Parks Plans & Reports
2021 Annual Report
As more families move to West Michigan to call Ottawa County home, park usage continues to increase. Even post-pandemic, our community is opting outside. This shift outdoors hasn't gone unnoticed at the county or state level. In July, we were excited to welcome Governor Whitmer to Connor Bayou where she called for a $150 million investment in local parks. With all of this momentum it's easy to get excited about planning for the future, which was a significant focus of the last year.
2021 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan
The 2021 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan was finalized in January. Ottawa County residents and park visitors helped build and guide this plan by completing surveys (raw data is available in plan appendices), comment cards, and by directing comments and suggestions to the Parks & Recreation Commission. This plan is updated every five years and ensures eligibility for grant funding from the State of Michigan and provides a road map for park and trail development.
Ottawa Sands Master Plan
Over a year in the making, the Ottawa Sands County Park Master Plan report was formally accepted by the Parks & Recreation Commission in December 2020.