|
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.
 July
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!
Did someone forward you this message? Click here to sign up for your copy.
The entrance to Ottawa Sands is?closed.?
During construction, we request that users of Ottawa Sands park at Coast Guard Park. There is a new and improved temporary pedestrian access pathway that will take you into the park.
For a map and more info, visit:?Ottawa Sands Entrance Closed | News - Ottawa County, Michigan?
Work is underway on access improvements and ecological enhancements at Ottawa Sands. These projects are expected to continue through 2024 as part of a nearly $8 million effort to begin implementation of the Ottawa Sands Master Plan?s ?regenerative approach?.?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.?
About the "Regenerative Approach"?
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 maintained the serene aesthetic features of the site while also enhancing ecological health and expanding access.
-
Restoration and enhancements will happen to 238 acres.
- 69% of the site in total will be restored and enhanced.
- Active ecological enhancements will happen to 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.?
When completed, these projects will help to ensure that Ottawa Sands becomes a distinctive and timeless place.
Idema Explorers Camp
Earlier this year, construction commenced on the Idema Explorers Camp and its associated amenities. This project was made possible in part through $2.5 million funding from the Bill and Bea Idema Family Foundation as well as through Ottawa County American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Want to learn more about the projects underway? Read more here: news.miottawa.org/ottawa-sands-update
|
Construction on a new treehouse overlook at Grand Ravines began in the spring and is now complete! It is located adjacent to the Grand Ravines Lodge and will provide gorgeous views of the deep ravines.?
It?s Park and Recreation Month!
Did you know there are more than 10,000 park and recreation agencies, providing parks, trails, and other public outdoor and indoor spaces in nearly every city, town, and county across the United States?
The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital for our communities ? from protecting open spaces and natural resources to providing educational activities and resources for all people.?
This July, we are highlighting how #OurCommunityGrows through the essential services offered by Ottawa County Parks and Recreation. Join us and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in celebrating!
#WhereCommunityGrows #ParkandRecMonth23
|
How can I get involved??
-
JOIN US for a program or event! You can scroll to the bottom of this email for the full July program catalog OR view all program details here: miottawa.org/OCPevents
-
TAG US in pictures of you enjoying your Ottawa County Parks?@OttawaCountyParks or use the hashtag #OttawaCountyParks. We will be featuring these pictures on our social media throughout the month!?
-
GET OUTSIDE?and enjoy the awesome open spaces and parks in your community. If you see an employee, make sure to thank them for their work.?
Plastic Free July?is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution ? so we can have cleaner streets, oceans and lakes, and beautiful communities.
Impacts of Plastic
It?s estimated that 22 million pounds of plastic waste makes its way into the Great Lakes every year. That?s enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 100 times! Most of this waste comes from one-use plastics; you know, those plastics that you use once and throw away? Check out this?miECObuzz?video to explore how you can help keep our beaches clean and free of plastic.?
The plastic problem is daunting, but your involvement matters!
-
Take the challenge?and get tips, tricks, stories of other participants and news from across the global movement.
- Do the?Plastic Free July Quiz?(it takes less than 5 minutes) to discover the items you use and decide what you?d like to choose to refuse.
- Decide to take your?first step?or really?challenge yourself.
- Become a Beach Buddy! Keep scrolling to learn more.?
Help keep our beaches clean this summer by becoming a Beach Buddy. Booths at Tunnel Park, Kirk Park, and North Beach Park will be outfitted with buckets for visitors to participate in the Beach Buddy program.
To participate, request a Beach Buddy bucket and pick up any trash you can find on the beach. It's that easy! This program is offered in partnership with the Lakeshore Clean Up Coalition.?
Learn more: news.miottawa.org/beach-buddies
|
The logging at Pigeon Creek Park started on the north side of Stanton in early June.?
All trails on the north side are shut down.?We expect the north side to be closed for up to a month or possibly longer at which point we will be rotating to the south side.?Horses will need to access the south trails through the southwest corner of the southside parking lot.?
While it may be difficult to see trees being cut down, a benefit to removing this crop plant is a more diverse forest waiting in the seedbank. As this diverse forest grows, it has the potential to bring new species to Pigeon Creek Park.
Click the link for a video to learn more:?Red Pine Management at Pigeon Creek Park
|
Want to learn more about managing rainwater on your property? Join the Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) for a workshop to learn about rainscaping practices, with a focus on rain barrels! Participants can attend the workshop and for an additional fee, assemble and take home a rain barrel.?
Click HERE for more details.?
|
The Macatawa Water Festival will be held on Holland?s Windmill Island. This community event?is designed to help people of all ages learn about Lake Macatawa and its Watershed. The festival is a benefit for Project Clarity and the Macatawa Watershed Project.
Sign up to be a volunteer!
 
Click on a program date to be redirected to our registration page for that program!?
REMINDER: The program Nature's Songs: Walk and Roll Edition has been CANCELLED.?
Kids & Families
Zee Bus
Enjoy some summer reading on the Zee Bus! The Zee Bus is a traveling library that will be rolling through the Zeeland area this summer. On Thursdays, Ottawa County Park naturalists will provide nature activities. Story time and activities will begin at 11 am. For a full schedule, follow the Zee Bus page on Facebook: @ZeeBus
Wildlife Encounter - KIDS!?In Tune with Hummingbirds
Registration required, $5/person, geared for ages 5-10?
Hummingbirds are tiny flying jewels to behold!?Beyond just their brilliant colors, the amazing things they do just to stay alive will leave you in awe of this creature weighing less than a nickel, with the attitude of a lion! Come find out more, including how to attract and feed them in your own backyard.
StoryWalk
We?re collaborating with local libraries to continue providing StoryWalks this summer! 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.?
Ride through Robinson History?
Registration required, $10/person
Come pedal through history with us on the Idema Explorers and Spoonville trails. This slow roll, 12-mile bike ride will take you from Riverside Park over the Grand River on the the Sgt. Henry E. Plant Memorial Grand River Bridge Non-motorized Trail to Spoonville, then on to Connor Bayou Park, before returning to Riverside Park. Along the way, we will stop to learn about interesting events and places from the past. Bring your own bike.
Nature Journal Club: Perspective and Elevations
Registration required, $5/person, ages 10+?
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
|
Into Nature
Astronomy: Observing at Hemlock Crossing Observatory?
Weather permitting, come out to the observatory and spend some time with the Shoreline Amateur Astronomical Association looking at the night sky. They will have the observatory open and will have other telescopes available to view from. Please check https://www.holland-saaa.org for updated information.
Wildlife Encounters - Hognose Snake: Serpents of the Sand?
Registration not required but appreciated
Hognose Snakes, a.k.a. "spreading cobra", or "puff-adder", are nature's best actors. You'll discover how they got these misleading names and discover to what lengths this incredibly talented creature goes to in order to dissuade would-be predators.
The observatory at Hemlock Crossing Park will be open to the public on Fridays at 9 pm. These events are weather dependent and will be cancelled if overcast.?Make sure to check the calendar at the bottom of this page before you head out to the park:??miOttawa.org/observatory?
- Jul 7, 9 pm | Public Observing
- Jul 14, 9 pm | Public Observing
- Jul 21, 9 pm | Public Observing
- Jul 28, 9 pm | Public Observing
For more details and weather?cancellations, visit?miOttawa.org/observatory?or holland-saaa.org
|
Weaver 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 (FOOCP) who will be available to share historical information and show you around the house.
|
