Parks don’t just happen. You might be surprised by the extensive analysis, design, and planning that goes into each Ottawa County Park, balancing the natural resources and human uses of the property. It takes a very intentional and careful process to provide the level of excellence you enjoy when visiting our parks.
This year Ottawa County Parks and Recreation finalized their strategic plan. As part of the process, they revised their vision statement. The new vision statement is “to be a leader in creating a legacy of expansive, accessible, and biodiverse natural communities for all to enjoy.”
Ottawa Sands is a great example of this new vision statement. For years, the property was stripped and degraded. Reopening this fall, Ottawa Sands now features major ecological enhancements (69% of the park!) and a fully accessible trail along a 1.6-mile lake loop. The walk is ringed with benches placed to offer rest to those with shifting mobility or just an opportunity to relax and enjoy the views.
Ottawa County Parks restored Ottawa Sands to nature and turned it into a park.
– Doug and Patricia Klein
Ottawa Sands is a shining example of what private donations can accomplish in our parks. Thanks to you there is a new, accessible park in our county park system with new recreational opportunities to bridge community to nature.
There’s more to do! We appreciate your continued support. Learn about ways you can support the park you love on our website. If you have not made a donation yet this year please considering doing so. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Ottawa Sands
Photo Credit: Patricia Klein
Featured Park: Ottawa Sands
The 345-acre property is nestled within a 2,479-acre corridor of interconnected dune lands. The site has long been used for sand mining, but has been inactive in recent years. In 2024, ecological enhancements and access improvements were completed. The park includes a paved path around the lake, a day-use area featuring a paved parking lot and modern restrooms, as well as connections to regional trail systems. The property features forested dunes, an 80-acre inland lake, interdunal wetlands, and riverfront land with wetlands.
Sea rocket (Cakile edentula) is a succulent, late-blooming plant found in this state almost exclusively on the Great Lakes beaches of Michigan’s southern peninsula. A member of the mustard family, it can form a low shrub or sprawl horizontally along the sand, and is so tough it is sometimes the only plant present on some beaches.
The small white flowers with four petals can often be seen very late into the fall, later forming a bulbous seed pod (the “rocket”). The waxy leaves are serrated on the ends and taper to very thin where they attach to the stem.
In Michigan, the plant has been reported in nearly every county that fronts on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, except around Detroit. It has been introduced elsewhere in the world and has become invasive in Japan and Australia.
All parts of the plant are edible and are rich in vitamins and minerals, but are reported to have a very bitter taste. The youngest leaves can be added to salads or used in stews to add a peppery flavor. The seeds contain a fatty oil which probably helps disperse the plant as the seeds are collected by insects and stored underground for winter food.
The Ottawa County Parks Foundation Board of Directors is deeply grateful to Pete Esser for his service to the Parks Foundation. Pete has served on the Executive Committee since 2019. He served as Vice President until mid-2020 when he took over the role of Treasurer. Under Pete’s
leadership the Foundation created an Investment Policy, which Pete has been working with our financial advisors to implement. His work on this has led to over $600,000 in new income for the Foundation’s support of Ottawa County Parks.
Pete has also served as chair of the Communications Committee and more recently of the Finance and
Investment Committee. Pete will be continue on the Finance and Investment Committee as a committee member.
Our Contact Information
Ottawa County Parks Foundation
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