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Residents urge Ottawa County to give voters a chance on parks funding as county advances trail and park projects
Summary
Public commenters urged commissioners to seek voter approval for additional parks funding while the county advanced multiple park construction and grant applications, including Explorers Trail segments, Rosie Mound design, Tunnel Park renovations and a North Ottawa Dunes acquisition application.
Public comment at the Ottawa County Planning & Policy Committee opened with several residents urging commissioners to let voters decide whether to increase the county parks millage, while county staff moved forward on a slate of parks construction and grant projects.
John Schultz, a Grand Haven Township resident and former parks director, told the committee the millage has been largely devoted to operations and major renovations, leaving little available for new projects such as modern restrooms, regional trail connections and expanded outdoor education. “I just hope that the board will give the voters a chance once again to make a decision on how much they want to invest in the parks,” Schultz said.
Bobby Sabine, a Grand Haven resident who served on the parks commission and the parks foundation, said the current levy costs a typical household only cents a day and argued that an increase would support widely used services. “For about 11 cents a day, I get access to 7,000 acres of public land. With an increase, we would pay another 6 cents a day,” Sabine said. Steve Rice, a Crocker Township resident and business leader, said the parks system helps attract talent and economic investment and urged commissioners to place the question on the ballot.
The committee then advanced several parks actions to the full Board of Commissioners. Members approved a $1,036,825.20 construction contract with NextG Construction for phase one of the Bass River segment of the IDMA Explorers Trail, a management agreement and a separate application for $400,000 from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the Allenale segment of the Explorers Trail. Parks staff described coordination with the Department of Natural Resources, MDOT and townships on routing and a future intersection at 60th Avenue and M-45.
Commissioners also approved a $78,475 contract with MCSA Group for final design and engineering of Phase 1 improvements at the Rosie Mound expansion area, and authorized a Trust Fund application for Tunnel Park renovations (pathways, play equipment, restroom upgrades and overlooks). For the North Ottawa Dunes expansion, staff received authorization to submit an acquisition application and to express the county's intent to provide up to 50% local match not to exceed $3,253,880 toward a total project cost up to $6,577,760; staff said the landowner committed to selling at least 50 acres and may allow inclusion of up to 90 acres if negotiated.
Parks director Jason (first name used in the meeting transcript) described the projects as part of a multi-year strategy to leverage grant funds alongside local dollars and philanthropic contributions. Several commissioners praised the trail vision and said the projects would connect neighborhoods and regional destinations.
What happens next: The trail construction contract and design contracts will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final approval and, where applicable, the county will submit the MNRTF applications and wait for the Trust Fund's competitive scoring and funding decisions later in the year.
