March 2024 E-Newsletter

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve managed to channel $463,330 to support the vision of excellence for Ottawa County Parks and Recreation. Here’s an exciting rundown of how your generosity has helped the Parks Foundation to bridge community to nature:

First off, picture this: a lively group of fourth-graders from Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Coopersville, and Allendale Schools embarking on a wild adventure through an Ottawa County Park. With your help, the Parks Foundation secured a grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation to pilot the Parks for All program. This initiative took these eager young minds on a journey through various habitats – meadows, wetlands, and forests. Amidst the rustling leaves and chirping birds, they discovered the intricate web of connections between creatures, all thanks to clever adaptations for survival.

But that’s not all! In 2023, your contributions continued to work wonders as the Parks Foundation supported programs that brought together over 1,000 nature enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. From toddlers to seniors, everyone found solace and wonder in the great outdoors, once again, fulfilling our mission of bridging community with nature.

And let’s talk accessibility. Your donations didn’t just stop at enriching experiences; they also paved the way for inclusivity. Through various projects, we’ve created spaces within Ottawa County Parks tailored for those with reduced mobility. The Idema Explorers Trail, a marvel in the making along the Grand River, promises an accessible route from Grand Rapids to Grand Haven, ensuring that everyone can traverse its paths with ease.

And if that wasn’t enough, we’ve added a new haven for relaxation and contemplation amidst the beauty of nature – the Grand Ravines Treehouse. Tucked away near the Idema Explorers Trail, this charming retreat was finished in spring 2023. It’s a heartfelt homage to Bea Aldrink Idema, honoring her love for nature, education, and simple joys.

Curious for more? Dive into our 2023 Annual Report to uncover the full extent of how your support has forged unforgettable connections between community and nature.

by Bobbi Sabine

Start gearing up for a field trip soon if you want to see snow trillium (Trillium nivale) in bloom. Sometimes appearing as early as mid-March to early April, this tiny trillium is known in only four counties in Michigan: Clinton, Ionia, Kent, and Shiawassee. It only occurs in about a dozen states in the central midwest. The species name “nivale” is from the Latin Nivalis, meaning
snow.

The late famed Michigan botanists Fred and Roberta Case found it along the banks of the Shiawassee River and near Stony Creek in Clinton County. Listed as Threatened and protected in the State of Michigan, snow
trillium is found in floodplains and on riverbanks.

This perennial monocot is also called dwarf white trillium or dwarf white wakerobin. It grows from a tuber-like rhizome. The petals, bracts, and leaves are always in whorls of three.

Native Americans probably did not use this particular species of trillium much due to its scarcity and tiny size, but used the rhizomes of other trillium species to help with childbirth and to treat other female problems. It was thought to be an  aphrodisiac, and was considered to be a sacred female herb used only by the medicine women.

Photo credit: Michigan Flora Online, W.H. Wagner

April 27, 2024

5 – 8 PM

Join us for Art for the Parks 2024! The Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing 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. Cash bar. A $10 suggested donation at the door and 10% of all art sales benefit the Parks Foundation.

Make your donation early and avoid the line.

Join us for the Thursday, April 4 Fireside Chat at the Nature Education Center. Enjoy coffee and donuts while learning more about the history within Ottawa County Parks with guest speaker Bill Martinus. Please RSVP by April 2 to attend.