Land Conservancy to Host Paddle on Pere Marquette River

paddling the Pere Marquette (photo by jhy)

a news release of Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Over the past 50 years, LCWM has worked with private landowners, community organizations and governmental bodies to permanently protect and care for the land. From planting native species to applying prescribed fire, LCWM has been committed to our land from day one, with conservation work that bridges its past, present and future.

Today, that work spans 165 properties across eight counties, totaling over 13,000 acres. Among them are beloved Michigan destinations such as Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Upper Macatawa Natural Area and North Ottawa Dunes. Key to the success of these projects is a spirit of collaboration between multiple organizations, funders and the communities where these parks are established.

On June 6, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan (LCWM) celebrated its 50th anniversary with over 60 community members participating in bike rides exploring the "Eastern Glacial Corridor,” an ecologically unique region in Kent County, followed by a community celebration. The ride marked the second event of a three-part outdoor Exploration series honoring LCWM's conservation legacy and its ongoing mission to protect ecologically vital land across West Michigan.

“The second event of our Explorathon series exemplified our strategy of connecting people to nature and building a community of conservationists,” said Kim Karn, executive director of LCWM. “It was truly inspiring to celebrate the healthy habitats and protected lands along these trails with our community, and it is always exciting to see familiar faces return from previous events. We look forward to the next event in the series—a guided paddle on the Pere Marquette River later this summer.”

The final Explorathon event on Aug. 29 is set to include a guided paddle along the Pere Marquette River.

Register for the August 29 Paddle


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Get Your Tickets for the Preserve Pedal

Preserve Pedal poster (from Land Conservancy of West Michigan)

a news release of Land Conservancy of West Michigan

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are hosting the Explorathon: a three-event series highlighting connected, protected natural lands and the impact of collaboration in conservation in West Michigan. The second installment in the series, the Preserve Pedal, is this weekend!

Cyclists will ride across Eastern Kent County’s rolling hills and along the Grand and Flat Rivers, with opportunities to stop at parks and preserves and learn about the importance of protecting places where biodiversity can thrive.

Get your tickets for the Explorathon: Preserve Pedal on June 6, 2026!

Thank you to our sponsors, Grand Rapids Chair, Tim & Jane Stoepker, and Loose Spokes Bicycle Shop for helping make this event possible!

When: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7:30 a.m.

Where: Bike begins at the Wittenbach Wege Center in Lowell, Michigan Choose Your Route

We will offer three different routes: a 7-mile, 25-mile, and 50-mile ride with stops to highlight parks, preserves, and the partnerships that make keeping nature nearby possible.

Ride on your own or join a group ride and bike in community! Choose from four different guided and paced groups.

This is a non-competitive, self-guided ride. Check in at any time during the registration hours and ride at your own pace. If you’re interested in riding with community and receiving some extra naturalist interpretation along the way, join a group ride! Learn more when you purchase your tickets. Tickets are required to attend.

Learn more and buy your tickets on our website


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Brower Lake Nature Preserve Celebrates 50 Years

wild lupine in bloom (photo from Land Conservancy of West Michigan)

from Land Conservancy of West Michigan

At Brower Lake Nature Preserve in Kent County, Michigan, purple lupine is in bloom where less than ten years ago stood a monoculture of one non-native tree species: Scotch pine.

At this preserve, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan has been working to restore native oak barrens and oak-hickory forest habitat through selective forest thinning and prescribed fire. Year after year, as we watch habitat become more established, we see more biodiversity in the understory of this woodland. Each new blade and blossom is a heartening confirmation that we are heading in the right direction.

The path we are on is a long one, and we will need to keep showing up to keep our promise of protecting these places in perpetuity. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary this year, we are taking a moment to appreciate how far we've come. Do yourself a favor: Take a walk at Brower Lake Nature Preserve and take it all in.

