2016
Ludington State Park
VISITOR
Produced by the Ludington Daily News for Ludington State Park
DNR website: www.michigan.gov/dnr
A plan for the park’s future Over the past year and a half, Ludingon State Park has been developing the General Management Plan (GMP) for the park’s future. General management plans are used by the Department of Natural Resources to define a long term planning and management strategy for State Parks and Recreation Areas. Each management plan takes Jim Gallie into considPark Manager eration the park’s attributes and unique identity and provides a road map for the each park’s future over the course of the next 10-20 years. They are planning documents to assist managers and planners when deciding how to manage resources and when determining which projects and improvements to fund. Ludington State Park’s General Management planning process began in January of 2015 when representatives of each of the DNR agencies met with park staff and planning consultant, Clearzoning. SEE MANAGEMENT PLAN, PAGE 2
Ludington State Park • (231) 843-2423 8800 W. M116, Ludington MI 49431
Central reservations (800) 447-2757
Beach House readies new exhibits BY RILEY KELLEY DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENT After a recent renovation and a reassessment of park goals, the Lake Michigan Beach House has undergone a stunning transformation, and is on its way to becoming the main attraction at Ludington State Park. According to park interpreter Alan Wernette of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the historical renovation of the Lake Michigan Beach House, completed in 2014, opened up the space in the building, allowing for more programming, displays and exhibits to take place in the building. “The beach house was in disrepair,” Wernette said. “There was no way to do programming in the upper level. It wasn’t a really good atmosphere.” “Since they finished the historical renovation of the building and opened it back up again and made it lighter, we’ve just seen a dramatic increase in the interest in the building itself but also interest in the programs. People like to go in there now. It’s more inviting now than it used to be.” “The Lake Michigan Beach House is going to be our point of emphasis when it comes to resource edu-
graphic with information on a wide range of topics, including fish, watersheds and invasive species. The main emphasis of the renovated Beach House will be found on the north end of the building’s upper level, where two large aquariums will be located. “They will be here by the first part of June,” Wernette said, “and we’ll have them up and running by midJune.” “The aquariums are special-built just for this facility,” he said. “These aquariums are going to be unique, they’re going to be large, and we’re going to have salmon cation of Ludington State House, there will be a major Electrical outlets have been in one of the aquariums and Park.” emphasis on the Great Lakes placed around the building lampreys in the other.” The decision to make the Fisheries in many of the new to power the various interThe aquariums were deBeach House a main desti- exhibits and displays. active displays, high defini- signed to provide visitors nation for displays and exThe first phase is going to tion television screens and with an optimal viewing exhibits was made in 2010 ac- talk more about the Great tablets. perience. Each aquarium cording to Wernette. Lakes, from the fisheries of The concession store, will offer an uninterrupted “There’s been a lot of the Great Lakes to the condi- which until recently took up 360 degree view of the anichanging of how we want tion of the Great Lakes. Any- almost all of the Lake Michi- mals inside. All pumps and to do it through the years,” thing having to do with the gan Beach House’s second other pieces of equipment Wernette said. “As of about Great Lakes themselves,” floor, has been relocated to will be obscured from view, a year and a half ago, we Wernette said. “That’s what a much smaller space on the and held underneath the were able to get a Great most of these exhibits and north end of the building’s aquariums so as not to disLakes Fisheries Trust Fund displays will be emphasiz- lower level. tract from the salmon and Grant of about $160,000 to ing.” The original wood top- lamprey inside. Displays will go toward the first phase of The new displays, exhib- ping of the picnic tables on be attached to the aquaridisplays.” its and designs will largely the beach house’s second ums containing information Because of the role the be kept in the upper level floor have been replaced about the history and life cyGreat Lakes Fisheries Trust of the Lake Michigan Beach with customized interpre- cles of both species. Fund played in supporting House, which has recent- tive graphics relevant to the the state park’s renovation ly undergone a number of Great Lakes. Each table top SEE BEACH HOUSE, PAGE 7 of the Lake Michigan Beach upgrades and renovations. contains a different map or