1 1111 2021 Ludington State Park VISITORProduced by the Ludington Daily News for Ludington State Park DNR website: Ludington State Park • (231) 843-2423 Central reservations www.michigan.gov/dnr 8800 W. M116, Ludington MI 49431 (800) 447-2757 WelcomeMajor to ImprovementsFriends prepComing for to Ludingtonpark playground State Park BY JIMLudington GALLIE are choosing to visit Luding- derness and Straits State signed to accommodate the LUDINGTON STATE PARK MANAGER tonBY STEVEState BEGNOCHE Park during these Parks. These well-lit, acces- larger electrical needs of to- other projects through membership State Park challengingSPECIAL TO THE times. LUDINGTON DAILY NEWSsible toilet-shower buildings day’s recreational vehicles. dues, proceeds of a pop can-recy- 2021 is looking to be an- This year will also be will also include individual In many instances, three to cling program, individual donations otherello. busy On year behalf at Ludington of the bringinghe playground some long proposed awaited forshowers the and a family rest- four campsites share one and BrrrewFest donations,” Sasin Statepark Park. staff, Last I’d year, like with improvementsLudington Stateto the Park park. Hamlin room. The exterior design pedestal, requiring that long said. so manyto welcome other forms you to of en- Duringbeach the picnicfall of area 2021 will and be thewill fit in nicely with Beech- extension cords be used by These include funding for the Htertainment and recreation intoT the spring of 2022, the wood’s wooded environ- campers in Beechwood. The the 5,300 acres of sandy first playground improvements at summer concert and program series, dunes,temporarily shaded shut forests down and dur - Beechwoodthe park in nearlycampground 50 years. ment. updated system will include trail signage, displays, snowshoes to ing the pandemic,clean the waters park willBut be beforeundergoing the Friends a trans of Luding-- Replacement of the rest- one pedestal per campsite, lend visitors during ranger-led hikes saw many morethat makevisitors formation.ton State Park In playgroundmid-October, becomes room a and shower buildings with many of those having in winter, an ADA-accessible beach enjoying the uppark’s Luding- trails, thereality, outdated donations front are and needed back toisn’t pay the only work taking 50 amp service, in addition walkway at Lake Michigan, beach beaches, and waterways.ton State It Beechwoodfor the anticipated toilet and $175,000 show- project.place in Beechwood, this fall. to the standard 20 and 30 wheelchairs, a cross country ski trail looks like this trendPark. willWe con- er buildingsFLSP has hired will Holland-basedbe demol- A much needed upgrade amp service. groomer and track setter, trees to tinue during 2021,hope as, that so far ished,playground making recreation way for consulting two to the electrical system in This spring and fall will replace those destroyed by invasive this year, the park has seen new buildings slated to open middle and back Beech- also see improvements be- you enjoy firm Sinclair Recreation to design the COURTESY PHOTO species, reconstruction/repairs to camping and yourvisitor stay, num - byplayground the beginning which willof besum in -keep-wood is Conceptalso on art the for calen the playground- ing made coming to campsitesto the Hamlin in Beach picnic area. CCC-era trail warming shelters and bers even higherwhether than you last mering with2022. the These beauty buildings and lake viewsdar offor this fall and winter. Beechwood, Cedar and construction of the park’s warming year. Local residentsare here forand willthis be space modeled as well ason of build the needs- The of currentthe parksystem, enjoyed built alike in by locals and much or all of the significant cost of shelter. Parkout-of-town Manager visitors,two weeks alike, ingsthe users.built at Muskegon, Wil- the earlyseasonal 1980s, campers.wasn’t de- SEE PARK IMPROVEMENTS,the poured-in- PAGE 12 place surface bringing FLSP also coordinates volunteer Jim Gallie or two Final plans were being firmed as “The warm, balmy water, shal- to about half the needed funds al- projects in the park, such as partici- hours. this went to press. The plan calls for low sandy shoreline, shady picnic ready have been received or pledged. pation in MDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway TherePartnerships is a lot to do at aboutBring a 3,500-square Water foot safety- Safetygrounds and and Access nearby concession Improvements ame- That’s leaving about to $85,000 Ludington to be litter pickup State along the Park northernmost Ludington State Park and surfaced play area containing a play nities make it a popular destination,” raised this coming year. section M-116; staffing lantern-lit we encourage you to see area designed for ages 2-5 and a larg- Gallie said. “A playground in this FLSP will raise funds locally but snowshoeing events and ski hikes, as much as you can during er area designed for ages 5-12 withThe Friendsarea will ofenhance Luding