Dear Outdoors Ottawa County Subscriber:

Please enjoy our new online newsletter format! If you are signed up to receive our printed newsletter, you should receive it within the next week. 

Upcoming Special Events

Friends of Ottawa County Parks Annual Meeting

Join the Friends of Ottawa County Parks for their Annual Meeting this evening at Hager Park (Vanderlaan Room at 7 PM). Former Parks Naturalist, Chip Francke will discuss his new book, "Birds of Ottawa County, Michigan: An Annotated Checklist", co-authored by Friends volunteers, Carl & Judi Manning. Refreshments will be served and the books will be available for sale.

Attention all dog lovers! 

Save the date for the Grand Ravines Dog Park Open House Event on Saturday, September 26 from 12-4 PM. See the progress we've made on the park and learn more about what's to come! Plus, refreshments and fun activities. Special guests include: 

• Allendale Animal Hospital who will be microchipping from 12-1 PM
• Rockin' Rovers who will be performing from 12:30-1:30 PM
• Ottawa County K-9 Unit will perform an obedience and narcotic search demo from 1:30-2:30 PM
• Karen J. Photography will be taking professional portraits of pets for $5 a print
• Tyson's Animal Rescue will have dogs adopted from terminally ill owners who are looking for a new forever home
• A Pleasant Dog trainers will be helping at the event and offering dog park etiquette and other training tips
• Chow Hound, the dog park's largest sponsor and their mascot, Chowie will be there raffling and giving away goodies all day.
• Big Guys Q will be serving up their award winning BBQ to our human guests (BBQ is available for purchase)

Learn more about the event.

Fundraising for various dog park elements (shelters, lights, trees, paved trails) is still underway in anticipation of adding features to the dog park over the next few years. If you would like to support the park in a special way, please consider buying a brick. Inscribe your name or the name of a furry friend you would like to honor. Buying an engraved brick for $100 is a great way to contribute to the project and to show your support for years to come.

Fall Programs

Visit our online program calendar to see what we are offering this fall. As always we try to offer a variety of programming for adults, children, and families at a low cost (or better yet, free!). This season we have a number of programs that include activities such as: kayaking, mountain biking, painting, hiking, bird watching, and more. 

Project Updates

Grand Ravines

In addition to the dog park opening at the South entrance, visitors can expect many other major changes. Here is the most recent update on what is completed, in progress, and what’s to come:

• Improvements to the historic barn at Grand Ravines South are underway including a new roof, structural work to straighten the barn, repairs to the siding, and major repair to the milk house. All improvements are intended to preserve and restore the barn to ensure its future longevity.
• Construction of a new entrance drive (off 42nd Avenue) and parking lots for Grand Ravines North is well underway with basic completion and opening of the park expected by mid-October. Park trails and a ravine scenic overlook will also be completed by that time. 
• Work on the Grand Ravines Lodge overlooking the Grand River is nearly complete. The lodge, which includes restrooms for general park use, will be available to the public for meetings, weddings and other events starting this winter. Please note the lodge will close when excavation for the trail begins (April 1, 2016) and re-open when the trail construction is complete. 
• A paved trail connecting Grand Ravines South to the riverfront at Grand Ravines North will be under construction in 2016. We have been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for this project. The grant includes funding for interpretive signs, a fishing dock, and a kayak launch.

Pictured below (L-R): Lodge Interior, Tiered Deck of Lodge, Overlook at Grand Ravines North; Barn Renovation at Grand Ravines South

      

North Ottawa Dunes

Assisted by a $45,000 grant from the Michigan Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program, Ottawa County Parks will replace a deteriorating section of trails, boardwalks, and wooden stairways on the dune loop trail starting at North Beach Park and extending into North Ottawa Dunes. The south segment, built over 30 years ago, will be reconstructed to provide continued safe public access while protecting the fragile dune environment. The trail will be completed by the summer of 2016.

A loop was created in 2007 when stairs were constructed along the north side of this prominent open dune to provide easier access to the outstanding views of Lake Michigan and the Grand Haven piers. Since then, it has become a popular route for hikers and runners.

Tunnel Park

On the morning of July 3, fire destroyed the wooden access stairs leading from the high bluff over-looking Lake Michigan to the beach below at Tunnel Park. Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, work will begin this fall to rebuild the stairway and re-establish this important connection. We will also make renovations to the walkways and decks on the dune top overlooking the lake. Improvements will include new concrete walkways, seating areas, and railings. The project is scheduled to be completed by early 2016.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the Vacation Bible School students at Fourth Reformed Church in Holland. They raised funds over the summer to adopt a tree in a local city park and chose to donate the remainder of the raised funds, $120, to help rebuild the stairs at Tunnel Park.

Paw Paw Park

On Tuesday, September 1, Ottawa County Parks and the Department of Public Health celebrated a new trail connecting Paw Paw Park and the former Macatawa Greenspace. We were thrilled to party in the park with neighboring families.
The county started managing Paw Paw Park in June and began improving trails throughout the park over the summer. More enhancements are planned for the park including, a playground, added parking, and picnic tables. Also in June, the county renamed Macatawa Greenspace to Paw Paw Park as the new half-mile trail connects the two park sites.

Friends of Ottawa County Parks

Pictures with Santa

Kick off the holiday celebrations by taking family photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the historic Weaver House in Pine Bend Park on December 6, 1-4 PM. This event is generously hosted by the Friends of Ottawa County Parks.

Volunteering in the Parks

Volunteer Spotlight

Greater Ottawa County United Way

The Greater Ottawa County United Way (UW) became a major volunteer partner in 2010 when they assisted in creating our Adopt-A-Park program. With 16 park properties adopted, Adopt-A-Park volunteers donate nearly 1,000 hours of service each year. This year, UW led the way again by being the first Adopt-A-Park partner to have a site free of all reproducing invasive plants. Since 2011, volunteers have worked hard at Kirk Park to remove Oriental bittersweet, Japanese knotweed, and honeysuckle.

We continuously survey and remove invasive plants because of new introductions and seeds that are in the soil; yet, it is a major accomplishment to have a park virtually void of invasive plants. Thank you to our friends at UW for making this possible and the other volunteers striving for the same goal!

 

Abby Olson & Katie Hotchkiss

Congratulations to Abby Olson and Katie Hotchkiss on earning their Girl Scout Silver Award by working on a special project for Ottawa County Parks. Abby and Katie built nest boxes to attract Eastern Screech Owl at Hemlock Crossing, American Kestrel at Eastmanville Farm, and Northern Saw-whet Owl and Barred Owl at Pigeon Creek.

“Bird nest boxes are very important. They provide a safe, dry, and warm nesting place for birds. They can even just provide a warm roost spot or hideout from cold winter winds,” said Abby. “For our Silver Award, my friend Katie and I built nest boxes for, as well as educated people about birds at a school and local nursing home.”

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities this Fall

Saturday, October 10, 2-4 PM • Hemlock Crossing
Help collect and process seed from the plants in the short-grass prairie in front of the Nature Education Center. Seed will be used for restoration projects within other park properties.

Never volunteered before? Here's what you need to know:

• Bring work gloves (preferably leather), insect repellent, and appropriate outdoor gear. 
• Tools, drinking water, and snacks will be provided. 
• No preregistration is required. 
• Ages 12 and up are welcome; however youth must be supervised by an adult. 
• Workdays are cancelled if it’s raining.

Questions?
Contact Melanie at 616-738-4810