Casco Beach Access Project receives funding from Lakeshore Women Who Care-Allegan County
- Julie Cowie
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Representatives from the board of Lakeshore Women Who Care--Allegan County convened at the Casco Township Nature Preserve in Casco Township on Wednesday April 8 to present a check to support the “Back to the Beach” project in Casco Township. President Judy Graff, Treasurer Judi Thomas, and Moderator Susan Blose presented the symbolic check to members of the Casco Township Nature Preserve Fundraising Committee. Lakeshore Women Who Care contributed $12,900 to restore public access at the Nature Preserve after the project was the top vote-getter at their March 12 meeting.
“Back to the Beach” is a campaign by Casco Township to fund restoration of beach access at the Casco Township Nature Preserve. Stairs to the beach installed at the Nature Preserve in 2014 were destroyed by high water and erosion in 2020. Since then, the nearly 20 acre Preserve has lacked public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Public access to Lake Michigan is both the community’s and the Park and Recreation Committee’s number one priority.
Julie Cowie, Casco Township resident and member of the Allegan County Lakeshore Women Who Care, presented to the group at its March 12 meeting. She was joined by Kelly Hecker, Recording Secretary of the Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee, who answered questions about the project. Hecker also chairs the newly founded Fundraising committee of Casco Township, whose members include Cowie, Casco Clerk Rachel Ridley; and Parks and Recreation Committee member Debbie Weaver. Township Supervisor Allan Overhiser also assists the committee.
The funds collected from the Allegan County Lakeshore Women who Care have been matched by the Allegan County Community Foundation (ACCF), as the March 12 presentation date fell during the ACCF’s matching challenge, “Allegan County Gives,” March 1-19. As a result, an additional $10,000 from the Allegan County Community Foundation was leveraged for the $980,000 project.
Casco Township established a relationship with the Allegan County Community Foundation at its February 16, 2026 board meeting. The Board has contracted with the Allegan County Community Foundation to collect and manage funds designated for the Casco Township Nature Preserve.
The “Back to the Beach” project is dependent on larger grant programs in the state of Michigan. Funding from a .25 millage collected for Parks and Recreation in Casco Township will also support the project. If grant funds are awarded, construction to restore public access at the Casco Township Nature Preserve is expected to start in late summer of 2027.
The Casco Township Nature Preserve is located at 770 Blue Star Highway, South Haven, MI 49090. It boasts a 1/3 mile universally accessible paved trail, new restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic tables, benches, ample parking, and spectacular views of Lake Michigan from the 60’ high bluff on the Preserve’s 700’ western edge.
The restoration of beach access will feature a universally accessible viewing platform which will double as a trail head. The project is phased, with the first phase featuring the installation of temporary stairs that will lead to the beach. The Township hopes to replace the stairs with a universally accessible trail in the coming years. The bluff will be restored to an angle of repose and a buried revetment will be installed to protect the toe of the bluff from high water levels. The bluff face will be planted with native species to support pollinators, shoreline birds, and migratory birds. A removable stairway at the base of the bluff can be stored during high water to make the project resilient to climate events.
The acreage that has become the Casco Township Nature Preserve was acquired during the years 2009-2012 through gifts from the late Walter and Marie Stefan of Chicago; Ottawa County philanthropist and business owner, Edward Hanenburg; and acquisition grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
People wishing to financially support the “Back to the Beach” project at the Casco Township Nature Preserve can make a contribution through the fund at the Allegan County Community Foundation. (https://allegan.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2683).
Other presenters at the Lakeshore Women Who Care meeting of March 12 included the Outdoor Discovery Network and the Saugatuck Douglas History Center.
Women interested in joining the Lakeshore Women Who Care-Allegan County may contact Casco Township resident Judy Graff (lwwcallegancounty@gmail.com) for information. The next meeting of the philanthropic women's group is Thursday June 11 at 5:30 pm at Saugatuck Brewing Company. Julie Cowie and Kelly Hecker will provide an update on the "Back to the Beach" project at that time.