A Fond Farewell to 20 Years of Community Support and Stewardship

After two decades of unwavering service, the Friends of Ottawa County Parks—a dedicated 501(c)3 nonprofit partner to the Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission—voted to formally disband on September 17, 2025. While their official chapter as a 501(c)3 closes, their legacy will continue to shape and enrich our park system for generations to come.

Since their founding in 2005, the Friends of Ottawa County Parks (FOOCP) have played a vital role in connecting people with nature, recreation, and community. Powered entirely by volunteers, they inspired a movement of stewardship, education, and inclusion across our county parks.

A Legacy Rooted in Action

The Friends of Ottawa County Parks have made meaningful, lasting contributions throughout the entire park system, leaving a positive impact in every corner of Ottawa County:

• Leadership & Volunteerism
  An all-volunteer board and membership generously dedicated thousands of hours to service, outreach, and fundraising, fueling nearly every Friends initiative.
• Community Outreach & Engagement
  The Friends represented Ottawa County Parks at hundreds of local events, and hosted open houses at the Weaver House, Grand Ravines Lodge, and Connor Bayou Lodge, welcoming thousands to discover our parks.
• Environmental Stewardship
  Through volunteer workdays, the Friends helped remove invasive species, plant native and ornamental vegetation, sponsor Monarch Waystations, and support the Eco-Goats Prescribed Browsing Project by funding fencing and caring for the goats.
• Youth Education & Field Trip Experiences
  The Friends enhanced learning by sponsoring:
  • Grand Lady Riverboat trips for schools and the public
  • Outdoor Education field trips for the 2024–2027 school years
  • Stewardship grants covering transportation, stipends for forestry students, and environmental education tools like microscopes and Chromebooks
• Major Project Support
  The Friends funded and supported key initiatives, including:
  • Construction of the Nature Education Center
  • Development of the Public Observatory at Hemlock Crossing
  • The founding of the Ottawa County Parks Foundation
• Accessibility & Inclusion
  By purchasing a Mobi-Chair for North Beach Park, the Friends made Lake Michigan shoreline access possible for visitors with mobility challenges.
• Community Events & Celebrations
  They brought joy to the community by organizing events like:
  • The Holiday Luminary Walk at Hemlock Crossing
  • Lights at Night at Pigeon Creek Park
  • Seasonal visits from Santa & Mrs. Claus, complete with crafts and photo ops
  • Meals for Grand River Expedition campers at Riverside Park
• Beautification & Historic Preservation
  The Friends sponsored commemorative benches at parks including Olive Shores, Grand Ravines, Eastmanville Farm, Bur Oak Landing, and Ottawa Sands. They also supported a cemetery restoration project at Eastmanville Farm.
• Sustainability & Giving Back
  The Friends promoted environmental sustainability by organizing community recycle and reuse sales and supporting Grand River Clean-Up efforts across the county.

A New Chapter: The Friends Live On

Continue your support through volunteering or giving!

Their legacy continues as the volunteer arm of Ottawa County Parks. Ottawa County Parks proudly maintains the Friends name and logo in recognition of their long-standing service, and will carry that spirit forward through coordinated volunteer efforts.

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities

Want to make a lasting impact? You can still donate! The Ottawa County Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the work of the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission. Through private donations and grants, the Foundation helps fund park improvements, conservation efforts, and community programs.

In 2026, the Foundation will celebrate 10 years of supporting and enhancing Ottawa County Parks, thanks to generous donors like you.

Learn more about the Ottawa County Parks Foundation

A Heartfelt Thank You

To the Friends Board of Directors, committee members, volunteers, donors, and members over the past 20 years: your time, generosity, and vision have left an indelible mark on the parks we all love. Your work has helped build a community where nature is celebrated, where education is supported, and where everyone is welcome.

Thank you, Friends. You have truly made Ottawa County a better place.

Some Friends are for Life

Resolution

The OTTAWA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION at their regular meeting on September 17, 2025 formally adopted the following resolution in honor of the FRIENDS OF OTTAWA COUNTY PARKS (Friends). 

WHEREAS, for 20 years the Friends of Ottawa County Parks organization has actively supported the work of Ottawa County Parks; and 

WHEREAS, the all-volunteer Board of Directors and membership have generously given their time, energy, and effort for a variety of tasks, including volunteering, community outreach, and fundraising for special projects; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have shared information at hundreds of community events and participated in countless volunteer service days to remove invasive species and plant native species; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have provided greeters and refreshments for park events, sponsored Grand Lady Trips for local schools and the public, and donated funds to support the construction of the Nature Education Center, the Public Observatory at Hemlock Crossing County Park, and the creation of the Ottawa County Parks Foundation; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have hosted public open house events at the Weaver House, Grand Ravines Lodge, and Connor Bayou Lodge, decorated the Weaver House for holiday rentals, and held annual Santa & Mrs. Claus visits and other community celebrations; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have organized the Luminary Event at Hemlock Crossing and Lights at Night at Pigeon Creek Park, cooked and served meals for Grand River Expedition campers at Riverside Park, and supported countless community gatherings; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have provided stewardship grants to cover the cost of transportation for field trips, stipends for forestry study students, Grand River clean-up projects, environmental education resources, and digital learning tools; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have sponsored Outdoor Education service-based learning field trips for the 2024–2025, 2025–2026, and 2026–2027 school years; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have sponsored the Prescribed Browsing Project—known as the Eco-Goats—by purchasing fencing equipment and volunteering many hours to care for the goats; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have sponsored commemorative benches at Olive Shores, Grand Ravines, Eastmanville Farm, Bur Oak Landing, and Ottawa Sands; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends have purchased and planted Michigan native and ornamental plantings at multiple parks, sponsored Monarch Way Stations, purchased a beach-friendly floating wheelchair (Mobi-chair) for North Beach Park, supported a cemetery restoration project at Eastmanville Farm, and held community recycle and reuse sales; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission hereby recognizes and honors the Friends of Ottawa County Parks for their extraordinary service, dedication, and contributions over the past 20 years, which have enriched the natural, educational, and recreational opportunities available to the community.