The ribbon cutting to officially celebrate the completion of an improvement project at a South Haven area nature preserve is set for this month.
Casco Township Supervisor Allan Overhiser tells us the 20-acre Casco Township Nature Preserve on Blue Star Highway has been a popular destination since it was declared in the mid-2000s. Since the stairs down to the preserve’s 700 feet of Lake Michigan frontage were destroyed by high water levels several years ago, the township’s had an eye on some improvements.
Overhiser says what’s being celebrated this month is the completion of infrastructure work as they prepare to reopen that lake access.
“It is bathrooms and a drive that is out closer to Lake Michigan,” Overhiser said. “Previously, our bathroom was kind of a primitive bathroom that was near Blue Star Highway, quite a ways from the lake.”
The project also included expanded parking, drinking fountains, and enhanced signage. A $291,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund development grant and funds generated by the township’s 0.25-mill parks and recreation millage made the work possible.
Overhiser says the June 27 ribbon cutting will also kick off a new fundraising campaign, “Back to the Beach,” to build new stairs down to the beach.
“The first phase is really close to a million dollars, so we’re hoping to get some Michigan Department of Natural Resources trust fund grants and donations and also some of our revenue from our recreation millage. We hope to accomplish the funding that would allow us to do phase one.”
Overhiser says the new stairs will be built with a revetment to prevent them from being washed away like the old stairs. He says more information about the Beach to the Beach campaign and how to support it will be revealed at the ribbon cutting.
The event will be Saturday, June 27 at the Casco Township Nature Preserve at 770 Blue Star Highway from 2 to 4 p.m. The formal ribbon cutting will be at 3. All are welcome.
