Spray By the Bay

June 9, 2011
By: Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

The Friends of the Bay City State Recreation Area and officials of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 7 for the new "Spray by the Bay" spray park to be built on the lakeside area of the Bay City State Recreation Area, in view of the magnificent Saginaw Bay. Not only will this spray park be the first to open in Bay County, this will be the first spray park to open in a state park.

Phase 1 of the project should be completed in July, allowing the spray park to be enjoyed by the public this summer. Phase 2, planned for next year, will bring even more features and amenities. The Friends have raised nearly $300,000 in contributions, and a great deal more in volunteer efforts and non-monetary donations, from local citizens, businesses, foundations, and other groups, all who have generously given to see Phase 1 completed.

The Friends, the DNR, and the local community are eagerly working together to see this amazing project finally come to fruition.

The DNR is also contributing to the project, thanks to "Recreation Passport" dollars at work. The Recreation Passport is the new vehicle entry pass system based on a $10 annual pass Michigan residents may purchase from the Secretary of State when they also purchase their vehicle registration, allowing Michigan residents to enter state parks and boating sites, as well as express their support for one of the best state park systems in the nation.

So far, the Passport program has been steadily achieving success. In fact, Bay County is 15th on the list of the 83 Michigan counties in opt-in rates for the Recreation Passport.

Local residents have thus clearly expressed their support of their state park. These dollars will help the DNR in partnership with the Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area add the "Spray by the Bay" to what is already a premiere state park.

A Spray Park Endowment Fund has been established at the Bay Area Community Foundation to help provide maintenance in the years' ahead. You can donate to this fund by calling 989-893-4438 or on-line at www.bayfoundation.org. For more information, email SprayPark@aol.com .