Macatawa River Greenspace (former Holland Country Club)

City of Holland

Project Description: Ottawa County Parks was selected to receive a grant of $646,800 from the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant

program for its “Golf Course to Wetlands: Holland Country Club Restoration Project”.

The project involves Ottawa County Parks, working with partners, to implement best management

practices identified in the Macatawa Watershed Implementation Plan including wetland and stream

restoration in the lower riverfront areas within the 122 acre park property.

Partners include the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council (MACC) watershed project and the Outdoor

Discovery Center/Macatawa Greenway. Plans call for 32 acres of wetland restoration through the grant

project which will supplement 21 acres of wetland mitigation funded and constructed by Request Foods, a

private business that paid Ottawa County Parks$73,000 for the right to construct a wetland mitigation

project on the property. The Request Foods wetlands, which were carefully designed to enhance and

restore the site, replaced wetlands that were removed while expanding the company’s operations at its

Holland Township location at a ratio of 2 new acres for every acre removed..

Both the EPA funded grant project and the privately funded mitigation project will create wetlands and

stabilize stream banks which will reduce non-point source pollutant loading to Lake Macatawa and Lake

Michigan and reduce phosphorous levels. The highly visible restoration projects with restored plant and

wildlife communities will provide excellent opportunities for watershed education in addition to a variety

of outdoor recreation opportunities.

The Holland Country Club property was acquired in March of 2010 for $450,000. Funding was provided

by the county parks millage plus $70,000 in donated funds raised by the Outdoor Discovery Center –

Macatawa Greenway Partnership, a project partner.

Ottawa County initiated a public input process in the spring of 2011 to help develop a conceptual master

plan for the site. Two meetings were held to provide information about the site to the public and to gather

comments. A plan was then developed that integrates the proposed wetland and stream bank

improvements with recreation facilities. The plan incorporates new parking, hiking and cross-country ski

trails, a paved greenway trail lining perks and preserves along the greenway corridor, nature and historic

interpretation, a nature play area, picnic facilities, and disk golf. The parks commission has budgeted

OVERALL SITE PLAN

funds to construct the first phase of improvements to provide basic access and amenities to the site and as

well as implement the trail system and disc golf.

Project Updates: 01.18.13 The wetland restoration portion of the work has been completed and final reports as required by the

EPA grant have been submitted. The recreation portion of the project is also very nearly complete. Minor

carpentry and painting remain. In addition, our contractor has constructed an educational deck into one of the

wetland cells paid for by the Outdoor Discovery Center. Hole baskets for the disc golf course have been

delivered to the site. Final work to clean up the site, install signage, and get the park ready for opening will

happen in the spring.

12.28.12 Minor carpentry and painting remain. In addition, our contractor will be constructing an educational

deck into one of the wetland cells to be paid for by the Outdoor Discovery Center. Hole baskets for the disc

golf course have been ordered for installation in the spring.

11.28.12 The wetland restoration portion of the work is complete except for some minor clean-up items. Some

of this work was completed just recently and is under warranty, so it is anticipated that reseeding and erosion

repair will be required in some areas in the spring. The recreation portion of the project is also very nearly

complete. Minor carpentry and painting remain. In addition, our contractor will be constructing an

educational deck into one of the wetland cells to be paid for by the Outdoor Discovery Center. Benches

constructed by an eagle scout were also installed at multiple locations along the disc golf course.

ENLARGED SITE PLAN

10.31.12 Restoration work and construction of the recreational elements of the project are almost complete. All

concrete and bituminous paving is complete as well the boardwalks, kiosk, and pit toilets. Final restoration

work continues as well as work on the park gates. Benches constructed by an eagle scout are also scheduled to

be installed for the disc golf course.

New wetlands filling with water New boardwalk Kiosk and Pit Toilet Area

Restored and re-vegetated Barrier-free parking and picnic Disc golf tee area #1

Stream banks pad

09.27.12 River bank restoration and bulk earthwork is complete. Final shaping is in progress and some areas

of the site have been reseeded. Work on the recreational components of the project continues with bridge and

boardwalk construction, disc golf tee pads, and preparation for paved walkways.

New curved boardwalk View of curved board from new View from proposed overlook on

berm berm

New boardwalk New boardwalk Existing building demolished

08.22.12 River bank restoration work is complete. Excavation of wetland areas is now in progress. Work on

more detailed layout of the disc golf course is in progress. Four tee pads have been installed.

Relocated bridge and new Boardwalk segment through River bank restoration

approach wetland

New boardwalk Reshaping river banks New gentle slopes

07.25.12 Boardwalk work continues with completion of the approach to the relocated bridge. River bank

restoration work continues with work on the Noorderloos Creek almost complete Work on more detailed

layout of the disc golf course is in progress.

07.05.12 Three boardwalk sections have been completed in existing wetland areas on the south side of

Noorderloos Creek. Boardwalk work and major excavation along and north of the creek and the Macatawa

River will start in the next few days. Work on more detailed layout of the disc golf course is in progress.

New boardwalk section End connection detail

04.29.12 Major remaining excavation is scheduled to begin in June when conditions should start to be the

driest of the season. Work on boardwalk sections and other recreational facilities is scheduled to start in May.

Work on more detailed layout of the disc golf course is in progress.

03.29.12 One of the existing golf course bridges has been relocated, and materials for the river bank work are

being delivered. Bids have been received for the remainder of the recreational facility work, and a

recommended contractor will be presented at the Parks Commission meeting.

Stored materials Wetland cell starting to green-up New bridge

02.29.12 Some construction activity has started again. One of the existing golf course bridges has been

relocated, and materials for the river bank work are being delivered. A bid package for the remainder of the

recreational facility work is scheduled to be ready in March.

Relocated bridge looking north Relocated bridge looking SE New bridge abutment

12.01.11 Work has been completed for this fall for the restoration portion of the work. The first and highest

wetland cell has been excavated. The parking area has been graded, culvert placed near the road, and gravel

base installed. Design of the remaining recreational components is in progress by staff.

Entrance Drive looking south Parking Area Water control structure for first

from Paw Paw Drive wetland cell