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 down for an undetermined amount of time as they finish moving logs, chipping tops, and smoothing out trails. Southeast side trails (#10 – #11 – Creek loop – #28 – #29 – #36 – #30) have been closed, as well. Any trails that are not on the north side, or the ones listed above, will remain open. We do not currently have an estimated timeline.
Update: June 6, 2023
The habitat restoration (logging) at Pigeon Creek has begun. The crew will be starting on the north side of Stanton and all trails on the north side will be shut down. Horses will need to access the south trails through the southwest corner of the southside parking lot. We expect the north side to be closed for up to a month or possibly longer at which point we will be rotating to the south side.
Red Pine History and Management
Pigeon River Greenway
Red pine (Pinus resinosa) is one of the most common pine trees in Michigan. There are over 1.6 million acres of red pine forests in our state, and despite being at the very southern range of this northern pine, Ottawa County hosts its fair share.
Pine plantations are an important part of Ottawa County’s conservation and economic history. Today, these remnants of the past are dying, becoming both unsightly and hazardous. For this reason, Ottawa County Parks and Recreation is completing the final step in 70 years of management by removing the last of the planted pines at Pigeon Creek Park and Open Space.
Much of the red pine found in Michigan was planted plantation-style by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The CCC was part of the New Deal, a series of public works programs and legislation that was designed to pull the country out of the Depression. Planting red pines also helped to stabilize soil that had been disturbed by a century of irresponsible logging. As the US became industrialized, red pines were used to re-forest abandoned farmland. They were planted because of their relatively fast growth rate and value as timber products. The resulting pine stands produced large amounts of timber, but because of the lack of forest diversity, formed what we refer to as monocultures. These pine monocultures grew in areas that once supported a variety of ecosystem types. They are very similar to a ‘crop’.
What is a monoculture?
the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural or forest land
What about the pines now?
As time has gone on, red pine populations in Ottawa County have become less healthy. Red pine plantations were planted similarly to other crops meant to be harvested – as densely as possible. Periodic harvesting of this crop at Pigeon Creek Park did allow for continued healthy growth and transition to a native deciduous forest. Unfortunately, with summers trending hotter and drier, the remaining trees have become stressed and more prone to disease. As a result, many red pines are dead and dying.
Why is Ottawa County Parks cutting down trees and how will it benefit Pigeon Creek Park?
Logging red pine plantations is an investment in Ottawa County’s future generations. Ottawa County Parks and Recreation is removing the pines for four main reasons: to reduce hazard trees that could fall onto trails, to promote native forest in the understory, to prevent substantial long-term maintenance costs, and to reduce the risk of wildfire by removing potential fuel. Although the drastic appearance of post-harvest can be disturbing, a young deciduous forest is waiting to claim dominance. Unlike other parks which contain remnants of oak savannas, this property is being restored to a forest of beech, sugar maples, and hemlock trees. Many large, old trees within the park exemplify what the future holds for the logged areas. A benefit to removing this crop plant is a more diverse forest waiting in the seedbank. As this diverse forest grows, it has the potential to bring new species to Pigeon Creek Park, as well as expand habitat for existing ones. For example, the Scarlet Tanager is often found within mature forests. Removing the pine stands will expand the existing habitat of this Pigeon Creek Resident.
Will this impact trails being open/closed and how long will it take?
Yes, they plan to start the harvest on the north side of the park. We will most likely have to shut down much of the horse and bike trails on that side since they are looped. We do not currently have an estimated date of completion, but we expect it to take several months based on previous loggings in our county parks system.
What can the community do to help?
Pay attention to signs and do not go on trails that are marked as closed.