Commemorative Bench Program

Are you looking for a special way to commemorate a milestone?

  • A tribute in memory of a loved one
  • A distinctive recognition of an individual or family
  • An honor for making an achievement or special event
  • Anniversary, birthday, retirement or any special occasion

Benches include a plaque with wording of your choice (subject to approval). The cost to sponsor a bench in a park is $2,500. Please note that some of our parks may not have benches available. There are currently no benches available with a Lake Michigan view or at Ottawa Sands.

Benches located along the Idema Explorers Trail are $3,500. Donations for those benches supports the Grand River Greenway project.

The bench and plaque last as long as the normal life expectancy of the equipment. The process takes a minimum of 3-6 months to complete from initial inquiry to installation. Once you complete the form someone will contact you to verify the location of the bench and plaque wording. Benches and plaques typically have a 10 year lifespan.

Your gift today will allow our beautiful park system to remain a place of refuge and recreation for everyone in your local community.


Memorial and Honorary Donations

Thank you for considering Ottawa County Parks and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation to honor your loved one! Memorial and honorary donations supporting Ottawa County Parks are accepted by the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. 

All memorial and honorary donations will be deposited to the Parks Foundation’s general fund. If the family wishes to designate memorial donations in their loved one’s memory, they may do so for the Grand River Greenway, Ottawa Sands or Nature Education Programming.

In order to ensure each gift is recognized, please share who should notify when gifts are received. The amount of the gift will not be disclosed. The notifications for memorial gifts typically goes out six to eight weeks after receipt and will include the name and addresses of those who donated.

Honorary donation receipts will receive notification within a week or two of the donation being received.

Donations can be made using the donate link below. Please include in the note section of the donation form the honorees name and contact information. Memorial donations include the name the gift is in memory of and the contact information for who you want to be notified of your gift.

Please contact Angela Miller-Niarhos at info@ottawacountyparksfoundation.org or 616-215-6544 for additional information.