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Summer 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.
To view this newsletter as a pdf, click here.
   Why Parks?
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Promote the health of all citizens who enjoy them and contribute to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and region
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Build healthy, active communities that aid in the prevention of chronic disease, provide therapeutic recreation services for those who are mentally or physically disabled, and also improve the mental and emotional health of all citizens
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Improve water quality, protect groundwater, prevent flooding, improve the quality of the air we breathe, provide vegetative buffers to development, and produce habitat for wildlife
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Ensure the ecological beauty of our community, preserve the character of community, and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature
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Attract visitors from all over the world, help attract residents and businesses, and are significant driver of economic activity
Learn more
Click here to register for programs!
 Spokes Fighting Strokes & Michigan Recumbent Trikes
 Learn more by visiting: news.miottawa.org/spokes-fighting-strokes
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/11Q7UdeAV
Art for the Parks
August 15, 1-4 pm | Grand Ravines
Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective artists are hosting a Trunk Show to benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. Join us to view (and perhaps purchase) local works of art.
Learn more: ottawacountyparksfoundation.org
Grand Lady Riverboat Tour
August 17, 1 pm & 4 pm | Grand River Park
Friends of Ottawa County Parks will host two afternoon round-trip excursions with guest speakers and parks staff to make this an informative and delightful event. Cost is $15 per person ($10/child). Download the registration form: friendsofocp.org
231 River Run
October 30, 8:30 am | Connor Bayou
Run or walk along the Idema Explorers Trail, M-231 Bridge, and Spoonville Trail. Two distances, 10K and 4 mile, are available. Proceeds from the run will benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation’s Grand River Greenway Campaign. Register today: runsignup.com/Race/MI/GrandHaven/M231K
 Coming Soon... Grand Ravines Tree House
Grand River Greenway
Through a gift to the Ottawa County Parks Foundation from an anonymous foundation, the Grand Ravines Tree House will be constructed just off the Idema Explorers Trail route. The Tree House, which will be located high above the edge of the ravine that parallels the north boundary of the park, will be dedicated to Bea Aldrink Idema, in recognition of her love for nature, education, and having fun. The north ravines property is deeply connected to Bea and her family.
 Learn more: https://news.miottawa.org/grand-ravines-tree-house
Go explore... the Bend Area
Grand River Greenway
Have you enjoyed the newly completed trails at the Bend Area? Following the acquisitions in 2020, as well as the completion of a segment of the Idema Explorers Trail in Georgetown Township, a marked trail system was completed in June 2020. Grant award for Bend Area expansion In additional fortunate news, a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant was approved by the Michigan legislation in May 2021. An additional 194 acres will be coming to the property soon, nearly completing the 700-acre goal.
 Learn more: https://news.miottawa.org/bend-area-expansion
Stearns Creek
Grand River Greenway
This May, a prescribed fire was conducted at Stearns Creek Park in an effort to restore a native oak savanna ecosystem. Not sure why we would use fire to manage our natural lands? Join us for a program to learn more or check out:https://news.miottawa.org/prescribed-fire
Grant award for Stearns Creek expansion
A second MNRTF grant was approved in 2021 for the expansion of Stearns Creek Park. The recently approved grant funds will be used to protect an additional 28 acres with nearly 2,000’ of creek frontage.
Idema Explorers Trail
Grand River Greenway
Grant request for Stearns Bayou Connector
A $300,000 grant request was submitted to the MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program in 2021 to help fund construction of the 2.4-mile section along Green Street from 144th Avenue to Connor Bayou Park. This segment will provide complete access from Grand Haven to the Grand River Greenway. It will also complete a loop of trails around the Grand River in this area, as well as a network of 200 miles of regional trails.
 More information: grandrivergreenway.org
Final connection
Macatawa River Greenway
A key parcel near Hawthorn Pond Natural Area was purchased this spring. The property is only 5.5 acres, but it provides the final connection needed from Hawthorn Pond to 96th Avenue, making any future trail connection much more feasible.
A group of partners, including Ottawa County Parks, Holland Charter Township, ODC Network, and other local municipalities have been working for several decades to protect and connect land along the Macatawa River to create the Macatawa Greenway. Now that the core land acquisitions for this section of the Greenway are completed, a collaborative team is reviewing the best options for providing public access for this section.
More information: https://news.miottawa.org/mac-greenway
 Adjacent to the new acquisition is the lovely Hawthorn Pond
Kirk Park
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway
The high water levels in the past few years have impacted many parks on the lakeshore, especially Kirk Park. Many adjustments have been made at the beach and on the trails to continue to offer lake access to visitors (and their dogs!), as well as trails within the park. In an effort to accommodate both beach go-ers and dog owners, the Kirk Park dog beach will still operate with limited hours, although these hours have been extended, and we are welcoming dogs back to the park trails, on-leash throughout the summer.
Temporary adjustments
Last spring, erosion caused the dune ridge trail at Kirk Park to collapse (left). For 2021, staff developed a temporary, alternate route (middle). The south access stairs also had to be removed last summer. There is now a temporary overlook area (right).
