Introducing Outdoors in Calhoun

Outdoors in Calhoun is a newsletter sharing information and events about the natural resources of Calhoun County, Michigan. Our community has a number of amazing assets, and this newsletter is geared to highlighting the work taking place to make the outdoors accessible for all.

Local Partners Make Holt-Rice Creek More Accessible

The Calhoun Conservation District (CCD) received a $4,000 momentum grant from the Marshall Community Foundation to complete several capital improvement projects at the DNR owned Holt-Rice Creek Property.

The goals of this project focused on improving accessibility and awareness of the Holt-Rice Creek property. Several partners collaborated with the District on this effort to complete the following improvements:

Add gravel to expand the driveway for parking
A new informational kiosk
Update safety features at the garage
New trail head markers
Repair the stairs for safer access to the creek waters
Install new road signage to promote the property

Each of these improvements were completed with local partner organizations that committed more than 100 hours of volunteer labor contributing to the success of the project. The project totaled $7,200 with support from the Marshall Community Foundation, CCD cash match and in-kind volunteer contributions.

Multiple stakeholders contributed to the management plan for the Holt-Rice Creek Property toward a vision prioritizing the ecological value and public accessibility for the property. The management plan also sets out the implementation by its stakeholders, including the Michigan DNR, Friends of Rice Creek, Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Marshall Area Conservation Corps, BCK CISMA, and others.

The Holt-Rice Creek Property was purchased by the DNR in 2013 and is managed by the CCD. CCD developed the Friends of Rice Creek organization with a mission to protect and enhance the property for years to come. Additionally, the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited has identified Rice Creek as a priority stream in Southwest Michigan, implementing several projects to maintain and enhance this local trout fishery.

Click here for the whole press release and here for CCD's Holt-Rice Creek management plan.

-- From Calhoun Conservation District

County Gears Up for DNR-Funded Development

As 2026 begins, the Calhoun County Parks Department looks forward to major development projects as the result of successful 2024 DNR Trust Fund grants. While construction in Historic Bridge Park likely won’t begin until 2027, now that we have the green light from the DNR to move forward, we are gearing up for successful completion of these projects this year and next.

North Branch Boat Launch

This project will expand Calhoun County’s Parks Department into Bedford Township, with the development of a boat launch on the Kalamazoo River on Custer Drive. Its location is close to the intersection of Custer Dr. and River Rd. W. Developments on this land will include entrance grading, paving, parking, picnic tables, trash receptacles, a concrete boat launch, a sand kayak launch, and landscaping.

This project is possible due to $180,000 from the Kalamazoo River Community Recreational Foundation by Enbridge Energy. With these match dollars, we were successful in receiving $222,000 additionally from the DNR Trust Fund. Construction will take place in 2026.

Historic Bridge Park Accessibility Renovations

This project will make Calhoun’s most popular park fun for more people. After renovations, the red Charlotte Highway Bridge will be accessible via a concrete paved path, whereas currently it is reached by a steep staircase. Additionally, we will replace the 25-year-old boardwalks that lead to other bridges in the park.

Construction will take place in 2027, with pre-work completed in 2026, and is funded by $400,000 from the Michigan DNR Trust Fund, and $175,000 of match from the Parks millage funds.

-- From Calhoun County Parks Department

Disc Golf is an Inexpensive Outdoor Exercise for the Entire Family

“The perfect sport for sedentary adults” is a dubiously sourced quote from the New Zealand Heart Foundation referring to disc golf, also known as frisbee golf. Disc golf is a sport allowing individuals within a broad range of ages and physical abilities to engage in an active, if gentle, exercise and the Battle Creek area is positively stuffed with opportunities to get outside and partake in it! It’s an accessible activity the whole family can use to get off screens and outside.

Disc golf requires players to throw plastic discs (think Frisbees but with different trademarks and different rims) at a chain basket the size of a municipal mailbox anywhere from 150’ to 500' or more away. Similar to traditional golf, you’re trying to get there in as few throws as possible. Easy enough in principle but challenging to nail the distance and accuracy required to hit the relatively small target. Add in some pesky trees getting in the way, a bit of wind throwing things around, and some unforgiving landing spots in water or briars and there’s plenty of skills to refine and develop on your way to a low score. It’s a sport that is easy to get started in but difficult to master.

Disc golf is a phenomenal outside activity for the family for a number of reasons. If you have the mobility to walk across grass and swing a bat or golf club, you have the tools you need to play disc golf. You don’t need to be strong, or fast, or have the endurance of an athlete. It’s an easy sport to play. Like traditional golf, it’s a sport you primarily play against yourself. While you can certainly compare scores with others in your group or social circle, many players find satisfaction in working on improving to get their own scores down, trying to beat previous personal records. This makes disc golf well-suited for mixed-skill level play.

Read the full article to learn more about how disc golf is an inexpensive outdoor activity, where you can purchase discs, and locations of Battle Creek disc golf courses.

-- From Kevin Knack with Lakeview Kiwanis Outdoor Center