Park Closure Information The Lakeshore Wildlife Management firearm hunt will take place November 20-23, 2026, at North Ottawa Dunes, Ottawa Sands, and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. The parks will be closed to the general public Friday, November 20 through Monday,...
April 24-April 27, 2026 Join the City Nature Challenge! We’re partnering with John Ball Zoo for this exciting global bio-blitz, created by iNaturalist. With over 700 cities participating worldwide, it’s one of the largest community science events. Plus, you don’t need...
Share your fall pictures with us! Do you enjoy taking pictures of the gorgeous fall color in your Ottawa County Parks? Share them with us for the chance to be featured on our social media. >> Click HERE to submit pictures <<
September 5, 2026 – Banding Event Written by Mike Bishop, Master Bander We had a terrific morning at Ottawa Sands County Park with the second year of fall migration banding. Last year's (2025) September banding was on the 6th and we only had a total of 19 captures of...
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...
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...
CraneFest Bus Trip on Sunday, October 9 Meet at 12 pm at Hemlock Crossing (return 10 pm) $75/person OR $125/couple PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED to secure a seat on the bus OTTAWA COUNTY, MI — This fall experience something new with Ottawa County Parks! Each...
Summer is the season of outdoor barbecues, the sound of children splashing in inflatable pools, and the smell of a freshly-mowed yard. Nothing is quite as ubiquitous as the American lawn – a vast, well-manicured plane of Bermuda or Kentucky bluegrass adorns the front...
Join us for a BioBlitz at Ottawa Sands on May 13, 2022! This event will bring local scientists and conservation organizations together to work with community members to build an awareness of the biodiversity at Ottawa Sands while collecting monitoring data. Last year...
A Transformed Landscape Introduction The land that is now Upper Macatawa Natural Area has seen tremendous change in the last 200 years. Virgin forest was felled to provide lumber for construction of homes and businesses for the growing immigrant population. Then, for...