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Winter Programs: Visit the Ottawa County Parks Program and Events Calendar for details and registration. Call the Nature Education Center for more information: 616-786-4847.
Winter Activities: For information about ski, sledding, and snowshoe conditions, as well as Pigeon Creek Lodge hours, visit: miOttawa.org/trailsmiOttawa.org/trails
To view this newsletter as a pdf, click here.
 We are hiring
We are currently searching for candidates interested in working outdoors next spring and summer. The opportunities are perfect for students (18+) who are home on break, retirees who want to spend more time outside, or anyone interested in parks who would like to earn extra money during the summer months.
We also have a full-time, benefitted Parks Supervisor position open.
Apply online: governmentjobs.com/careers/miottawa
Nature Center turns 10!
 Our Nature Center, located at Hemlock Crossing County Park, turned 10 this year! Unfortunately, we weren't able to celebrate with a large community event as planned, but it was fitting to be challenged with the need to adapt our nature programs in a COVID world.
An exciting gift we received this year was the announcement that the Ottawa County Parks Foundation will begin financially supporting nature education programs in 2021, in addition to their support of land acquisition and special park projects! 🎁 You can support this endeavor too - donate today!
The building remains closed, but we are still offering nature programs in-person and online. We are excited for the next decade of nature education and are so grateful for the continued support we have received. Thank you all.
If you haven't been able to visit the Nature Center, the video above (created in partnership with mi Eco BUZZ), shows what you have to look forward to when we re-open. We can't wait to welcome you back for programs, school field trips, birthday parties, meetings, and more when we can all gather again safely. In the meantime, please enjoy the gorgeous trails at Hemlock Crossing!
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The Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission Annual Report (FY2020) is now available online.
View the report or watch the video: https://miottawa.org/Parks/park-plan.htm
   Public Observatory Update
County Park. Using current concept drawings, the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association (SAAA) created a 3D printed model of the facility.
The observatory will have a rotating dome and house a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, providing an opportunity for viewing, studying, and photographing objects in the night sky. The plan also calls for transmitting near real-time images onto a screen inside the Nature Center. Groundbreaking is projected for late spring/summer 2021.
The total project cost is estimated at $95,000 and the SAAA has secured nearly $75,000. Thank you to the Friends of Ottawa County Parks and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation for their support of this project!
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If you would like to support this exciting project, you can do so by visiting and making a pledge or an online donation: https://www.holland-saaa.org/observatory-project
Pumphouse Museum & Learning Center
Lakewood Farm on Lakeshore Avenue in Holland, formerly owned by Chicago coal executive George F. Getz, has just been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historic Ottawa Beach Society nominated the property using the services of historian/exhibit designer Valerie van Heest. Her research for the nomination became the basis for her book "Lakewood Farm & Zoo: George Getz's Famous Attraction in Holland, Michigan, as well as "Holland's Earliest Attractions," a new exhibit at the Pump House Museum at Ottawa Beach west of Holland.
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 Ottawa Sands Master Plan
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway / Grand River Greenway
Two Greenways: Ottawa Sands is located at an intersection of two of the county’s largest greenways - the Lake Michigan coast and the Grand River. Its location creates an opportunity for a unique regional destination that could inspire future nature lovers for generations.
Concept Development: Following months of public input and information gathering, master plan concepts were released in the fall. From these, a single preferred concept was produced, based on feedback from the community and presented to the Parks Commission in November. An updated version of the plan was approved at the December Parks Commission meeting. The final plan is due to the Coastal Zone Management Grant Program by the end of January. This submitted version of the plan will be available online by February: miOttawa.org/ottawasands
Next steps: Currently, there is little funding available for site improvements, although accessibility is a top priority. Other developments are likely many years into the future.
Bend Area in Georgetown Township
Grand River Greenway
Following the purchase of 87 acres of land to expand the Bend Area Open Space this spring, the acquisition of an adjacent 62 acres of land was completed this fall. This acquisition added a channel from the Grand River to inland ponds, as well as ecologically valuable wetlands and floodplain.
