With support from many entities, the Parks broke ground

on the final stretch of the Macatawa Greenway Trail at Upper Macatawa Natural Area. From left to right:

Travis Williams-Macatawa Outdoor Discovery Center, Jim Holtrop-Board of Commissioners Chairman,

Bobbi Sabine-Parks & Recreation Commission President, Brian Stauffer-Macatawa Greenway Committee and

Mike Smith-Michigan Department of Transportation.

We had a beautiful afternoon at the Connor Bayou Picnic & Kayak Launch

Dedication. Thank you for joining us and the Friends of Ottawa County Parks on

this fun-fi l led afternoon.

Stewardship Workdays

Please join us. Many hands make light work! Seed Collection: Hemlock Crossing, Sunday, October 5, 2-4PM. Help collect and process seed from the plants in the short-grass prairie in front of the Nature Education Center. Seed will be used for restoration projects within other Ottawa County Parks properties.

Invasive Species Control: Crockery Creek Natural Area, Saturday, October 11, 10AM-Noon.Grose Park, Saturday, October 18, 10AM-Noon. Invasive trees, shrubs and vines can cause serious damage to wildlife habitat. They can also block recreational trails and scenic views. Help Ottawa County Parks fight these destroyers of diversity.

Never volunteered before? No problem! Here's what you should know: Bring work gloves (preferably leather), insect repellent and appropriate outdoor gear. All necessary tools, drinking water and snacks will be provided. No preregistration is required. Ages 12 and up are welcome, however youth must be supervised by an adult. Cancelled if raining. Do you have more questions? Contact Melanie at 616-738-4810 or mmanion@miottawa.org.See you there!

Wow! The students from Holland Youth Connections Program worked over 1500

hours this summer at Riley Trails cleaning up trai ls and removing invasive species.

Thanks for a job well done!!

Do they do windows? The goats have done a great job cleaning up invasives at the parks. These before and after photos were taken at Bur Oak Landing West.

The public is invited to the Friends’ Annual Membership Meeting and program on Wednesday, September 17. Acclaimed naturalist, Randy Baker, will provide a dramatic, interactive presentation called "Michigan Statehood & Beyond," bringing to life the forces and factors that shaped our unique state. As an added attraction, the Ottawa Shores Plein Air artists will have a number of their recent works on display, depicting scenes from many Ottawa County Parks. The event takes place at the Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing County Park located at 8115 West Olive Road, West Olive. Doors open at 6:30PM for enjoying the artwork and refreshments. Main program begins at 7PM.

Grand River Open Space ExpandsIn June, the Parks Commission purchased 45.7 acres of riverfront property from the Jessie Zemaitis Trust to expand Grand River Open Space in Tallmadge Township. The purchase expanded the site to 279 acres with 1.5 miles of Grand River frontage.

A grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund contributed $80,000 to the $194,225 purchase with the balance of funds from the county parks millage. The high-quality natural site will offer opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreational pursuits. The property is located directly across the river from Grand Ravines and protects the view shed of a lodge planned for that location in 2015.

The purchase is part of Ottawa County Parks’ Grand River Greenway initiative, which preserves and protects key lands within the river corridor for enjoyment by people and provides a habitat corridor along the river for wildlife and birds.

Bald eagles prefer large tracts of natural land near water for nesting. A pair nested successfully at Grand Ravines for a number of years until theirnest tree came down last winter. With an abundance of protected natural land to choose from within the Grand River corridor, the eagles elected to rebuild across the river on Grand River Open Space property where they raised three young this season.

Grand River Heritage Water TrailMore people are taking to the water to explore nature, exercise and enjoy time with friends and family. The recent rise in the popularity of kayaking is evident in Ottawa County with paddlers of all ages seeking places to enjoy their sport. In response, Ottawa County Parks is working to expand access to area rivers including the Macatawa, Pigeon and Grand. As its name implies, the Grand River is a special resource with a multitude of paddling opportunities. Ottawa County Parks has established the Grand River Heritage Water Trail as a way to promote access to the Grand River in Ottawa County.

The Grand River Heritage Water Trail website provides information on parks and other places to access the river, natural features to be observed, and interesting historical points of interest to help explain the colorful and rich local history tied to the Grand River. Details provided include the facilities available at each access point, contact information for local outfitters and much more. Printable and interactive maps of the river for are helpful in planning an excursion.

