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Muskegon County opens public hearing on 2025–2029 Recreation and Open Space Plan
Summary
The county opened a public hearing on its 2025–2029 Recreation and Facilities/Open Space and Greenways Plan, which the presenter said is required by the Michigan DNR for grant eligibility and will be submitted by Feb. 1; key proposals include new trails, mountain-biking on a ~20-acre parcel near Pioneer Park, expanded kayak launches and ADA restrooms.
Muskegon County commissioners opened a public hearing Dec. 18 on the county’s proposed 2025–2029 Recreation and Facilities/Open Space and Greenways Plan, which the presenter said is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for grant eligibility and will be submitted by Feb. 1.
The plan, the presenter said, compiles countywide recreation inventories, demographics, parks administration details and prioritized future projects built from public input. “This plan is one of the requirements by the DNR to be eligible for grants,” the presenter stated when introducing the draft and its public outreach, which included roughly 500 survey responses and multiple public meetings.
Commissioners and staff highlighted several projects identified in the draft: a trails-and-greenways update being coordinated with the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission; a potential 20-acre mountain-biking trail north and east of Pioneer Park in county‑owned land worked on with the Michigan’s Edge Mountain Biking Association; expanded kayak launches on the Muskegon River and larger inland lakes including Mona Lake and White Lake; improved ADA restrooms at county parks and trailheads; and a proposed new launch ramp and expanded docks at the Grama Launch on Big Blue Lake. The presenter also said the county will review opportunities for winter recreation similar to facilities in neighboring counties.
Board members asked how broadband and Wi‑Fi access at parks would be addressed. The presenter responded that the statewide broadband buildout is being pursued under a state/private contract and that private firms are bidding for state funds; several county parks already have partial Wi‑Fi coverage. Commissioners discussed whether a sample board resolution supporting the plan or related broadband efforts appeared in the packet and whether it could be added.
No members of the public offered on‑the‑record comments during the hearing. Commissioner Page moved, and Vice Chair Cook supported, a motion to close the public hearing; the board voted unanimously to close it. The presenter said any additional input from today would be added to the plan and that if the DNR master plan is not yet finalized it would be included as an addendum before submission.
Next steps listed by staff include adding the board resolution and minutes from this meeting to the plan’s materials and finalizing the master document for submission by the Feb. 1 deadline.
