Ottawa County

The 2021 Ottawa County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan guides the county's efforts in park, recreation, and open space planning and development, covering a period from 2021 to 2026. It focuses on maintaining high-quality operations, acquiring and expanding properties, enhancing greenways and trails, improving ADA accessibility, and providing nature education programs. The plan also emphasizes effective public communication of available opportunities, aiming to build a high-quality park system for residents and visitors through diverse funding strategies.

This Sustainability Plan for the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission serves as a framework to ensure the ongoing resilience and future opportunities of the park system. It articulates shared principles and fundamental strategies across three core pillars: Environmental Sustainability, Social Sustainability, and Economic Sustainability. The plan aims to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors by preserving natural areas, providing natural resource-based recreation, and fostering community engagement, with a focus on promoting healthy, active lifestyles and conserving the county's natural resources.

This document presents the findings and recommendations of the Grand River Identity Advisory Team for developing a cohesive identity for the Grand River Greenway. It focuses on strategic pillars including History, Culture, Natural Resources, and Recreation & Wellness. The plan aims to foster deeper connections between people and the natural landscape through enhanced interpretation, diverse programming, improved wayfinding, and targeted community engagement, ultimately protecting and advancing the greenway's unique resources and visitor experiences.

This plan provides a roadmap for Ottawa County's parks, recreation, and open space planning and development efforts for the next five- to ten-year period, with a capital improvement schedule extending through 2027. It continues a comprehensive planning effort, focusing on enhancing natural resources like the Lake Michigan shoreline and various river greenways (Grand, Pigeon, Macatawa). The plan outlines strategies for land acquisition and expansion, facility improvements, and accessibility. It emphasizes a diversified financial strategy, including a dedicated millage, user fees, partnerships, and grants, while prioritizing high-quality park operations and maintenance to meet the needs of a growing population.

The agenda for the meeting includes the approval of the agenda for the current meeting, followed by correspondence, communications, and the budget report. New business items focus on two major assignments requiring board authorization: the assignment of the Terra Station Ventures, LLC Development and Reimbursement Agreement to Mercantile Bank in the event of default, and a similar Collateral Assignment for Prospect Flats LLC in favor of West Michigan Community Bank. Discussion items cover the Coopersville MFD LLC Brownfield Plan Amendment status, potential new projects in Spring Lake Township and Hudsonville, a draft operational policy, and updates regarding EGLE Brownfield Stakeholder Workshops.