IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Phase 1 of the Sunset Beach Project at Lake Antoine Park in Dickinson County is underway, poised to bring significant improvements to accessibility at the beach area. Ann Hruska, Lake Antoine Park Partners treasurer and project manager for the Sunset Beach Project, outlined the work that has already been completed and what lies ahead.
“We are lucky enough to have a new boulder retaining wall that’s been installed to stabilize the surface,” Hruska said. “We had concrete poured yesterday, creating two handicapped-accessible picnic pads and a walkway that takes you to a sunset viewing area with accessible benches.”
The project is part of the Lake Antoine Park Partners’ mission to make the park more accessible, “There were a lot of uneven surfaces here, making it hard for people to get to where they wanted to be,” Hruska explained. “The beach house has a public restroom and a handicapped parking spot, but after that, the ground was rough, with broken concrete. We’ve removed all that.”
The project is largely supported by the community, with more than 25 local organizations contributing. “Our kick-off grant came from the Dickinson Area Community Foundation, and then Enbridge and We Energies Foundation joined in,” Hruska said. “We’ve had a flurry of businesses and individuals donate, including eight memorial benches sponsored by local families.”
Mouck Insurance Agency, Inc. and Loggers Insurance Agency from Niagara also stepped up to offer additional support. “They asked, ‘What else do you need? We’ll fill it up,’” Hruska added. Specialty Granules, Inc. from Pembine has also volunteered to help assemble furniture, including picnic tables, in an upcoming community workday.
Looking forward, the Sunset Beach project will transition into Phase 2, which is slated to begin in 2025. “Phase 1 focused on beautifying and making the front of the beach house accessible,” Hruska explained. “Phase 2 will wrap around to the south side of the beach house and feature inclusive, accessible surfacing made from a mix of concrete and rubber.”
A $50,000 grant from the Toro Company, in partnership with Boss Snowplow & Toro, has already been secured for Phase 2, which is expected to cost around $100,000. “We’re planning to add freestanding, inclusive equipment, such as sensory boards, musical chimes, and [appropriate] accessible climbing structures. This will be a place where parents, grandparents, and kids can all enjoy spending time together,” Hruska said, adding, “We have to get a contractor and order the equipment. And I’m just having a meeting this afternoon with a play equipment company. We’re in the process of just starting to put it on. I have a conceptual design that I put on paper, but we have to get the experts.”
The park’s vision for the future is inspired by parks from across the country. “We’ve been researching different parks, and I was inspired by one I saw in St. Louis that had musical equipment. I think it’s important that everyone—parents, kids, grandparents—can have fun together,” Hruska noted.
Phase 2 is expected to begin in 2025, pending final designs and the hiring of a contractor. In the meantime, community members can look forward to enjoying their evening walks along the beach, with new seating and an inviting view of the sunset.
