Ottawa County Parks & Recreation strives to be a leader in creating a legacy of expansive, accessible, and biodiverse natural communities for all to enjoy.
Accessible Amenities & Resources
Hemlock Crossing
Thanks to Lori’s Voice, visitors can access a Freedom Trax wheelchair at the Nature Center in Hemlock Crossing County Park. To find out if it’s available, please stop by the front desk or call the Nature Center ahead of time at (616) 738-4810. The special design allows individuals who are wheelchair-dependent to freely move regardless of the terrain.
North Beach Park
Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of Ottawa County Parks, a Mobi Chair—an accessible beach wheelchair—is available for public use at no cost. The wheelchair design allows users to navigate the sand and float in the water. The Mobi Chair is available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day during park hours. Anyone interested in using it should speak to the Park Caretaker on duty. For use during the off-season, contact the Parks office: (616) 738-4810.
Other accessible amenities offered within the parks system include natural surface trails, picnic tables and shelters, restrooms, rental facilities, fishing docks, and more. See our full accessibility chart here.
Paved paths and accessible walkways in Ottawa County Parks
Black Lake Boardwalk/Historic Ottawa Beach: Black Lake Boardwalk is a fully accessible boardwalk along Lake Macatawa. Length is just under 0.5 miles.
Grand Ravines: Both the north and south properties boast excellent, 10′ wide paved pathways. On the south side, begin at the parking lot and head northeast to the fully accessible 275′ long suspension bridge. The fully enclosed dog park also offers paved trails and easy-to-open and close gates. On the north side of the park, the paved Idema Explorers Trail follows the Grand River, all the way to Grand River Park. You can frequently spot bald eagles soaring in the sky from this trail.
Bikes welcome (must be walked across suspension bridge).
Grand River Park: The Bill Idema Moraine Nature Segment, part of the Idema Explorers Trail, spans 1.7 miles and links Grand River Park to Grand Ravines via a paved path, featuring a scenic one mile stretch along the riverfront. In addition to paved paths, this park also has an accessible boardwalk and playground, as well as a one mile nature sensory trail designed for those with sensory challenges.
Bikes welcome on paved trails and mountain bike trails only.
Hemlock Crossing: There are two paved paths, each approximately 0.25 miles long, which include: one that meanders through the restored native prairie, featuring an accessible boardwalk that crosses a wetland, and another that traverses the forest. Additionally, many of the natural surface trails are fully accessible. A Freedom Trax wheelchair can be found inside the Nature Center.
Musketawa Trail: The Musketawa Trail offers nearly 11 miles of paved path in Ottawa County.
Bikes welcome.
Starting January 6, 2025, a 12-mile section of the Musketawa Trail in Ottawa County will be closed for about a year due to reconstruction. This includes replacing 11 culverts, one bridge, repaving the trail, and extensive tree clearing. Trailheads in Marne and Conklin will be inaccessible. More information is available at michigan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/closures.
Ottawa Sands: A paved 1.6-mile loop around the inland lake is available for walkers and bikers to enjoy. The park includes a parking lot with ADA-compliant spaces, as well as a modern restroom facility. Additionally, there are 24 benches strategically placed along the loop, offering comfortable spots to rest and take in the scenic views.
Upper Macatawa Natural Area: The 2.5-mile paved path in Upper Macatawa Natural area is 10′ wide and serves as the connection from Kent County to the Adams Street’s bike path, which runs to the lakeshore, on the south side. The proposed Macatawa Greenway Trail is a key component of the emerging regional non-motorized trail network in Ottawa County. When completed, this trail will provide a continuous link along the mostly undeveloped banks of the Macatawa River from the Upper Macatawa Natural Area (UMNA) in Zeeland Township to Downtown Holland and connect to trails both further west and east.
Bikes welcome on paved trails and mountain bike trails only.
Accessible Lakeshore Parks and Beaches
North Beach Park: Barrier-free facilities include the picnic shelter, restrooms, beach walkway, dune overlook deck, playground and some picnic tables and grills. A Mobi Chair is available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day during park hours. Anyone interested in using it should speak to the Park Attendant on duty. For use during the off-season, contact the Parks office: (616) 738-4810.
Kirk Park and Tunnel Park offer paved trails to viewing areas of Lake Michigan, but do not have accessible paths to the beach.
There are accessible natural surface paths at Rosy Mound Natural Area and Olive Shores, but they do not have views nor access to Lake Michigan.
North Beach Park
Ottawa Sands
Kayak Launches
Universally accessible kayak launches can be found at:
These platforms make launching in and out of the water much easier, although, help may be required to get kayaks to the water’s edge. Each requires at least a short walk to the launch. Walks to the launches are paved – except for Ottawa Sands.
Accessibility Analysis
An expressed goal of Ottawa County Parks is to offer facilities, programs, and services that are accessible to all persons, regardless of their level of ability. Meeting this goal requires close examination of not only physical barriers to participation but also the attitudes and philosophy of the agency itself. Parks has adopted the following statement of philosophy: The Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission intends to fully comply in spirit and intent with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will provide reasonable accommodation to provide an opportunity for all to participate in an inclusive environment to provide quality leisure experiences.
To review an analysis of accessibility within the Ottawa County Parks System, click here. Our long-range plan includes a full analysis and ranking of every park and open space property.
