The Ottawa County Parks Foundation has welcomed Steve Negen, Jeff Munford, and John Scholtz to the Board of Directors. 

Jeff Munford

I have worked at Mary Free Bed for 17 years in the role of business development and patient access. In my current role as Vice President of Patient Access, I am responsible for leading a team across the Mary Free Bed system to ensure that patients navigate to the most appropriate level of post-acute care. I have an undergraduate degree in marketing from Western Michigan University and an MBA from Grand Valley State University.

My family and I have lived in Grand Haven for 20 years. We have enjoyed the various county parks ever since moving to the area. As a guest of Jason Shamblin, I was introduced to fundraising activities through the summer breakfast and met with some of the board members and wanted to get involved with the expansion of these amazing resources in our community.

I appreciate how engaged this board is with preserving and expanding the outdoor experiences for members of our community. Having lived in different parts of the state and country, I have an appreciation for what we have access to here. My wife, Angie, and I have two very active teenagers. We enjoy going on road trips together with our dog Moose. In the summer months, we are at the beach whenever possible.

I got to know Jason Shamblin through youth sports. Jason reached out about attending some activities where I met Anita, Tim, and Greg. We briefly discussed needs of the Foundation board and I began the journey of joining the finance and investment committee, then eventually joined the board. I wanted to learn more about Ottawa County Parks and Rec and provide value any way possible.

Steve Negen

I have been an owner of MACkite for 44 years.  We literally started with a cigar box cash register in Mackinaw City in 1981. My current position is Head of Fun (also CEO). The business consists of Toy Store Downtown Grand Haven and an online Wind Sports business serving customers nationwide. Our shop won Wing Foil shop of the year for the 3rd straight year. I have run over 175 events in the past 44 years.

I have been hiking Ottawa County Parks for over 30 years.  Fortunately I was invited to join the Communications Committee of the Foundation after the summer breakfast. It has been great fun to be with like minded passionate people. I joined the board to hopefully help spread the word on how great being connected with nature is.

I think my family would say I'm a bit impulsive. We saw the Lion King in the spring of 2019 and I told them we were going on Safari as we were walking out. Safaris are pretty amazing. I love to travel and do active sports like kiteboarding, skiing and all types of biking.

John Scholtz

I grew up in Spring Lake and went to Michigan State University where I received a master’s degree in Parks and Recreation Resource Management. After working for Saginaw County Parks for 10 years, I was looking for an opportunity on the west side of the state when the parks position was created in Ottawa County. I spent 32 years as the Ottawa County Parks Director. It has been wonderful to work in the community where I grew up and in a community that values its parks.

I’ve been lucky in that my wife, April, worked in land protection for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan for most of the time I was with Ottawa County Parks. We’ve had many good conversations over the years regarding strategies for acquiring properties and creating new parks.

I truly enjoy outdoor activities of all types and just being exposed to nature. Long hikes in the parks are one of my favorite pastimes. I love cross-country skiing in the winter – especially on the groomed trails at Pigeon Creek Park. I consider our Lake Michigan beaches and dunes one of the county’s greatest assets and particularly enjoy Rosy Mound, Olive Shores and North Ottawa Dunes. 

I continue to be passionate about realizing the full potential of the Ottawa County Park system. The Parks Commission and staff are doing great things and joining the Parks Foundation Board gives me an opportunity to play a small role in moving the parks program forward. 

Featured Park: Upper Macatawa Natural Area

The 612-acre property features stunning bridges and is popular among bikers, hikers, runners, and birders. The bike path running through the park connects to Byron Road’s Fred Meijer Kenowa Trail which leads to Kent County on the north side and to the Adams Street’s bike path, which runs to the lakeshore, on the south side. The single-track mountain bike trails are maintained by dedicated volunteers and are some of the best trails in the area. Visitors will find a variety of habitat, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands, that is home to diverse wildlife.

Learn more

by Bobbi Jones Sabine

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is a familiar, distinctive tree easily identified by thin white bark that peels away in papery strips, revealing a light orange-brown layer beneath. It’s been found in nearly every county in Michigan and coast to coast in the northern half of the US, and all of Canada.

Also called white birch or canoe birch, its leaves are oval with irregularly toothed edges, turning yellow in the fall. Typically growing singly or in clumps, paper birch trees can reach heights of 65 to 70 feet with diameters of 14 to 20 inches. As a pioneer species, they play an important role in colonizing disturbed areas, providing essential habitat and food for wildlife.

As the scientific name Betula implies, paper birch trees have a compound found in terpene called betulin which acts as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. It has been used to treat arthritis, high cholesterol, diabetes, skin conditions, and wound healing.

North American tribes such as the Abenaki and Ojibwe used the white, peeling bark for many purposes, including tools, boots, paper, maps, roofing, and canoes. The bark’s waterproof quality made it ideal for building canoes and dome-shaped lodgings called wigwams. The bark was also used to make containers, moose-calling horns, and fire starters. The sap was used to produce birch beer and syrup. Prehistorically, Neanderthals used birch bark to create a sticky pitch for securing spearheads to shafts.

Get Involved

How would you like to get involved?

• Volunteer on a Foundation committee.

• Join Parks Sustainers Club. 

• Join Parks for Life.

• Make an IRA or Stock contribution.

• Purchase a commemorative bench.

• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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