Decades in the making: Public dedication set for major 185-acre Grand River Park addition
Ottawa County Parks and Recreation will hold a public dedication ceremony next week to celebrate a 185-acre expansion of the Bend Area, marking a significant milestone in a long-standing initiative to expand public green space along the Grand River.
JENISON — Ottawa County Parks and Recreation will hold a public dedication ceremony next week to celebrate a 185-acre expansion of the Bend Area, marking a significant milestone in a long-standing initiative to expand public green space along the Grand River.
The event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Bend Area property, located at 1600 Fillmore St. in Jenison.
The addition expands the Bend Area open space to approximately 606 acres, adds more than 2.5 miles of lake frontage, and creates a vital corridor for the future Idema Explorers Trail.
First identified as a priority in the 1989 Ottawa County Parks Plan, the land acquisition fulfills a vision spanning more than three decades to increase public access to swimming, boating, and natural habitats in eastern Ottawa County by transforming former mining land into a regional park.
"This expansion is an important step toward creating a major regional park and natural area in eastern Ottawa County," Ottawa County Parks Director Jason Shamblin said. "The upcoming master planning process will help shape the Bend Area into a destination that serves the community for generations to come."
Acquired from the Grand Rapids Gravel Company in 2025, the new acreage is planned to serve as the main activity hub for the overall property.
The purchase was made possible through a $504,700 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, a land value donation from the Grand Rapids Gravel Company, and matching contributions of $556,749.46 each from the Ottawa County Parks Foundation’s Grand River Greenway Fund and the voter-approved Ottawa County Parks and Open Space Millage.
Prior to the dedication speakers, the Ottawa County Parks Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the park system, will host its annual meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Moving forward, county officials plan to update the property's master plan to guide future recreational opportunities, environmental restoration, public access points, and site amenities. Community members will be invited to participate in the planning process as details are finalized.
Attendees driving to the ceremony should proceed straight east where Fillmore Street transitions into Cottonwood Drive, where park staff and volunteers will direct vehicles to parking.
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