By James Windell
The Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Casco Township Nature Preserve, which has been called one of the most unique spots on the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Instead of just hosting a ribbon-cutting with speeches by dignitaries, the Casco Township Parks and Recreation Committee turned it into a family activities event with games and activities for all ages. The activities included a scavenger hunt, contests, and a booth with water safety information provided by South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES). SHAES also had a firetruck at the events and an ice cream truck from Sweet Carolines served ice cream cones.
Julie Cowie, an involved Casco Township resident, said that the event celebrates the completion of significant improvements at the Nature Preserve, located at 770 Blue Star Highway, South Haven, including new infrastructure, modern restrooms, expanded parking, drinking fountains, and enhanced signage.
The improvements were funded in part through a $291,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund development grant, along with revenue generated by Casco Township’s dedicated 0.25-mill Parks and Recreation millage.
Allan Overhiser, Casco Township Supervisor, told the assembled crowd, after he wielded the scissors in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, about the donations of land by local property owners that became the nature preserve.
“That parcel over there,” Overhiser said pointing to a wooded area, “is the true nature preserve. That’s where we won’t have any active recreation. We will let all of the trees grow and we will maintain them for safety of the wildlife and a lot of native species.”
Following Overhiser, State Representative Joey Andrews spoke about the 19-acre nature preserve. “You know,” he began, “this is what makes Southwest Michigan what it is, right? It’s the natural character of the area we live in that makes people want to come here and visit us. It’s why a lot of us continue to live here.”
Andrews, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives serving the 38th District since January, 2023, went on to say that he is proud to be able to help fund projects like the Nature Preserve in order to preserve what we have along the lake shore here.
“It’s what the Natural Resources Trust Fund was created to do,” he said. “It was created to help us preserve places like this and make sure that they’re accessible to the public for generations to come.”
Andrews paid tribute to Casco Township and said that it’s great having good partners in local government. “There are opportunities at the state level for many grants,” he said, “but not every municipality takes advantage of them. There are townships that don’t reach out and find out about what opportunities are available. But Casco does – and that’s why you’re seeing such great things happen here.”
It was pointed out during the ceremony that the Casco Township Nature Preserve is one of the few areas along the Lake Michigan shoreline where the public can walk to the edge of a bluff and look at Lake Michigan.
“Restoring public access to the beach at the Nature Preserve is the number one concern identified in our parks surveys,” said Kelly Hecker, Casco resident and Chair of the Casco Township Fundraising Committee. “We are excited to launch this project. It’s a big undertaking, but one that is absolutely worth the effort. This site will be a jewel not only for our Township but for the entire region.”
The ribbon cutting also marked the public launch of “Back to the Beach,” a new capital campaign aimed at restoring public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline at the Nature Preserve. The Township is seeking community support for a phased construction project that will reestablish safe and sustainable access to the beach.
