Stearns Creek Park - Grand Haven, Michigan
Posted by: theHostas
N 43° 00.962 W 086° 07.484
16T E 571323 N 4762967
A park located in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Waymark Code: WM12960
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 04/03/2020
Views: 0
Stearns Creek Park is located in Grand Haven, Michigan on 136th Avenue. Taken from the parks website:"Located at the headwaters of the Grand River’s Stearns Bayou, Stearns Creek Park is a key piece of Ottawa County’s Grand River Greenway, a system of protected natural lands along the river and its tributaries. With over a mile of creek frontage, diverse wetlands, picturesque ravines, and tracts of older growth forests, Stearns Creek Park is an ecological treasure for both recreation and wildlife. Although much of its 118 acres was worked for decades, the wetlands and shoreline are among the highest quality in the Ottawa County park system. Even the extensive old pine plantations across the interior of the site harbor uncommon prairie plants. In the future, these pine plantations will be thinned or removed to restore a diverse habitat of scattered trees and abundant native grasses and wildflowers known as Oak savanna.
Opened in the summer of 2019, the property features a 1.7-mile system of trails with wayfinding signage, as well as benches and picnic tables donated by members of the Vollmer family who lived on the property for over 100 years. A master plan with the opportunity for public input is expected in the future to help guide future improvements. Concepts for additional amenities include expansion of the trail system with accessible trails, wetland boardwalks, overlooks, and foot and kayak access to the bayou.
Funding
The original $989,850 park acquisition was funded with assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), covering $491,925; a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for $429,318; and a $60,300 gift made possible by the generous support of John J. Helstrom, in memory of parents Mathias and Esther Helstrom. In honor of the gift, the new park will feature the Helstrom Family Trail System.
Hours
Upon opening on June 28, 2019:
March 1 through October 15: 7am to 10pm
October 16 through February 28: 7am to 8pm
Fees
There are no entry or launch fees.
Dog Policy
Dogs are required to be leashed (10’ max) and under control at all times.
Dogs are not permitted in park buildings, restrooms, picnic shelters, off-trail, or as posted.
Owners must clean up after their pet and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle.
Leader dogs for persons with disabilities are permitted in all areas at any time."
Name: Stearns Creek Park
Street Location: 13594 136th Avenue
Local Municipality: Grand Haven
State/Province, etc.: Michigan
Country: United States
Web Site: [Web Link]
Picnic Facilities: Benches
Recreational Facilities: Hiking
Cross Country Skiing
Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Stearns Creek, Bayou
Memorial/Commemoration: Not listed
Date Established: Not listed
Monuments/Statues: Not listed
Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): Not listed
Fountains: Not listed
Special Events: Not listed
Traditional Geocaches: Not listed
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