On May 31, 1901 eight concerned Holland citizens, calling themselves Holland Improvement Co., purchased this plot of land (7.5 acres) from Mr. Hermanus Laarman for a sum of $1,830 in order to protect the last of the original forest in or near Holland and donated the property to the City of Holland. The Holland Improvement Co. held the deed to the property until July 16, 1907, at which time it was sold to the City of Holland for $1.