The Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide is back for 2024
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Summer is back, and that means the WOOD TV8 Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide is back, too.
The interactive map breaks down the amenities at 55 beaches stretching from St. Joseph to Ludington, including parking options and costs, restroom information and whether you can bring your dogs.
Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide
Here are a few beach updates of note for this season:
P.J. HOFFMASTER BACK OPEN
P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Norton Shores has fully reopened, with people now able to enjoy the beach and make use of the campground.
The day-use area was shut down part of last season for road repairs and improvements, followed by a closure of the camping area for road reconstruction, the addition of a bike bath and upgrades to water and sewer lines.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said one small area of the boardwalk on the upper level of the dune climb stairway was still under construction this spring because of delays in the delivery of materials. It may not be open for Memorial Day weekend but it should be finished in the coming weeks.
LIST: Memorial Day events, parades in West Michigan
The DNR is planning some more improvements to the day-use bathrooms and the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center but said that work is still in the design phase and construction wouldn’t start until fall at the earliest.
KIRK PARK READY FOR DOGS
For the first time in four years, Kirk Park near Grand Haven has fully reopened to dogs.
It had been closed to dogs during peak hours after high water on Lake Michigan eroded the shoreline and damaged the dune stairs leading to the south beach.
But with new stairs built, dogs can now go off-leash when the park is open (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) through Sept. 30.
NEW OTTAWA BEACH GENERAL STORE
After a complete teardown and rebuild, Ottawa Beach General Store near Holland State Park is reopening.
The store is a beloved community icon, but with sinking floors and a failing foundation, the old building had to be torn down after last season.
Crews have built a new one, keeping it as similar to the old one as possible.
Sneak peek: Rebuilt Ottawa Beach General Store opens Friday
GRAND HAVEN STATE PARK TOWERS
New safety warning towers have been installed at Grand Haven State Park. They are equipped with lights that will show the day’s flag warning: green to indicate swimming is permitted, yellow to warn of some dangers, red to tell beachgoers not to swim and double red to tell them water access is closed.
A life ring can also be found at each tower. If removed, emergency responders will automatically be alerted to head to the lakeshore.
Throughout the summer, woodtv.com will bring you reports about various aspects of visiting Lake Michigan. You may also find beach-related events in our weekly series about things to do around West Michigan, published each Thursday.
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