Alice and Andy Hoban first became involved with Ottawa County Parks in 2005, helping to form the Friends of Ottawa County Parks, a non-profit organization focused on stewardship and building awareness for the parks system.
Since then, Alice served on the 2006 and 2016 Parks & Recreation millage renewal committees, campaigned to build the Nature Center, and helped to form the Parks Foundation. She is currently a Board Member for both the Friends of Ottawa County Parks and Parks Foundation.
“As avid hikers, Andy and I appreciate the planning involved to create and maintain trails,” said Alice. “We often comment on the high-quality workmanship in the parks.”
Beyond volunteering their time, the Hobans are also donors. They assisted Parks with improvements at Grand Ravines and once formed, they were among the first donors to the Parks Foundation.
Alice and Andy have hiked all of Ottawa County’s parks and open spaces and believe that these greenspaces, as well as nature education, are important for both the economy and quality of life in Ottawa County.
Alice and Andy have included the Parks Foundation in their planned giving because:
“Ottawa County Parks will need significant financial resources far into the future to protect and maintain those beautiful spaces. We want to be a part of providing those resources.”
As Parks for Life members, Alice and Andy are helping to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy our wonderful parks and leaving a legacy of the protection and conservation of natural land.
Donors who include the Park Foundation in their planned and estate giving are members of the ‘Parks for Life’ group; these donors are committed to sustainability of Ottawa County Parks.
The Ottawa County Parks Foundation has launched a Commemorative Bench program. Commemorative benches are a special way to provide:
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
Recognition of an 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 is $2,500. Please note that some of our parks may not have benches available. 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.
Your gift today will allow our beautiful park system to remain a place of refuge and recreation for everyone in your local community.
Location: Fraternal Order of Eagles 925, 20 North 2nd Street, Grand Haven
Join us for a bird-themed jigsaw puzzle contest, compete with other teams, win prizes, and learn about birds.
Team name and themes encouraged!
$50 (or more) donation per team to Parks Foundation to register.
Each team will get to keep their puzzles! The winning team will receive a prize.
Looking to update your current puzzle collection? There will be a puzzle swap table. Bring puzzle(s) you no longer want and swap them for one(s) you have not done before.
Co-sponsored by the Ottawa County Parks Foundation and the Grand Haven Eagles.
*All participants should be masked any time they are not at their table.
Park supporters who include the Ottawa County Parks Foundation in their planned and estate giving are members of Parks for Life. Gifts can include wills and bequests, appreciated stock, bond and mutual funds, charitable trusts, retirement accounts and life insurance. Parks for Life members are ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy our wonderful parks!
Featured Park: Riverside Park
10317 North Cedar Dr.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Riverside Park has nearly one mile of frontage along the south bank of the Grand River, this 64 acre park is the perfect place for picnicking, boating or fishing. The park includes a boat launch (fee required), picnic shelter, large pond with a barrier free fishing dock and over 1,000 feet of grassy picnic area along the riverbank. Fishing is allowed along the riverbank and from the edge of the pond.
Location: Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center, 8115 West Olive Rd, West Olive
Join us for Art for the Parks 2022! The Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossings will be filled with art by regional artists in this pop-up event to benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. Find works by painters, photographers, fiber artists, glass artists, ceramicists, jewelry makers, and a whole lot more. Live music by Bri Baron. Cash bar. A $10 suggested donation at the door and 10% of all art sales benefit the Parks Foundation.
Parks, a non-profit organization focused on stewardship and building awareness for the parks system..jpg)
A distinctive recognition of an individual or family
that some of our parks may not have benches available. 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.
teams, win prizes, and learn about birds.