By James Windell
Ryan and Mandy Servatius appeared before the South Haven Parks Commission on June 10, 2025 and offered a donation of 11 life rings for use at South Haven’s beaches and river.
The couple, who are South Haven realtors, represented 12 families and organizations that they organized to donate funds to purchase the 11 Guardian Life Rings.
“I decided to put this donation together to get more water safety on our riverfront since we have so many people who enjoy our beaches, and because there are no ladders that would allow people to climb out of the river if they fall in,” Ryan Servatius said.
He said that he was also concerned about the five small street-end beaches because they are out of the way and there are fewer people around to help in case there is an emergency.
The 24-inch life rings are U.S. Coast Guard approved with red housing. The ring housing contains graphics and instructions. Each life ring comes with 90 feet of rope and two options for installation, ground mounting plates and rail mounting kits. The cost for each life ring and equipment is $760.00.
Servatius said that there are places along both the north and south beaches and also along the Black River where the Life Rings could be most advantageously placed. “We talked with the van Buren County Sheriff Water Safety Patrol over the winter,” Servatius said, “and they let us know that adding life rings to these areas would be a great benefit since there are no water safety equipment currently installed for those areas.”
Aaron Priebe, Parks Superintendent, indicated that South Haven City staff has determined that the life rings would be mounted to the railings along the Black River sites and mounted to the beach flag posts at the public beach sites. The Army Corp of Engineers has various easements and agreements with the City that determine the uses that are allowed throughout the river sidewalks and adjacent properties. Priebe said that they are waiting to hear from the Army Corps of Engineers as to whether the designated sites for the life rings is acceptable.
The Parks Commission voted to accept the donation and will recommend to the South Haven City Council that the City accepts the donations so they can be placed in use this summer.
Parks Commission Chair, Linda Gruber, acknowledged Ryan and Mandy Servatius for the life rings. “Thank you for being so generous and for being so concerned about safety,” she said.
Among the contributors to the Life Rings are Bob and Connie Metzer, the South Haven Steel Headers, “Melissa” Joseph & Veronica Monahan, Jim and Colleen Sevik, Tom Stegeman, the South Pierre Creamery, Casey and Cory Burrows for Haven Maid and HookUp Charters, Joel and Heidi Gesiakoski of Taste restaurant, Karen Scheider, Jennifer Lane and Ryan and Mandy Servatus.
“The life rings will give 24/7 emergency help for water issues for anyone that falls into the river, or is out swimming in Lake Michigan,” Servatius said.
