Thanks to guest artist Jane Kramer, students at the OAISD Careerline Tech Center were able to create paper from garlic mustard, an invasive species harvested during an Ottawa County Parks service-based workday. Following the paper-making process, students created ink...
Red Pine Management
Update November 7, 2023 Trails have re-opened at Pigeon Creek Park! Check miottawa.org/trails for the most recent updates. Lights will remain on after sunset; the park is open until 10 pm. Update: August 25, 2023 The north side of Pigeon Creek Park will remain shut...
Fall 2023 Volunteer Workdays
Join us for a workday this fall! Register online: miOttawa.org/ocpevents *** September Volunteer Workdays Invasive Species Removal: September 23, 10 am-12 pm - Hiawatha Forest Native Seed Collection: September 23, 1-3 pm - Upper Macatawa Natural Area (84th Ave) ...
Robinson Forest Prescribed Fire
Robinson Forest: Prescribed Fire Grand River Greenway As part of the long-term land management of Robinson Forest, a prescribed fire was completed on the property in late May. Kanouse Outdoor Restoration was contracted to work with Parks staff to ensure a safe and...
Bend Area Oil Spill Update
On April 10, 2023, the Ottawa County Parks Commission received information from a concerned kayaker that an undetermined amount of suspected oil was observed on the water and shoreline of a lake in the Bend Area Open Space. The information was shared with Ottawa...
Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2023
Ways to Get Involved on Earth Day 2023 Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. According to earthday.org, the theme for Earth Day 2023 is "Invest in Our Planet". Join us at an event on Saturday, April 22 and invest some time into your Ottawa County Parks,...
Pawpaws at Paw Paw Park
Thanks to a generous donation by Yanfeng through their iCare program, Paw Paw Park finally has its namesake tree. Pawpaws are tropical-looking understory trees that grow naturally along rivers in Southwest Michigan. Although there were only a couple of recently...
Dark Sky Initiative
The long summer days begin to wane as we inch toward the Autumn Equinox. Sunsets happen sooner and the night sky is upon us early in the evening. This may be sad for some, but there are magical moments in September and October when the air is warm, the sky is clear,...
Protecting Pollinators: The Monarch
Each fall, as the days shorten and the temperatures decrease, monarchs begin their migration southbound for Mexico. These beloved butterflies are widely recognized for their vibrant orange wings and white spots; however, they provide an invaluable service far beyond...
Poison Hemlock
What is poison hemlock? Poison hemlock is an invasive flower that was planted in gardens and is now spreading across Michigan. It lives only two years (biennial), but each plant can produce up to 38,000 seeds. Is it dangerous? Poison hemlock can be lethal if handled...