Starting April 1, 2024, Ottawa Sands County Park will be closed to the public for construction and restoration work. In addition to the work that continues at the Idema Explorers Camp, major construction will commence this spring on the day-use area parking lot and modern restroom, paved loop path around the lake, and ecological enhancements at the lake and other restoration areas in the park. All these activities make the park unsuitable for public use at this time.  

We are sorry for the inconvenience but look forward to opening all these projects later this summer. For announcements on when the park will reopen and when camp reservations will be taken, please follow us on Facebook. 

Improvements to Ottawa Sands, including the Idema Explorers Camp, were jumpstarted with a $3.48 million gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation. The camp features three treehouses, five yurts, and ten tent camp sites that offer unique overnight experiences. Combined with County Funds and State and Federal grant funding, park improvements will greatly enhance accessibility to the site for all users and improve natural habitat. 

The ecological restoration work at Ottawa Sands is a collaborative project that brings together funding from the Michigan DNR’s Fisheries Habitat grant and a US Fish and Wildlife Foundation Sustain Our Great Lakes grant through Audubon Great Lakes. The project will help to conserve, improve, and create habitat for animals that utilize wetland communities, especially secretive marsh birds, other migratory birds, herpetofauna, and various fish species. 

The ecological improvements at Ottawa Sands will include softening 3,300 feet of shoreline around the mined lake, expanding the lake's littoral zone, and incorporating woody debris along the shoreline and within the lake to create habitat. Interdunal wetland areas will be created south of the lake to increase biodiversity and ecosystem functions, providing essential habitat for birds, fish, and amphibians while creating vital green infrastructure.

Ottawa Sands Improvements 

Overuse and overdevelopment were identified as top concerns during the Master Plan’s community engagement process. With this in mind, efforts were made to craft a balanced Master Plan that maintains the serene aesthetic features of the site while also enhancing ecological health and expanding access. 

• Restoration and enhancements will happen on 238 acres. 
  • 69% of the site in total will be restored and enhanced. 
  • Active ecological enhancements will happen on at least 26 acres (8% of site). 
• There will be limited areas of active recreational improvements. 
  • Only 8% of the site is proposed for improvements. 
• Enhancements will integrate high performance green infrastructure which will benefit the ecological health of the park. 

This work is in various stages of design and construction and is intended to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy the sublime experience of this park. When completed, these projects will help to ensure that Ottawa Sands remains a distinctive and timeless place. 

Improving Accessibility (in progress)
Ottawa County Parks was recommended for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for two complementary projects to establish a “day-use” area at the northeast corner of the Ottawa Sands lake and to construct an accessible pathway around the lake. Work will begin this spring and includes: 

• Parking area with ADA spaces and modern restroom 
• Scenic views of lake  
• Paved 1.6-mile “Lake Loop” trail around lake  
• Accessible benches