Kayaking or canoeing on the Grand is a great way to experience the many properties that have been preserved through the Grand River Greenway, a high priority initiative of Ottawa County Parks over the past fifteen years. Over 2,400 acres with 13 miles of shoreline are available for public access. Recently, universally accessible kayak and canoe launches have been installed at Connor Bayou and Eastmanville Bayou, with a third planned for Grand River Park. These floating launches provide an easy and enjoyable means of launching and retrieving kayaks and canoes for people of all abilities.

Water trail signs with maps were recently installed at the universally accessible launch sites. Next steps for the water trail will involve adding signs at other river access points. Markers are also planned along the river to identify the boundaries of all park properties. Water trail merchandise is available for purchase at the Nature Education Center Gift Shop, including soft, ringspun cotton t-shirts and insulated Camelbak water bottles. Visit us at Hemlock Crossing Park. Then, go to miOttawa.org/parks and click on the water trail logo to learn more about the Grand River Heritage Water Trail and plan your paddling adventure.

Above: An eagle on the nest in early spring. Left: Ray Statema,

neighbor and Parks Commissioner, stands below the new nest tree at

Grand River Open Space.

The Crockery Lake shoreline at Grose Park has been stabilized and restored. This quaint park

in Chester Township is located in the pan- handle of Northern Ottawa County.

The new Historic Ottawa Beach Waterfront Walkway boardwalk segment is under

construction. The 1,300 feet of path will link Black Lake Boardwalk East and West along Lake

Macatawa offering scenic views, interpretive displays, sitting areas and bird spotting scopes.

L. Koets

L. Koets

Project Updates

Before

After

Outdoors t tawa County

The quarterly newsletter of theOttawa County Parks & Recreation Commission

Grand Ravines

County Park in Jenison

by Kevin Povenz

Fall

2014

Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission

Bobbi J. Sabine, President Roger E. Jonas David VanGinhoven, Vice President Jim Miedema Philip Kuyers, Secretary Ray Statema Tom Werkman Tom Elhart James Holtvluwer Joe Bush

Park activities and programs are brought to you by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

Jim Holtrop, Chair Matthew Fenske Joe Baumann, Vice Chair James Holtvluwer Roger Bergman Philip KuyersAllen Dannenberg Dennis Van DamGreg DeJong Stu Visser

Donald Disselkoen

Prefer this newsletter by email? Let us know.ocparks@miOttawa.org miOttawa.org/parksMain Office: 616-738-4810 #OttawaCountyParks Nature Center: 616-786-4847

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Fall 2014 Programs Preregistration or fee may be required. See descriptions. Call 616-786-4847 to preregister.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayAug 31 Sept 1 Sept 2 Sept 3 Sept 4 Sept 5 Sept 6

Hike Crockery Creek

2PM

Lewis CrossHemlock Crossing

7PM

ExtinctionHemlock Crossing

1PM

River PassengersHemlock Crossing

3PM

Sept 7 Sept 8 Sept 9 Sept 10 Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 13

$ ExtinctionHemlock Crossing

2PM

Warbler WalkGrand Ravines N

8AM

$ Pigeon River Kayak Hemlock Crossing

9:30AM

Harvest HikeRiley Trails

2PM

Marsh ExcursionPort Sheldon 6PM

Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 20

$ SpidersHemlock Crossing

2PM

Autumn WalkKirk Park

10AMFriends Event

Hemlock Crossing 7PM

Sad FateHemlock Crossing

7PM

Warbler WalkGrand Ravines N

8AM

Fall Fungus HikeHemlock Crossing

9AM Leaf WorkshopHemlock Crossing

2PM

Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept 26 Sept 27Raptor Watch

Mt. Pisgah 1PM

$ MigrationHemlock Crossing

2PM

Warbler WalkMt. Pisgah

8AM

Autumn WalkMacatawa Greenspace

10AM

Monarch GardensHemlock Crossing

7PM

Super SpidersHemlock Crossing

2PM

Famous SpacecraftHemlock Crossing

7PM

Sept 28 Sept 29 Sept 30 Oct 1 Oct 2 Oct 3 Oct 4

$ Leaf ArtHemlock Crossing

2PM

Sparrow SearchMacatawa Greenspace

8AM

Autumn WalkMt. Pisgah

10AM

Native Landscapes & Plant Sale

Hemlock Crossing 6PM

Sparrow SearchMacatawa Greenspace

8AM

$ Crockery Creek Kayak Connor Bayou 1PM

Oct 5 Oct 6 Oct 7 Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 10 Oct 11

