Lake Bella Vista (Michigan)

Lake Bella Vista is in northwest Cannon Township, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lake was originally known as "Grass Lake" and once lay in the center of a marsh surrounded by pastureland as well as apple and cherry orchards. Grass Lake was one of the so-called "triplet lakes" lying along M-44. Its sister lakes to the east are Silver Lake and Bostwick Lake. Developed by the Velting family contractors in the mid-1970s, Grass Lake was expanded and a large dike was added to the western edge to raise the water level. Residential and commercial development was soon constructed and in the early 21st century, a lakeside suburban sub-division also called "Lake Bella Vista" functions very much as a community. Lake Bella Vista is bordered by M-44, (Belding Road) on the south, 9 Mile Road on the North, Blakely Road on the West, and Myers Lake Avenue on the East. To the south are the Lockhart family orchards and the beginning of the Stout Creek watershed which cuts through forest-concealed glacial dunes bordering the Woodbrook area.

Lake Bella Vista
Lake Bella Vista
LocationCannon Township, Michigan
Coordinates43.09001°N 85.51620°W / 43.09001; -85.51620
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. depth20 ft (6.1 m)
Surface elevation823 feet (251 m)[1]

In the spring of 2013, the Rockford High School Rowing Team used the lake for team practices during a flood which made their boathouse, on the Grand River, inaccessible.[2]

The residents of Lake Bella Vista are all in Rockford public schools, with elementary students attending Crestwood Elementary and middle school students attending East Rockford Middle School.

Incidents

On June 2nd, 2020, at 7:43 PM EST, Molly Rasmussen, aged 16, who attended nearby secondary school Forest Hills Eastern High, jumped into the water near the lake's dam, located on the west side, and didn't resurface.[3]Her friends called for help immediately. The Kent County Sheriff responded to the scene, and were unable to locate her, until the Sheriff Department's diving team found her body later that night. A memorial was held at 7:00 PM on June 3rd, having 2 minutes of silence. More information is subject to arrive as to what may have caused her death.

See also
  • List of lakes in Michigan

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Bella Vista (Michigan)
  2. Lakeside Living (June 2013 ed.). p. 19.
  3. "Police identify victim, 16, of apparent drowning at Lake Bella Vista near Rockford". mlive. 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2020-06-04.


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