(Ottawa County, MI) — Ottawa Sands County Park is now back open to the public. The park closed in the spring for construction projects within the park which saw work done to parking lots, paved paths, restrooms, a kayak launch and more. During the time, massive work was done to enhance and restore more than 200-acres of the park’s dunes.
Ottawa Sands Project Background
Ottawa Sands is a 345-acre former sand mining site that is a junction point between the Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway and Grand River Greenway. It is bordered by significant public coastal dune properties to the north and south and is the final link in a 2,479-acre corridor of public, natural land.
After extensive ecological enhancements and access improvements, Ottawa Sands County Park is ready to welcome visitors with improved amenities, restored natural habitats, and new recreational opportunities. This project aligns with the themes in the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission’s (OCPRC) recently released strategic plan, which envisions the OCPRC as a leader in creating a legacy of expansive, accessible, and biodiverse natural communities for all to enjoy. The re-opening marks a significant milestone in our commitment to protecting natural spaces for generations to come while providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all ages and abilities.
As of 2024, visitors can enjoy the following new amenities:
- ADA-compliant parking and modern restroom facilities
- A paved 1.6-mile “Lake Loop” trail
- Accessible benches and scenic views around the lake
- A universally accessible kayak launch along a bay area of the Grand River, known as “the Sag”
The project adopted a “regenerative approach” laid out in the Ottawa Sands Master Plan, preserving the serene aesthetic experience of Ottawa Sands while promoting ecological health. Prior to becoming a county park, 188 acres of the park had been significantly disturbed by the previous sand mining operations and were not functioning as intact natural communities, including the manmade mined lake. In collaboration with Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), with funding from the Sustain our Great Lakes program and the Fisheries Habitat Grant program, Ottawa County Parks & Recreation embarked on a number of active ecological enhancements including:
- Converting a six-acre area of filled-in mining lagoon to interdunal wetland
- Planting native marram grass and native seed mix dispersal on constructed dune for stabilization
- Shoreline grading and placing woody habitat structures around the lake for habitat
- Planting native plugs and seeds around the lake
- Dune construction
- Invasive species removal
Project Funding
The projects at Ottawa Sands were made possible thanks to the support of many partners, private donors, and grants. We are grateful for the additional support:
- The previous owner sold the property to Ottawa County Parks with a generous donation of 25% of the $11.22 million appraised land value.
- The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) granted over $8 million for land acquisition.
- The Land Conservancy of West Michigan (LCWM) was instrumental in supporting the acquisition by purchasing about half of the property with funding from The Conservation Fund, which allowed Ottawa County Parks time to secure the grants needed to purchase the property. LCWM donors raised nearly $400,000 to support the acquisition.
- A $30,000 Coastal Zone Management grant and $17,460 from the Ottawa County Parks Foundation allowed for the completion of the Ottawa Sands Master Plan.
- Philanthropic gifts totaling $3.48 million, including a $2.5 million gift from the Bill & Bea Idema Foundation, supported significant access improvements projects and the Idema Explorers Camp.
- Philanthropic contributions helped leverage other grants for additional amenities such as a $300,000 grant from the MNRTF for the lake loop, $3.4 million in funding from the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, and a $242,900 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for the day-use restroom.
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