Ottawa Sands will reopen after six months of construction, restoration

OTTAWA COUNTY — A popular park in Ottawa County is nearing re-opening after closing for renovations and restoration earlier this year.

Ottawa Sands, a 345-acre former sand mine just north of Grand Haven, is set to reopen Oct. 17.

The park closed April 1 to build a new day-use parking lot, modern restroom facilities and a 1.6-mile paved loop path around Ottawa Sands Lake, in addition to restoration and ecological enhancements on 238 acres of land.

A grand re-opening celebration will be held Thursday, Oct. 17. There will be remarks from local officials and a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. — followed by self-guided tours of the park and a sneak peek of the Idema Explorers Camp, which is still under construction.

New amenities at the park include an accessible kayak launch along a bay area of the Grand River, referred to as the Sag. Improvements to Ottawa Sands are supported by $3.48 million in philanthropic gifts, including $2.5 million from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation.

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The Idema Explorers Camp, when complete, will include three treehouses, five yurts and tent pads for public camping.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com .

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa Sands will reopen after six months of construction, restoration