Recreation

DNR planning significant expansion of Pike Lake area

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(WI) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – The Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – a popular hiking and camping destination just 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee – would be expanded nearly fivefold in the future to protect the headwaters of the Ashippun River and possibly provide hunting opportunities, under a draft master plan for the unit. The developing plan also recommends construction of a ramp for launching boats with motors – the first access for motorboats on the property since it opened as a state park in 1971, said Therese Gripentrog, a landscape architect with the state Department of Natural Resources in Milwaukee. The park was designated as a unit of the state forest in 1997. More

Recreation

State forest offers an affordable camping adventure

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(MI) Detroit Free Press – There’s still a way to travel cheaply, do things that kids and adults can enjoy together and get a feel for what the first loggers experienced when they made their way to the seemingly endless woodlands of northern Michigan in the 1870s — camping in the Pigeon River Country State Forest. This 105,000-acre stretch of woodlands — home to the biggest elk herd east of the Mississippi River — has some great overnight hikes for the fit and ambitious, and also some for casual afternoon walkers or people with young children who would like to get into the woods but can’t tackle anything too ambitious. More

Recreation

Dredged silt from Lake Macatawa will be used as soil to help build parks in Ottawa County

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(MI) Grand Rapids Press – Reclaimed soil from the bottom of Lake Macatawa will be heaped on dry land this summer to help build parks in four area townships. As much as 200,000 cubic yards of dried lake silt will be distributed by the Holland Board of Public Works and the Army Corps of Engineers to build or improve parks in Fillmore, Laketown, Park and Zeeland townships. Since 1997, the Corps deposited the dredgings in a 48-acre containment facility at Waverly Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard. The facility now is full of nutrient-rich black dirt that will be hauled to the four townships and three other sites. More

Recreation

Injury suspends Minnesota kayaker’s trip around the Great Lakes

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By Jeff Gillies, gilliesj@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
May 29, 2009

Bryan Hansel, who began an attempt in early May to paddle a kayak around all five Great Lakes, has suspended his trip to deal with tendon problems in his forearms. He made the announcement on his Web site, Around the Great Lakes. In the meantime, those still hungry for Great Lakes circumnavigations can fill up on Loreen Niewenhuis’s walk around Lake Michigan and Hannah Williams and Matt Abbotts’ kayak trip around Lake Superior.

Recreation

Transit moving to help cyclists

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(ON) The Toronto Star –

Cheap and clean, cycling and transit should be a match made in heaven, although traditionally, transit authorities in the Toronto region haven’t rolled out the welcome mat for bikes. But that’s changing. A long-awaited bike station opens on the southwest side of Union Station today with secure parking for 180 bikes. Occasional users will be able to use the facility for about $2 a day and there will be monthly and six-month rates. More

Recreation

Leaves, leaks and lots of signs

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(MI) Detroit Free Press – What does it take to get Michigan’s state parks up and running for summer visitors each year? Although the parks generally stay open all year, many buildings are closed and staff is reduced over the winter. Here’s a look behind the scenes at some of the springtime work.We not only have the usual campground/day use area building openings, hiring or rehiring of about 40 employees, train/update staff on recent policy/law changes, and the numerous grounds maintenance tasks left from the residue of winter, but there also are a couple unique areas as well. More

Recreation

South Haven to swimmers: Respect Lake Michigan

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(MI) Kalamazoo Gazette – You can’t be too safe swimming in Lake Michigan. That’s the message South Haven officials are sending to residents and visitors of this popular resort town. “The take-home message is to get people to respect Lake Michigan,” said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Smith, who is urging area schools to include an educational video about rip currents in their yearly curriculum. More