5 days Ago By Keith O'Donnell
Laketown Township officials have decided to close and remove a staircase at Laketown Township Beach due to significant safety concerns, as initially reported by FOX 17. The dune stairs, which have deteriorated over time, were deemed no longer safe for public use following recommendations from a local task force.During a March 19 meeting, according to Holland Sentinel, the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission voted for the wooden staircase's removal and the installation of a snow fence to keep people off the vulnerable dunes.
Caution tape has been placed across the staircase as a temporary measure, and signs warning of the unsafe stairs are expected to follow.Despite the closure, WOOD TV notes that the beach remains open. Visitors can still access the beach through an alternate route that begins at the parking lot on 142nd Avenue's west end.
This route requires traversing through "the bowl," a steep drop that leads to the lake. However, officials caution that the return trip, an uphill walk through soft sand, is challenging as there are no handrails to assist visitors.Interim Township Manager Steven Ringelberg has emphasized the township's commitment "to making Laketown Beach accessible to residents" and stated that the goal is to replace the stairs as soon as possible, as per a release obtained by FOX 17.
The township has earmarked budget allocations for the engineering and replacement of the stairs; $10,600 for preliminary engineering work and up to $20,000 for repairs or removal. The original request by the Parks and Recreation Commission was a heftier $40,000, which was trimmed in favor of seeking a long-term solution to the staircase issue.There are historical implications to these developments too.
Laketown Beach has been part of the community since 1926 and saw a recent expansion of 3.17 acres in 2024. The staircase has long been a part of this landscape but will now need to evolve to ensure safety and accessibility for future generations of beachgoers.
Township officials have not provided a timeline for the new staircase's installation, but with summer approaching, residents are certainly hoping for a swift resolution..
