Ottawa County Parks has created an endowment fund to celebrate a legacy of environmental leadership and honor the many contributions of Ray and Alma Statema. The Ray and Alma Statema Park Stewardship Fund is housed at the Allendale Community Foundation and will provide grant awards to schools throughout the county to participate in service-based work days in Ottawa County Parks.

Workdays enhance the natural features within the park system and instill a stewardship ethic to future generations. Additionally, educators meet curriculum goals through hands-on, real-world experiences. Along with bussing, the grants will also assist in the purchase of tools, equipment, and materials, plus costs related to outreach and education for the work days. Ottawa County Parks will solicit applications from schools and make recommendations for funding awards on an annual basis.

Ray Statema passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on February 17, 2019

Before his death, Ray and Alma generously offered to donate 15 acres of land to expand Grand Ravines Park. The property to be donated includes land occupied by a trail easement they had previously donated and will result in all of the current park trails being located on county-owned land. In addition to the trail, the land to be donated includes varied terrain with ravines and a stream. It has the most diverse plant life found within Grand Ravines, including a wide variety of spring ephemerals, many types of ferns, and unusual tree species including paw paws.