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Ottawa County Parks & Recreation offers programming and volunteer opportunities year-round! Visit the Program and Events Calendar for details and registration. Call our Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing Park for more information: 616-786-4847.
 June
Scroll down to find information about ways to get outside this summer, as well as upcoming programs, events, and much more. Thank you for reading!
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We are excited to invite you to a public presentation on Thursday, June 13 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Fillmore Complex Board Room of the preliminary mission, vision, values, and goals resulting from the Strategic Plan process. This event is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the process and development of our mission, vision, values, goals, and initiatives for the upcoming years. There will be an opportunity to provide feedback in-person during the June 13 meeting.
June 27 • 4-6 pm • Kirk Park
A Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant spurred exciting renovations at Kirk Park - join Ottawa County Parks & Recreation to celebrate! Check out the new playground, go on a scavenger hunt, and enjoy a popsicle.
Motor vehicle permits will be waived from 3-7 pm during the event!
Ottawa County Parks collects parking fees Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at our lakeshore parks and the Riverside Park boat launch. Purchase your 2024 permit online!
There are two ways you can purchase your permit:
- Online - Visitors can register their license plate and pay for their annual motor vehicle permit online using a mobile-friendly website. By using this website, users can confirm their residency and date of birth, allowing them to access senior and resident discounts. This is the only method to purchase discounted motor vehicle permits.
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On-site - Pay stations are available at all lakeshore beach parks including Kouw Park, Windsnest Park, and the Riverside Park Boat Launch. Visitors can purchase a digital permit by registering their license plate for a day or a year using the pay station. Annual permits sold at the pay stations are $25; daily permits are $8. The fee stations are not able to determine residency, so no discounted permits will be sold at these stations.
For more information about permit pricing, visit: Park Fees - Ottawa County, Michigan
Under the general supervision of the Coordinator of Community Engagement, the Recreation and Wellness Program Lead will plan and conduct current and new recreation-based programs throughout the county parks system. They will also work with current and new partners to provide more community members with recreation and wellness opportunities.
June 22 • 8 AM • Grand River to Grand Ravines
Run through two beautiful Ottawa County Parks in one race! What can we say? This trail race is Grand: Grand River, Grand Ravines, Grand bridges, and Grand views! Register at grandexplorerstrailrace.com
- Begins & ends at Grand River County Park
- 10K • 5K • 1 Mile Kids Run/Walk
- Wooden finisher medals & Awards
Our new software, WebTrac, requires customers to verify their email address. Failure to verify your email address will result in missed future communications, such as program information, reminders, and more. If you have registered in our new system, we highly recommend verifying your email address.
- When you create an account in WebTrac, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. The email subject line is "Ottawa County Parks & Recreation - Account update verification." By verifying your email, you can receive important communications about your programs and reservations. Once verified, you can choose your email preferences.
- Please note that failing to verify your email address will result in not receiving any future communications. This includes information like cancellations, program details, and reminders. Missing these updates could lead to inconvenience or missed opportunities, which we aim to prevent.
To stay informed about programs and reservations, we urge all customers to verify their email addresses.
The telescope in the Public Observatory at Hemlock Crossing has been repaired. The observatory will be open for Friday Public Observing nights and astronomy programs as weather conditions allow. Learn more at holland-saaa.org
June 29 • 3-4 pm • Hemlock Crossing
Join Dr. Will Miller, a wildlife biologist from Calvin University, to learn about the spread of ticks in west Michigan and how we are tracking them. Dr. Miller has been tracking blacklegged tick populations over the past five years in Ottawa County and beyond! He will discuss the ecology of blacklegged ticks in west Michigan, and will be sharing how his team, and others across the state, track tick populations through environmental and wildlife samples.
He will also discuss what you can do to minimize exposure to ticks when out on the trails! This event is FREE; registration is encouraged.
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Tick and Mosquito Surveillance in County Parks
In addition, the Department of Public Health will be conducting tick and mosquito surveillance through September in county parks. This research involves tick drags, where a tick cloth is dragged along the trail edge, and placing 24-hour mosquito traps at various sites. Identified tick and mosquito pools will be tested for Lyme disease and West Nile virus by the state. These results, along with data from other counties, will be used by the state to produce arbovirus summaries available at michigan.gov/emergingdiseases
If you notice this activity taking place in a park, please allow space for the surveillance to be carried out.
In partnership with Audubon Great Lakes and Michigan Department of Natural Resources, an exciting restoration project is underway at Ottawa Sands County Park. The project includes shoreline restoration around the inland lake and the creation of interdunal wetlands. These efforts aim to preserve habitat for vulnerable marsh birds and wildlife in the eastern Lake Michigan region.
While undeniably a beautiful aesthetic experience, 188 acres of the park have been significantly disturbed by the previous sand mining operations and are not functioning as intact natural communities, including the manmade mined lake. The shoreline, with its uneven terrain and steep slopes, will be selectively graded to form a gentler slope that supports the growth of wetland vegetation. Approximately 3,300 linear feet of shoreline will be restored, fostering habitat for diverse wildlife and birds.
"Restoring the shoreline is crucial for enhancing habitat diversity and ecological resilience. Communities throughout the Eastern Lake Michigan region have lost up to 90 percent of their historic wetlands, important natural areas that birds and other wildlife rely on to thrive," said Andy Hinickle, Senior Manager, Wetland Conservation for Audubon Great Lakes. "By implementing restoration that includes native vegetation establishment and placement of large coarse woody debris, we aim to enrich the wetlands and shoreline, fostering a thriving ecosystem and restored wetland habitat for the benefit of birds and local communities."
 Approximately six acres of interdunal wetlands will be created which will provide habitat for diverse wildlife and birds.
