The SS Michigan, an iron-hulled steamship, was built in Detroit for the Goodrich Transportation Company in 1881. It sailed briefly for Goodrich before the Detroit, Grand Haven, and Milwaukee Transportation Company purchased the steamer and moved it to Grand Haven as...
Pollution Solutions is a program designed by the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council to inspire action through access to quality science. A virtual series focused on plastic pollution and the Great Lakes will be offered free to the public in 2022. Each session will...
Welcome Teachers! We invite you to learn more about Ottawa County Parks and the Parks for All initiative. What IS Parks for All? Parks for All is a grant funded initiative aimed at providing relevant educational programming to every 4th grade student in Ottawa County...
Historically, trail construction has been based primarily on the mindset of conservation – in other words, how can we create trails using a process that leaves as small an impact? This is an extremely important perspective, but as nature becomes less a part of our...
With a recently awarded grant of $35,000 from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Ottawa County Parks & Recreation is excited to expand nature education in the following ways: Permanent Virtual Programming During the pandemic, Parks staff began to create...
Did you know that Ottawa County Parks & Recreation offers special senior programs for active adults 55+ years? This season, we are introducing one-hour, themed walks at a variety of Ottawa County Parks. These walks will take a deeper dive into a topic of interest...
Fundraising for the Grand River Greenway The Grand River Greenway Campaign was a fundraising effort launched in 2017 with a goal of financing key land acquisitions along the 36.5-mile Idema Explorers Trail. The Campaign recently achieved its fund-raising goal of $7.2...
Join us for a groundbreaking ceremony of the public observatory at Hemlock Crossing Park! September 11, 6:30-7 pm | Hemlock Crossing Construction will begin this fall on West Michigan's first public observatory, which will be located at Hemlock Crossing County Park....
The Park Stewards program was created in 2016 because of a number of particularly enthusiastic volunteers who had the time and desire to volunteer more frequently. Caring for our natural resources is a high priority for Ottawa County Parks, but one that could use an...
Did you know... Bridge Card holders in Michigan can receive a free Ottawa County Parks annual motor vehicle permit? The Ottawa County Parks & Recreation fee waiver program launched in the mid-2000’s in partnership with the State of Michigan and the Michigan...