Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers assist parks staff on a variety of projects each year. Individuals, families, scouts and other groups are encouraged to get involved. Below are some volunteer projects coming up this fall. If not listed below, directions to these parks are included in this newsletter. For more information, call the parks office at (616) 738-4810. Advance registration is not required and there are no park fees.
Invasive Woody Plant Control at Crockery Creek
Saturday, September 22This workday will focus on the control of invasive woody plants, primarily autumn olive, in some of the open areas at this 306 acre park. Bring work gloves and clothing to work in brushy areas. Parks staff will provide tools, drinking water and snack bars. Meet in the parking lot at 9:00 a.m. for this workday that is scheduled to end at 1:00 p.m.
North Beach Park Dune Grass Planting and Interpretive Walk
Saturday, September 29This workday will begin at 10:00 a.m. with an interpretive walk that will focus on the restoration of this parabolic dune and includes a trek into part of the newly-acquired North Ottawa Dunes property to view some of the spectacular wooded dunes. After the walk, participants will assist parks staff in planting dune grass near the top of the parabolic dune. The workday will end at 2:00 p.m. Bring a lunch, work gloves, garden trowel, sun screen and drinking water you can carry with you. Walk and workday canceled if raining. Meet in the parking lot near the picnic shelter. Hiking is somewhat strenuous at North Beach Park.
Dune Grass Planting at Mt. Pisgah
Saturday, October 6Help plant dune grass on this workday at Mt. Pisgah, a large dune near Holland State Park. This work is part of a dune restoration project. Parks staff will provide tools, drinking water and snack bars. Bring work gloves and a garden trowel. Meet in the Black Lake Boardwalk parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Black Lake Boardwalk is located in Park Township on Ottawa Beach Road near the Coast Guard Station. Work is scheduled to end at 1:00 p.m. Hiking is somewhat strenuous at Mt. Pisgah.
Playground Inspection at Hager Park
Volunteers are needed to help with monthly inspections of the popular Age of Discovery playground at Hager Park. Each inspection takes about one hour. Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the playground parking lot on the 3rd Saturday of each month (April through October). Meet rain or shine.
Sign Up For Future Volunteer Projects
Ottawa County Parks plans to have ongoing volunteer projects to help control invasive plants in the parks as well as other parks projects. If you would like to be placed on a volunteer list to be contacted when these volunteer opportunities are scheduled, please give us a call at (616) 738-4810.
Become a Volunteer Park Monitor
Early in 2007, a new volunteer Park Monitor Program was started with help from Friends of Ottawa County Parks. Park Monitors are assigned a specific park where they walk trails, check facilities and monitor other park features on a weekly basis. Monitors also complete tasks such as picking up litter, removing branches from trails, looking for invasive plants and providing information to park visitors. Monitors relay the information to park supervisors who then address any problems or concerns. Park Monitors are not involved in rule enforcement. To apply for a Park Monitor position, contact the parks office at 616-738-4810 for an application packet that includes information, requirements and a list of parks and open space lands where monitors are needed. Park Monitors receive a free Friends membership and benefits for one year.
