Laketown adds 3.17 acres to township beach park

Laketown Township closed on 3.17 acres of land to add to Laketown Township Beach Park on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road. Signing are, from left, Laketown Township Manager Al Meshkin, owner J.P. Oosterbaan, Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Brad Laninga and township Community Development Director Michelle Sall.

Laketown Township has added more public land around its beach with the purchase of 3.17 acres on Jan. 11, 2024.

The land, which adjoins the southeast end of the current property, does not touch Lake Michigan but has a view of the water.

“It is important to acquire as much land as possible near Lake Michigan for our residents,” said township Manager Al Meshkin. “There are no plans for the property yet, but the parks commission will work on plans over the next few years.”

The purchase includes funds from several sources.

“The township paid for the land thanks to a generous donation from owner J.P. Oosterbaan and a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and $1,453.40 from the township for fees including closing and transfer,” said Meshkin.

Most of the cost is covered by the Trust Fund grant the township received in 2017 for $640,000.

“We have been working to acquire land near the township beach since 2016. This is our fifth, and largest, acquisition,” he said.

Over the past several years, the township has acquired three parcels of about three-tenths of an acre each and another at three-quarters of an acre. In total, including the original land acquired in 1926, the township has about 7.6 acres of land at the end of 142^nd Avenue.

Laketown Township Beach is the township’s oldest park.