2006 Ottawa County Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan February, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................... v PLAN ADOPTION..........................................................vi Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Resolution Parks and Recreation Commission Resolution Letter transmitting adopted plan to Regional Planning Agency Letter transmitting adopted plan to County Planning Agency EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................... xi SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION Chapter One: The Need for a Current Parks and Recreation Plan...2 Chapter Two: The Planning Process...4 SECTION TWO: A PROFILE OF OTTAWA COUNTY Chapter Three: County Description...6 Chapter Four: Recreation Inventory...34 SECTION THREE: NEEDS ASSESSMENT Chapter Five: Needs Assessment Tools...68 Chapter Six: Recreation Needs & Issues...72 Chapter Seven: Activity Needs Analysis...78 Chapter Eight: Accessibility Analysis...97 Chapter Nine: Parks & Open Space Analysis...116 SECTION FOUR: MISSION STATEMENT, GOALS & OBJECTIVES Chapter Ten: Mission Statement, Goals & Objectives...145 SECTION FIVE: THE PLAN AND ACTION PROGRAM Chapter Eleven: Recommended Actions...153 Chapter Twelve: Park System Financing and Capital Improvement Schedule...194 Chapter Thirteen: Administration and Operations...206 Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Page i
SECTION SIX: APPENDICES Appendix A: Michigan Natural Features Inventory Appendix B: Campground Listing Appendix C: Marina Listing Appendix D: Golf Course Listing Appendix E: Summary of Public Workshops Appendix F: Parks Commission Meeting Minutes Appendix G: Park User Survey Summary Appendix H: County Resident Survey Summary Appendix I: Comment Card Appendix J: Ottawa County Non-motorized Pathways Study Executive Summary Appendix K: Geocaching Guidelines Appendix L: Land Acquisition Criteria Appendix M: Public Hearing/Meeting Notices Appendix N: Park 12 Executive Summary Appendix O: Previous DNR Grant Projects Appendix P: Millage Accomplishments Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Page ii
FIGURES 3.1 Regional Context...7 3.2 County Governmental Units...8 3.3 County Topographic Map...10 3.4 General Soil Map...11 3.5 Natural Features...13 3.6 Land Use and Cover...15 3.7 Transportation Network...21 3.8 Histogram of Land Use and Cover...23 3.9 Areas of Land Use and Cover Change (1992)...25 4.1 Recreation Inventory Map...38 4.2 Michigan State Parks and Recreation Harbors...65 4.3 Neighboring County Regional Recreation Attractions...66 7.1 Ottawa County Non-motorized Pathway Study Map...91 9.1 Concept Plan - Grand River Greenway...124 9.2 Concept Plan - Pigeon River Greenway...129 9.3 Concept Plan Macatawa River Greenway...133 9.4 Concept Plan - Windmill Island to Paw Paw Preserve...136 9.5 Concept Plan North Coastal Greenway...137 9.6 Concept Plan South Coastal Greenway...138 11.1 Conceptual Site Plan North Ottawa Dunes...156 11.2 Master Plan North Beach Park...157 11.3 Master Plan Rosy Mound Natural Area...159 11.4 Master Plan Kirk Park...160 11.5 Concept Plan - Port Sheldon Lake Michigan Property...161 11.6 Master Plan Tunnel Park...162 11.7 Master Plan Park 12...164 11.8 Park 12 Conceptual Master Plan (waterfront area detail)...165 11.9 Park 12 Conceptual Master Plan (Mt. Pisgah area detail)...166 11.10 Concept Plan Connor Bayou...168 11.11 Concept Plan Crockery Creek...170 11.12 Master Plan Riverside Park...172 11.13 Concept Plan Community Haven...173 11.14 Concept Plan Grand River Ravines...176 11.15 Bend Area Plan...178 11.16 Concept Plan Macatawa River Adams Street Site...182 11.17 Master Plan Grose Park...184 11.18 Master Plan Spring Grove Park...186 11.19 Master Plan Hager Park...188 13.1 Organizational Chart...209 Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Page iii
TABLES 3.1 Labor Force Employment...18 3.2 Employment Trends...19 3.3 Socio-Economic Levels...19 3.4 Summary of Land Use and Cover Change Between 1978 & 1992...24 3.5 Population Trends & Projections of Surrounding Counties...27 3.6 Ottawa County Population Trends: 1980-1998...28 3.7 Ottawa County Population Projections: 1990-2020...29 3.8 Age by Community - As percent of Community Population...30 3.9 Ottawa County Age Distribution...31 3.10 Racial Distribution...32 3.11 Physical Disabilities...32 3.12 Household Distribution...33 4.1 Local Government Park Facilities... 51-60 6.1 Outdoor Recreation Activity Trend Data... 73-74 8.1 ADA Facility Modifications Required-Ottawa County Parks...115 11.1 ADA Transition Plan...191 12.1 Millage Budget Projection... 202-205 Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Page iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The development of the 2006 Ottawa County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan was a cooperative effort of the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission, citizens of Ottawa County and various consultants. 