It allows for the future development of a marked hiking trail system approximately four miles in length, with a trail loop along the Grand River.
Coming Soon: When the new hiking trail is developed, it will be integrated with the recently completed section of the Idema Explorers Trail (see map below). Improvements will include a grass trailhead parking area where pedestrians can enter the Bend Area Open Space to hike.
Jenison Mill in Georgetown Township
Grand River Greenway
Construction of the Jenison Mill segment of the Idema Explorers Trail is slated to begin in 2021, following a grant award from the MNRTF in 2020.
This segment will connect recently constructed non-motorized trail along Cottonwood Drive in Georgetown Township directly to existing trails in Kent County, opening access to hundreds of miles of other regional trails. This connection to our neighboring county will include an arch in honor of Grand River Greenway Campaign Co-Chair, Peter Secchia, who passed away this fall. Peter was a passionate advocate and helped raise millions of dollars for the Grand River Greenway.
Stearns Bayou Connector in Robinson Township
Grand River Greenway
Construction is now scheduled for 2022 on the 2.4-mile Stearns Bayou Connector, a key segment of the Idema Explorers Trail for the Grand Haven area. Completion of this segment will allow pedestrians to travel over Stearns Bayou and Little Robinson Creek and will connect to the completed trail near Connor Bayou.
This portion of trail will also provide access to the south end of the M-231 Grand River bridge, creating a trail network of 200 miles!
Allendale Township
Grand River Greenway
Allendale Township has approved an Idema Explorers Trail route through their business district and allocated $50,000 to begin engineering (no map shown).
Potential Acquisitions
Grand River Greenway
In December, the MNRTF board recommended two Ottawa County acquisition projects, both for the Grand River Greenway!
- $504,700 - Bend Area Expansion
- $95,000 - Stearns Creek Expansion
More information about these potential projects is coming soon!
 Lakeshore Cleanup Coalition
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway / Macatawa River Greenway
 Check out the spring clean up schedule here: http://www.the-macc.org/cleanup-events
Eastmanville Farm Restoration
Grand River Greenway
Shoreline improvement
In November, we began the ambitious task of planting 2,000 southern-species trees along the Grand River shoreline at Eastmanville Farm to improve stabilization and prevent erosion. Volunteers from Herman Miller and Grand Valley State University planted 900 trees, and our Park Stewards planted the remaining 1,100 trees.
Creating bur oak plains
Park land in the restoration area will also be seeded with the intent of creating bur oak plains, a native, fire-dependent grassland with few, large trees. Half of the seed needed for restoration is being purchased with a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Climate Adaptation Fund (secured in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy), and the remainder was collected by volunteers.
Learn more about this project.
 Eastmanville Farm Restoration, cont.
Fall harvest
Volunteers harvested seed that is either not commercially available or expensive, including: specific goldenrod species, false indigo, warm season grasses, New England aster, winged sumac, milkweeds, and many more! Seed is being harvested from established prairie areas such as Hemlock Crossing, Grand Ravines, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, Hager Park, and Grand River Park. So far, we have harvested over $3,000 worth of seed – the cost of nearly two acres!
Volunteer Spotlight
The seed harvest for Eastmanville Farm was successful in part because of high school student and Parks intern, Zoe Streiff. Zoe completed over 150 hours for her internship this fall. Zoe will be heading to Michigan Tech to study Wildlife Ecology and Conservation next year.
Seeding the land... in the winter
An area near the river was seeded with a no till drill this fall. Thank you to Pheasants Forever for lending us the no till drill! The bur oak plains area was recently seeded (yes, in the snow!) to give a more natural, random distribution. Spreading the seed on thin snow ensures the entire site receives seed.
Learn more about this project.
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 Volunteers seeding on a sunny winter day
  
Congratulations to Emily Tornga! Emily’s photo of a Tufted titmouse is featured on the 2021 Coffee with the Birds mug. The Tufted titmouse is a common visitor to backyard feeders alongside its cousin the Chickadee. Its repetitious “peter-peter-peter” song adds a sweet sound to its woodland habitat in early spring.
Learn more about the Coffee with the Birds Mug Club and become a member!
 
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