Water safety at Holland State Park will have layers this summer

Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

PARK TWP. — Another layer of beach safety is coming to Holland State Park in hopes of preventing drownings on Lake Michigan.

The Holland State Park Water Safety Consortium and West Michigan Water Safety Alliance announced Monday, April 22, a plan to implement a new program: Beachside Education Patrol. The program will be stationed at the park, starting in May.

Plans were first discussed last August, when WMWSA was formed by the HSPWSC and the South Haven Ambassadors Program.

The project will see trained volunteers at the park educating visitors and beachgoers on the dangers of water currents, the flag warning system, and best practices.

Another layer of beach safety is coming to Holland State Park in hopes of preventing drownings on Lake Michigan.
Another layer of beach safety is coming to Holland State Park in hopes of preventing drownings on Lake Michigan.

Although final details are with the Department of Natural Resources, organizers hope to have the program operational by May 15.

An inaugural training session will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Park Township Offices, 52 152nd Ave. The training is free and open to the public.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Beachside Education Patrol must participate in the training, according to a release. For more information, email wmwsea@gmail.com or call 616-287-2533.

Safety along the Lake Michigan shoreline has long been a concern. Park Township created the HSPWSC in 2020 to improve safety protocols and increase public education and awareness.

A sign warns of penalties for entering the water while double red flags are flying in Grand Haven.
A sign warns of penalties for entering the water while double red flags are flying in Grand Haven.

The state's longstanding flag warning system includes the new double red (prohibited swimming), red (do not swim), yellow (use caution) and green (safe). That system is used at Holland State Park.

A speaker system was put in place at Holland State Park in 2021 to announce to swimmers when conditions deteriorate.

In 2022, Gentex donated digital displays to more prominently identify water and swimming conditions, with messaging that corresponds with the flag system.

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Last year, the West Ottawa High School Interact Club established an effort called the Holland Safe Water Initiative. The club stated a goal of raising funds for drones that could be deployed at area beaches to help prevent drownings.

According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, which tracks drownings in all five Great Lakes, there has been one drowning in Lake Michigan so far in 2024. Nearly half — 41 of 85 — Great Lakes drownings in 2023 were in Lake Michigan.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Water safety at Holland State Park will have layers this summer