2006 OTTAWA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Mark A.Oppenhuizen, President Ted Bosgraaf, Vice-President Philip Kuyers, Secretary Russell V. Brown Betty Gajewski Paul Geerlings Roger E. Jonas Bobbi Jones Sabine Joyce Kortman Crystal M. Unema This Plan was prepared by Parks Commission staff with consultant assistance for specific portions of the Plan. Consultant Assistance: M.C. Smith & Associates Various Park Master Plans O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates Various Park Master Plans GMB (For Macatawa Greenway Partnership) Masterplan for Macatawa Greenway Landscape Architects & Planners, Inc. Various Park Master Plans Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan Page v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2006 Ottawa County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan The "2006 Ottawa County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan is intended to guide Ottawa County with its parks, recreation and open space planning and development efforts for the next five to ten year period. The 2006 Plan continues a comprehensive planning effort begun in 1989 which has resulted in a wide range of improvements and accomplishments which have enhanced the quality of life and leisure experience for Ottawa County residents. Profile of Ottawa County Ottawa County's extensive natural resources including the Lake Michigan shoreline and associated dunes, the Grand River with its extensive bayous and wetlands, inland lakes including Lake Macatawa and Spring Lake, numerous rivers and streams and other features provide a tremendous resource base for outdoor recreation. Population growth in Ottawa County and neighboring Kent and Allegan Counties is among the fastest in the state which is a reflection of the area's unique natural attractions, healthy economy and other indicators of a high quality of life. Needs Assessment A variety of methods were employed to obtain public input to help identify recreation needs in Ottawa County including a survey of County residents, a park user survey, public workshops, citizen advisory committees and comment cards in the parks. This information, along with population data and other background information was useful in helping to analyze a wide range of issues related to recreation needs. Specific activities of interest to Ottawa County Parks were analyzed, park accessibility issues were explored, and the issue of planning for open space needs was studied in detail. Basic findings reveal that Ottawa County should continue to aggressively pursue acquisition of additional park and open space lands and continue to expand recreation facilities if it is to keep pace with rapid population growth and maintain the quality of life in the County. Opportunities to acquire quality lands are disappearing quickly as development occurs. Plan and Action Program Based on the Parks and Recreation Commission s mission statement, goals and objectives, an action program was developed to respond to the identified needs. Recommendations were organized into five categories based on the geography of the County. They included 1) Lake Michigan Coastal Greenway, 2) Grand River Greenway, 3) Pigeon River Greenway, 4) Macatawa River Greenway and 5) General Parks, Open Space and Trails. Each of these categories was then divided into the following sub-categories: 1) Land Acquisition/Park Expansion, 2) Planning/Operational Strategies, and 3) Park and Open Space Improvements. Additionally, the plan looks specifically at accessibility improvements throughout the park system and at general planning and operational strategies. The Plan calls for continued improvement and expansion of existing parks where possible. The importance of Lake Michigan as a recreational attraction is emphasized in the plan with a
priority placed upon providing additional public access along the Lake Michigan coast as well as opportunities to preserve coastal habitat (i.e. sand dunes). The Plan also continues the focus on the establishment of greenways on the Grand, Pigeon and Macatawa Rivers. The greenway concept was introduced in the 1995 Plan and significant progress was made between 2000 and 2006 with acquisition of key lands. The 2006 Plan calls for continued acquisition of key lands and linkages plus improvements to provide public access. The Plan also looks at general park, open space and trail opportunities in other locations of the County. Basic land acquisition goals are reviewed and a Commission guideline of 20 acres per 1,000 population identifies a need for 2,872 acres of new park and open space land by 2020. Criteria are identified to assist in evaluating lands for acquisition. The county park system was thoroughly reviewed from an accessibility perspective and specific improvements have been identified and a transition plan developed to identify estimated costs and proposed time frames for implementation. The Plan concludes with sections on financing and park administration and operations. Renewal of the existing ten year dedicated county parks millage which expires in 2006 is recommended. A capital improvement schedule is provided for the life of the proposed millage extension (through 2017). A diversified financial strategy is identified which includes the millage plus continued use of fees and charges, general fund support plus aggressive efforts to secure state and federal grant support. The Plan also strongly emphasizes the need to expand operational capabilities as the park system grows both maintain the emphasis on high standards for park operations and maintenance. Expansion of the Commission s popular outdoor education programs is projected to continue and expand with the development of a nature center facility.