Township puts beach steps on hold

Visitors to Laketown Township Beach will most likely go another summer without stairs after the township board on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, put plans on hold due to cost concerns.

The board tabled a proposal from the township’s parks commission to contract with Lakeshore Concepts for $196,500 to install adjustable aluminum beach stairs with composite tread called EZ Beach Steps in an area called “the bowl.”

EZ Beach Steps can be raised or lowered as the dune shifts.

Treasurer Jim Johnson said he wasn’t sure the township could afford the stairs.

The board instructed Manager Stephanie Fox to work with staff to apply for grants to fund the stairs and two other phases of the project that include reconstruction of the existing boardwalk and stair system from the parking lot up the dune and the addition of about 90-feet of elevated deck with a platform and possible trellis on the area called “the plateau.”

Supervisor Steven Ringelberg said any grants Laketown might get would not be awarded until 2027, meaning beach users would spend a second season having to climb a steep dune without steps.

The parks commission recommendation was only for steps built though the area called “the bowl,” which goes from the top of the dune down the Lake Michigan beach. The plans call for 220 feet of stairs, railings and landings in the current orange-fenced area.

Because the parks commission does not have enough money in its budget for the project, the township board must approve the expenditure.

Other concerns

The township board was also concerned that the bid recommended by the parks board was not the lowest. The request said the township would choose the “lowest qualified bidder.”

Proposals ranged from $117,000 to $372,000 with construction material including lumber, composite and metal.

The board asked Parks Commission Chairperson Brad Laninga in November to supply reasons why the parks group did not choose the lowest bid. Laninga replied with an eight-point memo explaining that EZ Beach Stairs have been discussed since 2023. He asked parks commissioners to rank the six submissions. They discussed the rankings in an open meeting on Oct. 15.

“Additional conversation took place discussing the pros and cons of woods stairs versus something adjustable. After much discussion and questions asked of Matt Levandoski, Prein & Newhof engineer, a motion was made to bring the RFP from Lakeshore Concepts to the township board for financing,” Laninga wrote in his memo.

The previous set of wooden steps, built 32 years ago, was closed on March 26 due to safety concerns. The steps were removed in May and a new fencing added in June to keep visitors off the dunes to prevent further erosion. at the beach, 6710 142^nd Ave.