Press Release: Ottawa Sand purchase agreement approved by Board of Commissioners

June 26 - for immediate release

Media Contacts:
Jessica VanGinhoven, Ottawa County Parks, (616) 738-4810
Colin Hoogerwerf, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, (616) 451-9476

High resolution photos and property maps available for download and use here. 

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Ottawa County one step closer to acquiring dune property located in Ferrysburg

Project recap:

• In the fall of 2017, the current owner offered to sell the property based on an appraisal of $11.2 million and donate 25% of the land value to serve as match in a grant proposal for $8.4 million to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF).
• In December 2017, the MNRTF Board recommended that a $4.2 million grant be awarded in 2018, with encouragement to submit a phase two grant request for the remaining funds needed in 2019.
• Ottawa County Parks submitted a grant request from the MNRTF for phase two in April 2018. If approved, Ottawa County Parks will be notified in December 2018. 
• In June the state grant agreement for phase one (188 acres) was received and approved by Ottawa County. 
• The Land Conservancy of West Michigan has agreed to purchase the second parcel of property (157 acres) and hold it until grant funding becomes available in 2019.

If all aspects of the acquisition proceed smoothly, the county will acquire 188 acres of the 345-acre site by August 1 and the Land Conservancy will utilize loan from The Conservation Fund to acquire the remaining 157 acres at the same time. "In order to secure this property for the public the purchase needed to happen in full, but we only have grant funding for just over half of the property at this point. The Land Conservancy really stepped up and for that we are very grateful. Without them, the opportunity to purchase this land would not have been possible," said John Scholtz, Ottawa County Parks Director.

The loan agreement from The Conservation Fund will cover the approximately 4 million dollar purchase price for the second half of the property. The Land Conservancy will launch a fundraising campaign later this summer to cover costs related to the land acquisition. While the purchase agreement and the loan from the Conservation Fund are significant steps in protecting this property, it will not be permanently secured until the loan is paid off and the fundraising is complete. The land owner has generously offered approximately $1.5 million as a contribution in the project and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund will look to make a commitment to the project in 2019. 

“As a lifetime resident of the Tri-Cities community, I am thrilled that this magnificent property could soon be protected for public enjoyment,” says Land Conservancy Development Director Brian Obits. “We are looking forward to partnering with Ottawa County Parks on this project, and we know the community will support our efforts to save it.”

Ottawa County and the Land Conservancy will not close on the property for another five to six weeks. Once acquired, Ottawa County is expected to lease the 157 acres from the Land Conservancy so it can be managed as one property. "We anticipate that the property will be open late this fall," said Scholtz, "but the site will remain undeveloped and there will be very limited amenities for now -- basically just opportunities to view and hike the property. Next year we hope to begin the master planning process to determine a plan for the site. Actual park development is likely two or more years away."

The Ottawa Sand property is a 345-acre property located on North Shore Drive near Lake Michigan. It includes 219-acres of state designated critical dunes, 5,585’ of Grand River frontage, and an 80-acre man-made inland lake. The sand mining site is bordered by publicly owned land, including North Ottawa Dunes and dune property owned by the City of Grand Haven.  The property would be the final piece of a 2,400-acre coastal corridor of Lake Michigan dunes that stretches for six miles and includes P.J. Hoffmaster State Park and Kitchel-Lindquist-Hartger Dune Preserve. 

Property maps and photos can be downloaded here. Maps submitted by Ottawa County Parks. Photos submitted by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.

With roots reaching back to 1976, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan is dedicated to helping people protect, enjoy and care for natural land. The Land Conservancy has protected 145 natural areas covering over 11,000 acres in Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, Ottawa, Newaygo, Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, and Lake counties. Among other projects, the Land Conservancy partnered with the city of Saugatuck to permanently protect the 300-acre Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. More information can be found at naturenearby.org.

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Ottawa Sand Property Map

Ottawa Sand Property Map, coastal corridor