There’s more to the Best Beach in Michigan than sand, surf and the sun — much more — after all, plenty of other beaches in the state are baked with those same summertime seductive ingredients.
At the Douglas Park First Street Beach in Manistee — recently named the Readers Choice’ Best Beach in Michigan according to a national survey by USA Today newspaper — there’s a magical myriad of other reasons why the sand, surf and sun earned such a title.
Besides the beach-goers themselves (they’re certainly essential to the story), eagles come and go at breakfast time; Great Lakes freighters steam up and down the Manistee River/Channel that ribbons nearby; four playgrounds are located in the park, as are tennis courts, a softball diamond, picnic tables, a fenced-in dog exercise area; a small gathering of Manistee Rotary Club pavilions are located on the grounds, as is a gazebo where summer concerts hosted by Shoreline Showcase are presented every Tuesday evening throughout the summer, and more.
The Best Beach in Michigan is not just a single community jewel, but rather a treasure box full of community jewels.
There’s a disc golf course and nature trail. There’s a boat launch area, a fish cleaning station, a concession stand, showers and restrooms, too.
The beach is surrounded by beautiful photo-friendly objects. The historic Fifth Avenue Pier and Lighthouse stands tall just across the river channel.
There is a humorous, yet curious sign, that tells those who tiptoe their way into Lake Michigan that the Cheese State, Wisconsin, is just “54,200 strokes away.”
“It’s a great honor to have been voted (Best Beach in Michigan), but we’re still seeking public input on how we can make things better in all of our parks,” said Jeffrey W. Mikula, Public Works director of the City of Manistee, the department that’s responsible for maintaining the upkeep and making improvements to the Best Beach in Michigan and 14 other city parks, including four that are located along Lake Michigan.
“Our current beach masterplan (is) 15 years old and a lot of the concepts have been implemented. We thought it was time to refresh the plans and plan out the next 10 years,” he said.
Mikula and his team are constantly looking for ways to use items they might remove from one area of the city to use elsewhere, as was the case when the DPW constructed a disc golf course in the Douglas Park First Street Beach area not too long ago.
“When the City marina docks were replaced, we salvaged the old marina wood pilings for future projects,” he said. “One of the projects was the creation of an 18 hole disc golf course. We used the pilings to create obstacles in some of the open areas. We also refurbished a boat launch pier to create a bridge over a natural drainage ravine.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback from our citizens and visitors on all our beaches over the years. The feedback from receiving the designation has been very exciting, and that others have come to the same conclusion that the locals have always felt — there’s nothing like First Street Beach. We look forward to hosting visitors from thought the Midwest.”
While his 10-year-old son, Cooper, played hopped, skipped and jumped with their pet golden doodle, Rowan, at the fenced-in dog park in early June, Brenten Vartyak, of Manistee, turned 360 degrees to look at what all was around him.
“It’s changed, a lot, over the years,” said the Manistee resident. “Now there’s so much to do down here. It’s not just the beach, they have a little bit of everything here.”
The Best Beach in Michigan is also the western-most entry way to the 1.5 mile long Riverwalk that winds its way along the river through the heart of the city.
A USA Today press release in May read, in part: “An expert panel nominated their must-visit beaches in the state, then readers voted for their favorites… in awarding First Street Beach in Manistee beckons with its wide, sandy expanse, mellow waves, and family-friendly atmosphere, making it a great destination for beachgoers of all ages. Whether you’re making epic sandcastles with the kids, lobbing the beach volleyball with friends, or lounging in the sun while enjoying panoramic views of Lake Michigan, First Street Beach offers many opportunities for fun and relaxation by the water.”
The statement also said the area “offers many opportunities for fun and relaxation by the water” and was not lost by the judges.
“We’ve worked hard on trying to offer a whole lot of opportunities in the park and beach areas,” Mikula said, while he met with community members in the Rotary Pavilion in early June to seek public input about what is liked and still wanted or needed.
“We realize we can still make improvements here and there, and we’ll continue to do that,” Mikula said.
Other area beaches to finish in the Top 10 in voting were Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which finished 10th overall, and Stearns Park Beach in Ludington, which finished second.
Others included:
No. 9 – Tawas Point State Park, East Tawas
No. 8 – P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon
No. 7 – Oval Beach, Saugatuck
No. 6 – Pere Marquette Park, Muskegon
No. 5 – South Beach, South Haven
No. 4 – Hunter’s Point Park, Copper Harbor
No. 3 – Silver Beach County Park, St. Joseph