See Brower Lake Nature Preserve


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Land Conservancy of W Michigan Celebrates 50 Years

Ottawa County Park (photo by jhy)

from Land Conservancy of West Michigan

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan has its 50th anniversary in 2026, and they invite you to join them in celebrating.

Throughout 2026, we’ll be unveiling events, sharing historic stories, and celebrating the community that’s made 50 years of conservation possible.

The Explorathon kicks off on April 18! Join the Land Conservancy of West Michigan and our conservation partners for a guided hike along the forested dunes of the Lake Michigan shoreline.

For this first of three outdoor events celebrating the impact of 50 years of keeping nature nearby, we will be hiking through 2500 acres of connected, protected lakeshore habitat. Hikers can choose their own adventure: Join us for a 7-mile hike through 5 connected parks and preserves or a 2-mile paved hike through Ottawa Sands. Both experiences are led by naturalists guides who will share about park history and the protected natural features found in the globally unique and rare ecosystems we'll be exploring.

Hike participants will travel along the forested dunes of the iconic shoreline, enjoying views of Lake Michigan to the west and the Grand River valley to the east, while learning more about the importance of landscape-level conservation work, hearing stories about how these lands came to be protected, and enjoying the fruits of decades of hard work to protect and restore natural land on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Tickets are required to attend. On-site registration will be available, but space is limited. We recommend registering early to secure your spot!

There will also be a guided bicycle tour on June 6, and a guided paddling event on August 29.

Learn more and purchase your tickets at Nature Nearby


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Saugatuck Hoping to Fund a Riverside Park

Events Calendar

cconcept map (map from Saugatuck Township Facebook page) The map is clickable to enlarge

compiled from several sources

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is working toward protecting 119 acres of ecologically critical forest, wetlands, and the shores of the Kalamazoo River as it flows into Lake Michigan.

In December 2025, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) board recommended the Riverside Park project for a $2.46 million grant to support the Township’s acquisition of the land so it can become a public park—contingent on support from the local community. Eighty percent of the needed support is committed. The conservancy hopes to raise the remainder of the needed funds, and a private donor has agreed to match all gifts.

Over 75% of the land will be preserved and restored as native habitat, but the previously disturbed 25% of the land will be developed for recreational purposes including trails, a boat launch on the river, parking, pavilions and picnic areas, educational buildings, and athletic fields.

The acquisition would help the Conservancy meet one of its three strategic focal areas, preserving a critical migratory corridor and improving Kalamazoo River water quality.

The land is still privately owned and is not open for public use at this time.

See more at Nature Nearby


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Check Out Flower Creek Dunes- Montague

Flower Creek shoreline (photo from the Flower Creek website)

complied from various sources

Located near Montague, Michigan, Flower Creek Nature Preserve began with a modest 14 acres in 2002. The preserve now protects 74 acres of what is considered "Critical Dune Habitat." Although the area was logged in the late 1800s, the forest had recovered well by the 1930s. Near the Lake Michgian shore there is open shifting sand while the back dunes are forested.

The endangered Pitcher's Thistle grows there. Eagles, loons, and the endangered piping plover all stop on migratory routes.

As a Class 2 Preserve, most of the area is protected. The 1.2-mile trail has a natural surface and leads to an overlook of Lake Michigan. To reach the trail, you must park a quarter-mile south at Meinert Park (seasonal parking fee), so to reach the overlook and return is about a 3-mile walk.

In August of 2023, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan celebrated adding Flower Creek to the Old-Growth Forest Network. Under the Conservancy, the priority "management of the preserve has focused on protecting the intact open dune and forested dune habitat."

To find Meinert Park and the Preserve, go to 8355 Meinert Park Road, Montague, MI. Exit US 31 Freeway at Fruitvale Rd, go west on B-15 (through several curves) to the end of the road. Location: 43.459034 -86.453969

Pets must be leashed. No bicycles, horses, motorized vehicles, fires, or camping. However, Meinert Park does operate a seasonal campground.

See a map of Flower Creek Nature Preserve


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