GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — One of West Michigan’s favourite canine seashores is ready to totally reopen after 4 years.
Kirk Park in Ottawa County will probably be open all day to dogs with no leash beginning May 1.
“Every day, we’ll be here pretty much after work and on the weekends,” stated Zachary Griffin, a canine proprietor who lives in Holland. “We love it here; this is the best part of West Michigan.”
Griffin, one in every of many canine homeowners having fun with the seaside Sunday, has come to Kirk Park for years. On Sunday, he introduced his 2-year-old Australian Shepard, Callie, and his 4-year-old Mutt, Harper.
“She actually turned 4 today,” he stated. “Today’s her birthday so we wanted to come to the beach.”
The seaside has been closed to dogs throughout peak hours since 2020. High water ranges on Lake Michigan eroded the shoreline and broken the dune stairs resulting in the south seaside.
Beach tour: How high water changed West Michigan lakeshore
People would take the north aspect stairs to get to the shore. Dogs have been additionally solely allowed on the seaside between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., limiting them from having fun with the daytime in the course of the spring and summer time.
Construction on the brand new stairs just lately wrapped up. In late February, the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission signed off on bringing dogs off-leash again to the seaside.
Dogs are actually allowed off-leash when the park is open from May 1 by means of Sept. 30. Park hours are between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. by means of Oct. 15.
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From October by means of the tip of subsequent April, dogs are welcome off-leash on the north seaside and the south seaside. The county nonetheless requires dogs to be on their leash from the car parking zone by means of the path to the seaside.
“She wants us to throw the ball in the water and she’ll get that all day now,” Griffin stated about his canine. “That’ll be fun.”
Griffin stated Kirk Park separates itself from different West Michigan canine seashores due to its huge house and cordial group.
“Here, every dog is off the leash,” Griffin stated. “Owners are always watching. It’s a good time. It’s just the community, everyone has their dog off the leash and it’s very friendly.”
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