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Conservation district reports bridge near completion; fundraising needs about $167,000
Summary
Grand Traverse Conservation District staff updated the county on education and agricultural programs, said the Ottawa Footbridge is 70% installed with an anticipated spring 2026 opening, and reported a $1.5 million campaign that has raised just under $1.4 million, leaving roughly $167,000 to close.
Representatives from the Grand Traverse Conservation District presented the district’s annual report and highlighted education, agricultural and conservation work across the county, and provided a detailed update on the Ottawa Footbridge fundraising and installation.
Kofi, who introduced the district staff, described multiple program areas and invited commissioners to visit the district’s facilities. Aspen Shupek, the district’s education specialist, detailed K–12 and preschool nature programming, summer day camps and field trips aligned with Michigan and national science standards; she described the Discovery Boardwalk as a living laboratory used for hands‑on learning.
Adam Brown, agricultural program coordinator, reviewed farmer technical assistance programs (including a produce safety technician through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), the transition‑to‑organic partnership program, regenerative‑agriculture efforts and the Great Lakes incubator farm. Brown said the incubator farm donated more than 10,000 pounds of produce to local food rescue over the past two seasons and trained aspiring growers through classroom and field sessions.
Sarah Vaughn, director of conservation, said the conservation team works across roughly 2,500 acres and reported a grant submission to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for approximately $60,000 to support restoration and wayside and signage work at the Natural Education Reserve. She said the Ottawa Crossing bridge was delivered and that construction was about 70% complete.
Irene Stivis, communications and development specialist, gave the fundraising update: the Ottawa Footbridge campaign goal is $1,500,000; the district has raised just shy of $1,400,000 and reported about $167,000 still to be raised. Kofi told commissioners the bridge arrived in multiple pieces and that the team hoped to place the bridge on Friday morning at about 08:30, weather permitting.
Commissioners asked about coordination with Michigan State University Extension and program overlap; presenters said the district partners with MSU Extension and other organizations where programs align. The board thanked district staff and volunteers for outreach, education and the larger volunteer events that helped plant more than 1,000 plants at the Natural Education Reserve and support Discovery Boardwalk restoration.
Next steps: district staff will continue bridge installation and follow up on remaining fundraising; commissioners asked administration to coordinate signage and wayfinding to highlight county parks and conserved properties.
