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May 8, 2017
Contact: George Lauinger, 989-684-3020
Bay City State Recreation Area to celebrate official opening of new universally accessible boardwalk
 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will celebrate the official opening of Bay City State Recreation Area's new universally accessible boardwalk at a ribbon-cutting event Friday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. The new boardwalk will connect visitors to Saginaw Bay and protect natural habitat. The public and media are invited.
The 312-foot boardwalk will be universally accessible and provide visitors a more direct route to the park's 5,200 feet of shoreline on Saginaw Bay while protecting the Great Lakes coastal pond and wetland it crosses. It will allow for increased usage and access by a multitude of visitors, such as beach-goers, hikers, fat-tire bike riders, canoeists, sail boarders, birders and many others who want to enjoy the incredible beauty of the shoreline, pond and beach. The boardwalk will be open seasonally to protect it from icy winter storms that can cause severe damage.
The boardwalk will officially open after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with DNR staff, local officials and community members. Speakers include Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief; Anna Sylvester, DNR Parks and Recreation field operations section chief for northern Michigan; James A. Barcia, Bay County Executive; and State Senator Mike Green from Michigan's 31st District.
“The new boardwalk has been a culmination of a three-year collaboration with community partners, including Bay County, that worked together to improve visitor access from the spray park and playscape areas to a central point along the park's natural shoreline," said George Lauinger, unit manager of Bay City Recreation Area. "The boardwalk protects the natural year-round coastal pond and wetland, which is important habitat for numerous waterfowl and fish and a vital food source system for bald eagles in the area."
The 2,000 acre park is situated on Saginaw Bay, approximately five miles north of Bay City. It is home to Tobico Marsh, one of the largest remaining freshwater coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes. Other recreation opportunities offered at the park include an expansive beach, splash park, playground, modern camping, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, nature trails, picnicking, hunting, ice fishing, educational programs and family-friendly events. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/baycity.
Installation was performed by Parks and Recreation Division staff. The boardwalk was completed in April; connection to nearby sidewalks will be completed by the end of May.
The project was funded by Recreation Passport dollars, which are collected through resident and non-resident fees that grant vehicle access to the 103 Michigan state parks, state forest campgrounds, fee-based boat launches and parking for hundreds of miles of trails.
For more information, contact George Lauinger at 989-684-3020 or lauingerg@michigan.gov.
/Editors’ note: A photo is available below for download. A suggested photo caption follows.
The DNR, Bay County and other community partners will mark the official opening of Bay City State Recreation Area's new universally accessible boardwalk at a ribbon-cutting event Friday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to help celebrate the long-awaited addition to this popular state park./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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