September 2008 Table of Contents |
Vanderbilt Park will provide one of several public access points along the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail. Right: Carol Dworzecki examines a fossil with a young park visitor; wildlife abounds in the extensive wetlands in the Saginaw Bay region in and around the park. |
For more information about the area, see: www.thumbtourism.org |
Contacts
|
Rediscovering Saginaw Bay Often called a “hidden gem,” Tuscola County’s Vanderbilt Park and Campground re-opened in May 2008 thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers and assistance from Michigan Sea Grant. The 18-acre park, which had been closed for nearly three years, welcomed visitors and campers throughout the summer to its quiet setting on the Saginaw Bay shoreline just east of Bay City. “People came from across Michigan and as far away as Florida,” says volunteer Zyggy Dworzecki, who helped resolve an array of maintenance issues including removing dead ash trees, and cleaning and repairing park facilities. Funding was another priority. Michigan Sea Grant extension educator Mary Bohling collaborated with the group to help develop a plan for generating revenue to keep the park in operation. This included securing funds through a DTE Energy Tree Planting grant, supported by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The local and state collaboration has also been successful in “While the initial funding is a key factor, the dedication of the volunteers made re-opening the park a reality,” adds Bohling. “They rolled up their sleeves and breathed life back into the park. It’s important now to build on this local momentum, continue to restore and protect this valuable coastal access and ensure that it remains a source of pride for both residents and visitors.” Future plans call for development of a strategy to control invasive phragmites and become one of several public access points along the Tip of the Thumb Heritage Water Trail. Improvements to the park have already stimulated positive changes along neighboring sections of Saginaw Bay coastline, says Dworzecki, who serves as chair of the county’s parks and recreation commission. He emphasizes the region’s marinas, fishing lodges, and natural areas. “There’s a lot here,” says Dworzecki. “I like to promote everything.” |
building public support for the park, says Bohling, and in re-establishing the Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission.