10 Years of Bridging Community to Nature |
In 2026, the Ottawa County Parks Foundation proudly celebrates 10 years of Bridging Community to Nature.
Throughout the year, our e-newsletter will highlight milestones from the past decade, share reflections from members of the Foundation’s founding Board of Directors, and showcase the lasting impact your generosity has made across Ottawa County Parks. Here’s to 10 years and the many more to come. |
2017
With support from donors like you, the Foundation helped fund the acquisition of a key 1.28-acre parcel in the Bend Area securing important land for future conservation and park development. 2018 Your generosity also made it possible to support the acquisition of Ottawa Sands, preserving this remarkable landscape. |
Tom Werkman
I was an Ottawa County Parks Commissioner for nine years, and during that time I began to realize that more of the millage was going toward park maintenance and improvements, and less toward land preservation. I felt that if a foundation were established, it could help supplement Ottawa County Parks by supporting either maintenance or land preservation.
Tom Werkman served on the Foundation's Board from its' founding until 2019. Tom also served from the Foundation's founding until 2019 as the Foundation's Board President.
Read Tom's full interview here. |
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Learn more about the 2026 Scavenger Hunt by clicking the picture below. |
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Featured Park: Grand River Park
Upland woods, floodplain forest, restored native grasslands, wetlands and a small lake are some of the features of this 162 acre park along the banks of the Grand River. In addition to hiking, biking or skiing on the trails, visitors can also fish in the lake from a wooden boardwalk, enjoy the Grand River from an overlook platform or enjoy a picnic. The park also features a boat launch, a fully enclosed picnic building and a playground.
Learn more
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Plant of the Month: Hepaticas |
by Bobbi Jones Sabine Choosing a spring plant of the month is tough because there are so many wonderful things popping out this month! Let’s look at our two species of hepatica, sharp-lobed (Hepatica
acutiloba) and round-lobed (Hepatica americana). Both species grow in forests throughout upper and lower Michigan, and sometimes can even be found together. They grow most commonly in beech-maple forests, but the round-lobed species is also found in drier woodlands of aspen, oak, hickory, pine, and even spruce or cedar. The difference is easily discernible by looking at whether the tips on the leaf are rounded or pointed.
This lovely spring ephemeral, also called liverleaf or liverwort, is a perennial in the buttercup family, native to eastern North America. The word “hepatica” is derived from the Greek hepar (liver) because the three-lobed leaf was thought to resemble a human liver.
Hepaticas are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, from deeply shaded woods to sunnygrasslands, in many types of soils. The flowers are usually pale purple or light blue, but can also be pink or white. They can be propagated by seed or by dividing vigorous clumps.
In traditional medicine, hepatica was once thought to be an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although toxic in large doses, the leaves and flowers can be used as an astringent, a diuretic, or a demulcent for slow-healing wounds.
Like robin's song or bluebird's wing,
Or throats that make the marshes ring,
Her beaming face and winsome grace
Are greetings from the heart of spring.
- from John Burroughs’ “Hepatica” |
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Photo credit: University of Michigan Herbarium, C. Peirce |
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We are looking forward to our 9th Annual Breakfast at the Park on Thursday, June 11 at 7:30 AM. There will also be a Lunch at the Park at 11 AM.
This annual fundraising event helps support our mission of bridging community to nature. Last year's event raised over $70,000 for the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. All funds raised at these events help support Ottawa County Parks. A special thank you to our sponsors! Title Sponsor
Dr. Barbara Brown and Linda McAffrey Gold Leadership Sponsors The Crane Family Fund in Memory of Marilyn J. Crane Leadership Sponsors Dickinson Wright, PLLC Prein & Newhof SeyferthPR Tim and Jane Stoepker
VIRIDIS Design Group Community Sponsors Grand Wealth Management
Macatawa Bank Friend Sponsors GEI Consultants of Michigan, P.C. Liz & Dean Hanson Kennari Consulting There is still room if you would like to attend. If you are interested in sponsoring or attending, please contact Angela Miller-Niarhos. |
Join us June 20, 2026 for the Grand Explorers' Trail Race! What can we say? This trail race is Grand: Grand River, Grand Ravines, Grand bridges, and Grand views!
The course starts at Grand River County Park, winding you through a natural surface trail until you hit the Idema Explorers Trail segment that leads you along the Grand River to Grand Ravines County Park. |
- 10K and 5K
- 1-mile fun run/walk for kids
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Dogs are welcome
- Walkers are welcome
- Virtual option for 10k and 5k
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To learn more and register, run over to the race website.
Proceeds will support the Ottawa County Parks Foundation's mission. |
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