$ Winged ThingsHemlock Crossing

2PMSeed Collecting

Hemlock Crossing 2PM

$ Colors by Kayak Hemlock Crossing

1PM

$ Family CampingPigeon Creek

5PM

Volunteer Work DayCrockery Creek

10AM Galls & Goldenrods

Hemlock Crossing 2PM

Oct 12 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 15 Oct 16 Oct 17 Oct 18

$ Bee's KneesHemlock Crossing

2PM

Sparrow SearchEastmanville Farm

8AM

Autumn WalkRosy Mound

10AM

Volunteer Work DayGrose Park

10AM

$ Gabagouache Trip Connor Bayou Various Times

Oct 19 Oct 20 Oct 21 Oct 22 Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25

$ Meet a TreeHemlock Crossing

2PM

Autumn WalkConnor Bayou

10AM

$ Photo ExcursionHemlock Crossing

10AMSpace TelescopesHemlock Crossing

7PM

Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1

$ Look & SeeHemlock Crossing

2PM

Autumn WalkPigeon Creek

10AM

Waterfowl Trip North Beach

8AM

Bird HikeHemlock Crossing

9AM

Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 7 Nov 8

$ Tales of FoxesHemlock Crossing

2PM

Bird HikeHemlock Crossing

9AM

Waterfowl Trip North Beach

8AM

Night HikeHemlock Crossing

7PM

Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15

$ TurkeysHemlock Crossing

2PM

Autumn WalkRiverside

10AM

Maps & CompassesHemlock Crossing

2PM

Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22

$ CrowsHemlock Crossing

2PM

Leaves, Trees & SeedsHemlock Crossing

2PMMeteor Showers

Hemlock Crossing 7PM

Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29

$ Go NutsHemlock Crossing

2PM

Happy Thanksgiving!

All About OwlsHemlock Crossing

2PMOwl Prowl

Pigeon Creek 6:30PM

Nov 30 Dec 1 Dec 2 Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6

$ Busy BeaversHemlock Crossing

2PM

Plant SkeletonsHemlock Crossing

2PM

Dec 7 Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec 10 Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13

$ Twig ArtHemlock Crossing

2PM

Coffee & Birds Hemlock Crossing

10AM

H. E

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Sunday Family Programs: Various Dates, 2-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. These programs are designed for families with children ages five and up. Preregistration is required at least two days in advance. A fee of $1 per person will be collected at the door for those who preregister. A $2 per person fee will be charged for late registrants and walk-ins. Due to space limitations, we may not be able to accommodate walk-in guests. For detailed descriptions, like us on Facebook, sign up for NaturE-mail or call the Nature Education Center.

September 7: Understanding Extinction September 14: Spiders September 21: Migratory Miracles September 28: Look at What I Did with a Leaf October 5: Things with Wings October 12: The Bee's Knees October 19: Meet a Tree October 26: Look without Seeing November 2: Tales of Foxes November 9: Terrific Turkeys November 16: Raven about Crows November 23: Go Nuts November 30: Busy Beavers December 7: Branches & Twig Art

Warbler Walks: Various Dates, 8-10AM, Various Locations. Sep-tember is to warblers in fall as May is to them in spring. The differ-ence is that they wear drab plumages and don't sing. This makes them more elusive and a challenge to ID, yet worth the effort!

September 10 & September 20, Grand Ravines North September 24, Mt. Pisgah (Strenuous Stairs)

After the Harvest Hike: September 13, 2-4PM, Riley Trails. We'll explore Riley Trails to see the effects of the red pine harvest in 2012 and restoration work in 2013. Binoculars recommended.

Coastal Plain Marsh Excursion: September 13, 6-8PM, Port Sheldon Natural Area. Want to learn more about one of Michigan's rarest ecosystems? Join this off-trail excursion into the second largest park property. Binoculars recommended.

Autumn Walks: Various Dates, 10-11:30AM, Various Locations. Explore a new park and observe the subtle changes as plants and animals prepare for the winter season.

September 17, Kirk Park September 24, Macatawa Greenspace October 1, Mt. Pisgah (Meet at Black Lake East) October 15, Rosy Mound Natural Area October 22, Connor Bayou October 29, Pigeon Creek November 12, Riverside Park

Fall Fungus Hike: September 20, 9AM-Noon, Hemlock Crossing. Join expert, Dennis Dunlap, to seek and identify a variety of mush-rooms and other fungi. Preregistration required by September 18.

Leaf Collecting Workshop: September 20, 2-4PM, Hemlock Crossing. Leaf collections can seem daunting. Using a simple key, ID can be made more easily. Students ages ten and up will enjoy collecting leaves responsibly and identifying trees by their leaves. Free; however preregistration is required by September 16.

