Old Bay City waterworks on State Park Drive was built in 1922.

---

PARALEON PIER: Report Opens Door to Chamber Goal of Bay Access Deal

Commissioners to Receive 2-Year Joint County-DNR Study on Tuesday

August 10, 2014
By: Dave Rogers

Among the top priorities of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce -- increasing public access to Saginaw Bay, specifically at the foot of State Park Drive, and building Paraleon Pier into the water -- are moving ahead.

Chamber President Mike Seward said the Michigan DNR gave a tentative "go" signal for the project at a recent meeting.

Tuesday Bay County commissioners will receive a much-anticipated 37 page Bay City State Recreation Area (BCSRA) Lakefront and Beach Access Study Report. The report was a joint effort of the DNR and Bay County.

Laura Ogar, Bay County director of environmental affairs and community development, is asking commissioners for approval to apply for grants using locally raised funds (no general funds) to implement the action strategies outlined in the report.

A 6.5 acre parcel at the south end of the state park, once part of the City of Bay City's Waterworks Park, is targeted for establishment of the pier and support structures.

The report notes that exploration of development of a pier into the bay may also include the City Waterworks site, an unused historic complex built in 1922.

Archival files of The Bay City Times confirm that the Bay City State Park was begun by a gift of half a mile of waterfront and 60 acres from the city to the state. The state Conservation Board accepted the gift in August 1922.

State Park was an extension of Waterworks Park as a summer resort, noted by The Times as "getting more and more popular each year," drawing huge crowds to "ideal bathing conditions."

The old waterworks pump house was reconstructed into a pavilion and gathering center called "Paraleon Beach pier." The pavilion became a dance hall that was a magnet for young people for many years.

A 30-foot wide concrete road (extension of Henry Street called State Park Drive) was constructed to allow easy access from Bay City for visitors to the Paraleon site.

Eugene Trombley, city park and bridge commissioner, noted that the park with picnic ground and a Community Fresh Air Camp were busy all that summer of 1922.

In the current plan, an additional 1,000 feet of groomed beach and ongoing removal of waterfront muck along the entire beach is aimed at drawing more, and happier, visitors.

The DNR and Bay County will work together to develop a design for a boardwalk "to ensure the developed groomed beach is universally accessible," the report states.

Bay County will construct the boardwalk under supervision of the DNR which will continue to treat phragmites along the day use shoreline.

Bike, paddle board, kayaks and canoe concessions, food offerings and promoting BCSRA as a stop on a regional water trail are also proposed in the report.

An increase in birding activities is proposed since the park is recognized as a "hot spot" on the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail. Enhanced education and interpretive strategies also are discussed in the report.

Enhanced performance space for festivals also is suggested in the plan.

Other "Action Steps" recommended include:

*Expand rail trail to connect BCSRA to Pinconning and the state trail network;

*Improve and market Tobico Lagoon;

*Expand cross-country skiing trails;

*Improve campground drainage and access;

*Expand Waterfowl Festival;

*Add disc golf;

*Purchase driving range (at Beaver Road and Euclid Avenue).