Dogs at Kirk Park
- Off-leash dog beach hours: 7-10 am and 6-10 pm
- No dogs allowed on the beach (on or off-leash) between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm daily
- Dogs must be leashed on trails at all times
Learn more: news.miottawa.org/2021-Lk-mi
 Grant request
A MNRTF grant for renovations at Kirk Park was requested this year. If approved, the $247,000 grant would help to fund:
- Restroom building upgrades
- A new playground (at a new location)
- Trailhead signage for Lakeshore Bike Path, US Bike Route 35, and the Lake Michigan Water Trail
Pump House Museum
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway
The Pump House Museum and Learning Center recently received a grant from the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s Community Enhancement Program, supporting projects that promote regional cohesion.
The $8,250 grant will support the continued development of a touch screen digital interactive display about Holland’s earliest public amusements that has become a permanent feature of the museum.
The new digital display will be up and running when the Pump House Museum and Learning Center reopens in June on weekends from 11 am-3 pm. Beginning in July and through Labor Day, the museum will be open every day. Admission is always free, but donations are welcome. Please note hours are subject to change.
Learn more: historicottawabeachsociety.org
 Ottawa County Parks Foundation Celebrating 5 years
5 years ago, the Ottawa County Parks Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
5 big things donors have raised funds for:
- The amazing acquisition of Ottawa Sands County Park
- Connecting segments of the Idema Explorers Trail along the Grand River Greenway
- Signage for Stearns Creek County Park
- Interpretive signage and preservation of historic elements at several parks, including a historic home at the Bend Area
- Ottawa Sands master plan and natural features inventory
5 exciting projects to look forward to:
- An astronomical observatory at Hemlock Crossing County Park
- Adding key parcels of land to the Bend Area for a future park
- Yurt and treehouse camping at Ottawa Sands
- A tree house overlook at Grand Ravines County Park
- Educational programming throughout the park system
Interested in staying up-to-date with Ottawa County Parks Foundation projects? Click here to sign up for their e-newsletter.
Stewardship support
The Friends of Ottawa County Parks has awarded funding for two parks stewardship projects this summer:
- Eco-Goat Care - a Careerline Tech student will work with Parks staff to complete a service-based learning project involving eco-goat care, removal of invasives, and native ecosystem restoration.
- Forestry Data Analysis - stipends for four students in GVSU’s forestry studies program to analyze red pine plantation data from Pigeon Creek Park and write a formal report.
These grants will be paid from the Ray & Alma Statema Stewardship Fund. Donations to replenish the fund are currently being accepted and can be mailed to FOOCP, PO Box 84, Lamont MI 49430 (please include notation for Statema Stewardship Fund).
Get to know the Friends of Ottawa County Parks and the Grand River Greenway by joining us on a Grand Lady Riverboat Tour - more information on page 1.
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 50 years of support and counting!
 The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation (GHACF) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of activities this year designed to engage and give back to the community. They kicked off the slate of activities with a volunteer event, the Day of Giving Back, on May 18.
Over 50 volunteers helped maintain gardens, trails, and natural habitats at Ottawa Sands, Rosy Mound Natural Area, and Grand Haven Township’s Duncan Woods and painted the pump house at Grand Haven’s iconic Musical Fountain.
“We look forward to celebrating and honoring our 50th Anniversary throughout 2021,” said Streng. “The community engagement activities we have scheduled this year celebrate the foundation’s broad impact on the community over the past half-century.”
Become a Beach Buddy
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway
Macatawa River Greenway
This summer, booths at Tunnel Park, Kirk Park, and North Beach Park will be outfitted with materials for park visitors to become a Beach Buddy during their visit. To participate, request a Beach Buddy bucket and pick up trash you find on the beach. It’s easy! This program is being offered in partnership with the Lakeshore Clean Up Coalition.
Learn more about Beach Buddies: https://news.miottawa.org/beach-buddies
  Funding for Beach Buddies
Funding for this program comes from an EPA Trash Free Waters grant that was awarded to the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council to support beach and river cleanups in Ottawa and Allegan Counties. Through this funding, the Lakeshore Clean Up Coalition and volunteers have spent over 800 hours collecting 1,400 pounds of trash from public beaches and river access sites.
Get involved: the-macc.org/cleanup-events
Shoreline restoration at the Sag
Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway / Grand River Greenway
This spring, four groups of volunteers planted 500 native plants along the Grand River shoreline at Ottawa Sands to replace the invasive honeysuckle that was removed in 2020.
Thank you to volunteers from Grand Haven Christian School, Walden Green Montessori, the Park Stewards program, and Adopt-a-Park partner, GHSP.
 Large-scale restoration
Efforts continue to secure funding for shoreline and wetland creation. Recently a pre-proposal for a Sustain Our Great Lakes grant submitted by the Great Lakes Office of National Audobon was accepted.
  
Kids Bike Camp
Offered in partnership with Velo Kids!
Register online: miottawa.org/ocpevents
 
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