Located just north of the ore dock in Marquette’s Lower Harbor, the 22 acre Mattson Lower Harbor Park has a large grassy open space area, park benches, picnic tables, Kid’s Cove Playground (a very large wooden play structure built through community donations and volunteers), an architecturally designed period concession/restroom facility, boat ramp, and a large nearby breakwater. The shoreline bike path runs through the park and an illuminated walkway with period style lighting parallels the waterfront along the bulkhead.

Fishing opportunities also exist with the fishing occurring predominately in the spring and fall for Coho and Chinook salmon and Rainbow, Lake, and Brown trout. In just a few years (the park was dedicated July 24, 1989),the large grassy area has become the City’s most popular location for special events, playing host to such activities as The Seafood Festival, the International Food Festival, concerts, fireworks, and other large gatherings. The 101 slip Cinder Pond Marina, completed in 1995, is located immediately east of the park.