Raptor Watch: September 21, 1-4PM, Mt. Pisgah. Many raptors follow the Lake Michigan shoreline as they migrate south. Join us as we climb Mt. Pisgah's stairs to spot these birds of prey. Pro-gram length will depend on the weather and the birds. Bring drink-ing water and binoculars. Some loaners will be available.

Gardening for Monarchs & More: September 25, 7-8PM, Hem-lock Crossing. The monarch butterfly, the nation's most recognized insect, has declined 90 percent since the 1990s. Learn how you can save the planet, starting in your own back yard, in a fun and beautiful way.

Super Spiders: September 27, 2PM-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Spiders are more than eight-legged predators! After an introduction to common groups of spiders and their unique ways of living, we'll get outside to investigate common spider habitats.

Famous Spacecraft: September 27, 7-8:30PM, Hemlock Cross-ing. The Voyager 1 Spacecraft is the most distant human-made object and the only one to break free of our solar system. Along with its twin, Voyager 2, the spacecraft set off on a historic journey in 1977. Learn about the record-breaking mission and its earth-shattering discoveries from Shoreline Astronomical Association member Peter Burkey. A sky viewing will follow if conditions permit.

Searching for Sparrows: Various Dates, 8-10AM, Various Loca-tions. Search through meadows and along forest edges in hopes of flushing migrating sparrows from their hiding holes deep in the brush. The terrain may be wet from heavy dew, so rubber boots or hip waders are recommended.

October 1 & October 4, Macatawa Greenspace October 15, Eastmanville Farm

Crockery Creek by Kayak: October 4, 1-4PM, Connor Bayou. Venture down Crockery Creek to the Grand River and Connor Bayou while your guide describes natural and historical features along the way. The fee is $8 per person plus $26 if renting kayak, paddle and life jacket. Some kayaking experience is recommend-ed. Preregistration is required. Details will be sent prior to the trip.

Colors by Kayak: October 8, 1-4:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Bask in the fall colors along the Pigeon River by kayak. No experience is needed. The fee is $8 per person plus $26 if renting kayak, paddle and life jacket. Preregistration is required. Details will be sent prior to the trip.

Family Camping Program: October 10, 5PM-October 11, 10AM. Pigeon Creek. Celebrate autumn with a family fun overnight with Parks staff. Highlights include outdoor games, skits, songs, s'mores and a hike. Dinner and breakfast are included with the cost. Tents and sleeping pads are available to borrow or you can bring your own. Preregistration required by October 5. Fee is $25 per adult and $5 per child.

Galls & Goldenrods: October 11, 2-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. What is a gall and why is it found on goldenrods? How many gold-enrod species are found at Hemlock Crossing? Learn the charac-teristics of a few species and discover the intricate relationships on and around this common wildflower found in our meadows, stream banks and forests.

Gabagouache on the Grand: October 18, Various Times, Con-nor Bayou. Step back in time. Paddle on the Grand River as a fur trader from the 1700s via the ten person canoe. Each session lasts one hour. Preregistration required. The fee is $5 per person. Noon 1:30PM 3PM

Photo Excursion Workshop: October 25, 10AM-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Beginnings and advanced amateurs alike will improve their skill under the instruction of Mark Carlson and Bob Grzesiak. More details and registration information is available at greatlakesphototours.com or by calling 989-723-3365.

Space Telescopes: October 25, 7-8:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Have you ever seen images from space and wonder how they capture so much detail? Many are composite images that were taken in different wavelengths of light. Jim Reier of the Shoreline Astronomical Association looks at the history of space telescopes designed to reveal all the different parts of the spectrum. Join us as it all comes together, when we combine many wavelengths in composite images revealing more to space than meets the eye.

Waterfowl Field Trip: Various Dates, 8AM-4PM, North Beach Park. Witness the spectacle of waterfowl migration along the Lake Michigan shoreline and at other local hot spots including the well-known Muskegon Waste Water Facility. Preregistration is required. October 31 November 7

Hike into the Night: November 8, 7-8:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Enjoy the night air, listen to animals and observe Hemlock Cross-ing from a different perspective as we walk the moon-lit trails.

Hemlock Bird Hikes: Various Dates, 9-10:30AM, Hemlock Cross-ing. As fall migration winds down, we'll focus on finding some of the later migrants and newly arriving winter residents.

November 1 November 5

Managing Maps & Conquering Compasses: November 15, 2-4PM, Hemlock Crossing. Love them or hate them, maps and compasses impact our lives daily. Students ages ten and up will learn how to read maps and compasses. Preregistration required.

