Freedom River, an outdoor recreation center for veterans, active military members, and their families, has opened its gates in Hamburg Township, MI. The vision for the 94-acre space grew out of an idea from U.S. Army Veteran Jeff Yeakey and his wife Janna, who purchased the property after raising money through numerous personal donations. Their nonprofit organization, Freedom River, Inc., offers re-assimilation assistance to veterans and a place for community. The project gained steam from 2023-24 Michigan state budget appropriations and donations of time and expertise from Wade Trim and other firms. Wade Trim staff provided civil design and final construction documents.

The campground, which sits along the Huron River and Gut Lake, features a welcome center, memorial plaza, chapel, service dog training facility, sports fields, waterfront docks, and campgrounds for tents, RVs, and family style cabins. Site development required a range of engineering, surveying, and landscape architecture services for transportation access, stormwater management, water and sewer infrastructure, permitting, and wetland delineation.

Freedom River is welcoming donations to provide free access to veteran families, expand programs, maintain property, and build a Wellness Center that will serve veterans for generations to come.