this- popularcess to areaHamlin Lakealso needsby pad financial- to park support your car.from trail clean-upknow andwhen maintenance, it is safe to swimin- your stay. multiple climbing features, slides,ton Statein thePark park, (FLSP) especially has onedlers that of meets all abilities. campers Slightly and otherThe visitors other who improvement use vasive to plantand removal,when they and should staffing stay If you have limited time, a zip line. The plan has about 16been all helpingthe needs make of improve all of our- guests.inclined Our walking this platforms, popular park, the Sasin park said.this season,FLSP providthe Pure- out Ludington of the water. BrrrewFest each check out the article the abilities features. ments tohope Ludington is that this State playground specialized makes seating, is a volunteerand rail- 501(c)3ed by agroup partnership formed betweenJanuary. Primary funding for the “Eleven Must See Places “While this is a Friends of Lud-Park throughoutthis part ofits Ludington nearly Stateing, combinedPark an within 1994 a ramp dedicated the to Friendspreserving, of en-LudingtonBeach new cleanups beach are sign, anticipated and its instal this- to Visit in Ludington State ington State Park project, the park30 year history.even bigger This draw year and is destination.”that has rollers hancingto assist and in promoting State Park Ludington and a donation summer, by lation, in part came to help from clean the debris MCSO Park.” This will help you staff and I are in full support ofno this exception. Bob Sassin,Two exciting FLSP board getting president, in and outState of Park.the wa- the Mason County Sherifffrom Of- the“No large Shave boat November”that grounded com - get the most out of your idea,” Ludington State Park Managerdevelopments said the at playground the park project, ter, makes pro- accessingDonation the pad checks- fice can(MCSO), be written is the additionand of broke petition, apart nearwhere Big SableMCSO Point staff visit. Jim Gallie said. “A new playgroundwill be inposed place for this construction summer dlingin June routes 2018 alongto Friends Hamlin of Ludingtona new LED State beach Park. conditions in May. are allowed to violate their If you are here for a lon- is desperately needed at Luding-through if fundingour partnership is secured, hasLake been a snap. on the Note “playground”sign on for the Lake check Michigan. and This“The donationfacial hair from policy the 2017by paying ger stay, you can explore ton State Park – if you have lookedwith the Friendsgroup’s group.wish list for severalThe years. launch ismail planned to FLSP, to P.O.bright Box 123,LED Luding-sign will be locatBrrrewFest- “fines” will tokick-start the donation the fund- pool. the park at a more leisurely around at our existing play struc-This pastThe fall Friends and winter, group hasbe set installed aside in ton,early or dropsum -a donationed at the into entrance an FLSP to theraising Lake toFunds construct are then the newdonated play- to a pace. tures in the park, you’ll see thatthe they FLSP aboutinitiated $30,000 a fundrais of its- fundsmer, for north the of donationthe existing box atMichigan the park office.parking lot andground will localat the non-profit, Hamlin Beach in this picnic case, To get oriented to the are woefully outdated. In fact, weer to raiseproject. money for the pur- boat launch, just inFLSP time is alsofor studyingbroadcast ways the to current ac- swimarea,”- Sasinthe FLSP.said. Additional funding park, we suggest that you haven’t installed a playground chaseor up- of anThis accessible includes canoe a $13,000 the donation best paddling cept of the donations sum- mingonline. conditions Watch the to all visiMembership- was provided in FLSP byis $20 private for do- start off with a visit to dated playground equipment inand Lud- kayakfrom launch the Ludingtonfor Hamlin Convention mer season. and UseFriends the tempo of Ludington- tors looking State Facebook to swim in families,Lake nations $15 for to individuals the FLSP. and the Lake Michigan Beach ington State Park in a long time.”Lake. ThisVisitors launch, Bureau specifical from- therary 2017 drop Pure off parkingPage orto itsleave website, Michigan. www.ludington- Staff will be$5 able for studentsIf you for see April a Friends 1 through mem - House. The choice of the Hamlin Lakely pic-designedLudington by the Brrrewfest EZ-Dock foryour which boats FLSP at thefriends.com, new canoe/ forto updates. quickly change the broadMarch- 31.ber Send or a a Mason check notingCounty mem- Sher- nic area is especially significant,company Gal- is forthe dedicatedpaddlers withcharity. kayak racks, while“Over driving the to last cast 20 years, to showwe are the currentbership, iff’s to FLSP, Deputy, P.O. Boxthank 123, them Lud- for SEE HIGHLIGHTS, PAGE 5 lie said, calling it a signature partdisabilities, of The allows DNR iseasy likely ac to- contributethe main Hamlinproud parking to have lot fundedconditions, a variety helping of visitorsington.