In a win for West Michigan, the Ottawa Conservation District (OCD) has received a total of $1,314,213 through a variety of grants and contracts to support both Ottawa County surface water quality monitoring efforts and hemlock woolly adelgid surveys and treatments in West Michigan.
Water Quality Monitoring
On May 14th, 2024, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved awarding the OCD a $995,465 contract for a Water Quality Monitoring Initiative through the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office. The Ottawa Conservation District, in collaboration with the ODC Network, will utilize the funding to conduct water quality sampling, habitat surveys, and land surveys to better understand the concentrations, effects, and potential sources of nonpoint source pollutants within Ottawa County watersheds and target critical areas for future pollutant reduction efforts. Additionally, OCD was also awarded a $5,300 Volunteer Stream Monitoring Start-Up grant through MiCorps to start putting together a volunteer stream monitoring program.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Surveys & Treatments
The West Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (WMCISMA), which OCD is the fiduciary of, has also recently received a collective $313,448 to continue hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) treatments to protect and conserve native Eastern hemlock trees, as well as continue treatments for other invasive watch list species.
 
Click on a program date to be redirected to our registration page for that program!
Astronomy Program: Public Observing at Hemlock Crossing
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
Observe the night sky with the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association. They will have the observatory open and telescopes available to view from (weather/cloud cover permitting). Please check holland-saaa.org for updated information.
Weaver House Open House
Join us for an inside look at the Weaver House at Pine Bend Park. These open houses are hosted by Friends of Ottawa County Parks, and they will be available to share historical information and show you around the house.
Tick Talk
Registration encouraged • FREE • All Ages
Join Dr. Will Miller, a wildlife biologist from Calvin University, to learn about the spread of ticks in west Michigan and how we are tracking them. Dr. Miller has been tracking blacklegged tick populations over the past five years in Ottawa County and beyond! He will discuss the ecology of blacklegged ticks in west Michigan, and will be sharing how his team, and others across the state, track tick populations through environmental and wildlife samples. He will also discuss what you can do to minimize exposure to ticks when out on the trails!
Into Nature
Whistle of the Whip-poor-will
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-resident-$6 • Ages 12+
Introduce yourselves to this summer whistler of the woods! Learn about the unique natural history of this often-misunderstood bird at the Nature Center. Afterward, caravan to a local Whip-poor-will hotspot to experience this bird first-hand!
Beginner Bird Walk
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
Are you new to birding or want to get started? Would you like to gain some basic skills to help you enjoy this wonderful pastime? This bird walk will introduce you to binocular use, bird identification and field guides and, of course, to the common birds in our parks.
Wildflower Walk
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 12+
On this casual hike, you'll experience the variety prairie wildflowers blooming in our parks through the summer.
Nature Journal Club
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • Ages 18+
Calling all nature lovers! Gather each month to learn new drawing and writing techniques specific to the theme and enjoy community connection with fellow journalers. The Nature Journal Club compliments an Introduction to Nature Journaling, however taking the class prior is not required. *Journals are not provided.
Yoga at the Nature Center
Registration required • Resident-$10 / Non-Resident-$15 • Ages 18+
Come practice yoga at the Nature Center! A certified yoga instructor will lead this session in the beautiful Great Room, with views of the forest outside. All levels of experience are welcome. *Yoga mats not provided.
Kids & Families
Trailside Storytime
Registration encouraged • FREE • Ages 3-9
Come spend an hour outside along the trail, reading and learning about nature with your child or grandchild. The hour will include a nature-themed story, and an outdoor walk geared for children 3-9 years old.
Family Campfire
Registration required • Resident-$5 / Non-Resident-$6 • All Ages
As evening fall upon the woods, gather around the campfire to make S'mores and engage in various campfire games & activities. MEET AT THE GROUP CAMP AREA. If weather is poor, we will move event to the Pigeon Creek Lodge.
Early Sprouts: Flying Dragons
Registration required • Resident-$10 / Non-Resident-$15 • Ages 4-5
Each week, we will explore a different natural theme through music, games, books, outdoor exploration and crafts. A caregiver must remain with the child.
Flying Dragons: They can fly in any direction, including sideways and backwards. They’re fast, as well, with some reaching the top speed of 18 mph! Join us to discover what else can be learned about the dragonflies that zip around the meadow and wetland habitats.
Nature Buds: Flying Dragons
Registration required • Resident-$10 / Non-Resident-$15 • Ages 6-8
Nature Buds will explore and engage with nature through activities that may include using dip nets in the wetland, catching insects, and searching for salamanders!
Flying Dragons: They can fly in any direction, including sideways and backwards. They’re fast, as well, with some reaching the top speed of 18 mph! Join us to discover what else can be learned about the dragonflies that zip around the meadow and wetland habitats.
StoryWalks
We’re collaborating with local libraries to continue providing StoryWalks this winter! Walk through the pages of a book as you make your way along a park path. These are self-guided programs, and the stories are available during park hours. Brought to you by Herrick Main Library, Loutit District Library, and Herrick North Branch Library.
- June 3-23 at Riley Trails: Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez brought to you in partnership with 5210, Let's Go!
- June 17-30 at Paw Paw West: Go to Sleep, Gecko! A Balinese Folktale retold by Margaret Read MacDonald
5-2-1-0 StoryWalks are presented in collaboration with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health's 5-2-1-0 Let's Go! Initiative.
The Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association will continue to host Friday public viewing nights with smaller telescopes (weather permitting). These events are weather dependent and will be cancelled if overcast.
Make sure to check the calendar for cancellations on this page before you head out to the park: holland-saaa.org
- June 7, 9 pm - Public Observing
- June 14, 9 pm - Public Observing
- June 21, 9 pm - Public Observing
- June 28, 9 pm - Public Observing
For more details: miOttawa.org/observatory
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