Leaves & Trees & Fun with Seeds: November 22, 2-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. What can you do with leaves and seeds that you find on the ground? This program will focus on a variety of ac-tivities families can do together as they enjoy autumn excursions.

Meteor Showers: November 22, 7-8:30PM, Hemlock Cross-ing. Those bright, short-lived flashes of light we can see almost every night are called meteors. Meteor showers are visible for a few nights at a given time of the year and seem to come from a particular portion of the sky. Join Frank Roldan of the Shoreline Astronomical Association as he shares their histories, sources and tips for best observing them.

All About Owls: November 29, 2-4PM, Hemlock Crossing. Whooo can name and identify all of Michigan's owls? Describe how they hunt at night? Say that they've dissected an owl pellet? Yooou will after attending this program. Preregistration required.

Owl Prowl: November 29, 6:30-8PM, Pigeon Creek. After meeting in the Lodge for an introduction to the owls of Ottawa County, you’ll quietly prowl the woods to encounter them first-hand.

Plant Skeletons: December 6, 2-3:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Where do all the wildflowers go? Explore what remains when the colorful spring and summer flowers have faded and gone to seed.

Visit miOttawa.org/parks to learn more about Ottawa County’s 6,400 acres of parks and open available for your enjoyment. Operations, improvements and programs are funded by fees, grants and a millage. If you own a $150,000 home, you invest $2 per month in opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature education today and for future generations. Thank you.

Connor Bayou: 12945 North Cedar Drive, Grand Haven. The entrance is located off the gravel portion of North Cedar Drive, west of 120th Avenue.Crockery Creek: 11071 Wren Drive, Nunica Eastmanville Farm: 7851 Leonard Road, Coopersville

Grand Ravines: 3991 Fillmore Street, JenisonGrose Park: 22200 24th Avenue, CasnoviaHemlock Crossing: 8115 West Olive Road, West OliveKirk Park: 9791 Lakeshore Drive N, West Olive Macatawa Greenspace: 1230 Paw Paw Drive, HollandMt. Pisgah: 2227 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland. Park at

Black Lake Boardwalk East. Hike back 700 feet on the bike path to the Mt. Pisgah trailhead.North Beach: 18775 North Shore Drive, FerrysburgPigeon Creek: 12524 Stanton Street, West OliveRiverside Park: 10317 North Cedar Drive, Grand HavenRosy Mound: 13925 Lakeshore Drive N, Grand Haven

Park Addresses

Indicates preregistration required. $ Indicates fee required.

Call 616-786-4847 to register.

Remembering the Passenger Pigeon, extinct September.

Lewis Cross, the Painter of Passenger Pigeons: September 4, 7-8PM, Hemlock Crossing. Wally Ewing and Marjie Viveen will present a program on the life of Lewis Cross, local legend and artist best known for depicting Passenger Pigeons on canvas. Two examples can be seen at the Nature Education Center.

Understanding Extinction: September 6, 1-2PM, Hemlock Crossing. When you hear the word "extinction," do you think of dinosaurs? This term may ring a bit closer to home after hearing the story of the Passenger Pigeon and participating in activities geared to help kids understand extinction.

Passengers of the Pigeon River: September 6, 3-4PM, Hem-lock Crossing. Do you know how the Pigeon River got its name? Hear the story of this once indescribably abundant bird and what led to its extinction 100 years ago.

Kayak Trip-Passengers of the Pigeon River: September 13, 9:30AM-12:30PM, Hemlock Crossing. Paddle a 3.5 mile stretch of the Pigeon River and learn its history. Return transportation is via carpool. No experience is needed. The fee is $8 per person plus $26 if renting kayak, paddle and life jacket. Preregistration is required. Details will be sent prior to the trip.

A Sad Fate-The Passenger Pigeon: September 18, 7-8PM, Hemlock Crossing. Kyle Bagnall, Historian and Michigan Coordinator of Project Passenger Pigeon, shares records of early explorers, missionaries and traders, and uncovers tales of the last “grand nesting” in Petoskey in 1878. This multimedia presentation features historic lithographs, paintings and photos that follow this tragic story from our past in an effort to help build a sustainable future.

Place your orders for the Ottawa Conservation District's Fall Native Plant Sale! October 2, 6-9PM, Hemlock Crossing. Pre-order native wildflowers and grasses online at www.ottawacd.org now! Vern Stephens from Designs by Nature will present on native gardening. Immediately following, orders can be picked up and more purchases can be made. Exhibits, resources and staff will be available to answer questions.

E. Post

M. Moran

M. Moran

M. Moran