointment only. Children's groups require a chaperone for every 10 children.
Lone Cedar Historical Farm House Tour
Available by appointment only. Children's groups require a chaperone for every 10 children.
Lone Cedar Historical Farm House Tour
- $4 per person
- Minimum of $32 per tour
- $4 per person
- Minimum of $32 per tour
- $4 per person
- Minimum of $48 per Wagon, each wagon holds approximately 25 people
- $15 if scheduled with a hayride, animal tour or house tour
- $30 if scheduling a campfire only
Sponsor an Animal
Animal Sponsorships include the following:
- 5" x 7" photo of the sponsored animal and a certificate
- Name plate with sponsor name displayed on a plaque in the farm area
- Recognition on our website
Thank You
Waterford Parks and Recreation would like to thank the following people for their animal sponsors:
- Margaret Birch
- Julie Brown
- Kelly Clayton
- Kris & Dan Ellsworth
- Kyra Heinzmann
- Pat Ludwig
- Annabelle & Autumn Meloche
- Andrea Newman
- Joice Perkins
- Angela Wellbaum
- Complete Insurance Services
- Maritime Tax & Accounting
About the Community Garden Project
The Citizens Farm Project seeks to educate our residents and encourage healthy local organic growing with little or none of the carbon emissions commercial farming can produce. As a citizen farmer, participants will be renting 10' x 10' foot plots of land within the Hess-Hathaway Park. Participants may rent as many plots as space allows. All efforts will be made for citizen farmers to retain plots from year to year, if desired.
Sign Up
A one-time, $10, lifetime membership fee and annual $20 plot fee for Waterford residents ($35 plot fee for White Lake residents) will be charged payable to Waterford Parks and Recreation and subject to review yearly. Returning citizen farmers will have until March 15th to reserve their plot from the previous year. All fees are for the benefit of the Waterford Parks and Recreation Department and Hess-Hathaway Park. Upon payment citizen farmers will be provided a badge and access to leased plots. Upon expiration or termination of a citizen farmer’s participation in the program, all keys and program identification badges shall be returned to Hess-Hathaway Park.
More Information
To learn more about the project, please view the Rules and Policies and Brochure.
Park History
In 1985 Mrs. Myrtle Hess, owner of the Lone Cedar Farm, bequeathed her farm land property to Waterford Township. The property was to be used for the citizens; a place where people could visit and enjoy the outdoors.
Mrs. Hess loved the outdoors and, a farmer herself, enjoyed raising prize winning dairy cattle and sheep. Lone Cedar Farm now Hess-Hathaway Park, was named after Myrtle Hess and her family. The park is now operated by Waterford Township Parks and Recreation Department.
The All Kids Playground was added in 2002 through donations from the National Council of Jewish Women of Greater Detroit. The playground is accessible for all abilities and it makes the park a perfect destination for a combination of farm animals and fun for the whole family. In 2013 a climbing boulder and drinking fountain were added. In 2018 the Gaga Ball Pit was constructed. In 2019 horseshoe pits were updated and relocated.
We strive to honor Myrtle Hess and her family by making the park a great place to visit.