GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – In June, the manager of the Delta Conservation District announced that she would be stepping down to take over management of the County parks. Just a few weeks into the new position, she says there are big plans on the horizon.
Although Parks Manager is a new title for Heather LeDuc, she says it feels like coming home.
“I started out with the parks back in 2020 when the Conservation District was managing it,” she explained. “I was housed right here at Pioneer Trail Park, and I worked mostly with the park systems.”
Delta County’s parks are popular destinations for locals and tourists alike. Pioneer Trail Park offers 99 sites for every type of camper.
“The back of the park used to be just tent camping,” LeDuc said. “They call it ‘rustic,’ but it’s actually not anymore. We added water and electric with a beautiful view of the river here. We have five cabins, and we have sites that are full hookup, which is sewer, electric, and water.”
LeDuc has already begun making other updates, like replacing outdated facilities and planting native flowers around the park office. The County received several hundred responses to its five-year recreation plan, which she says will be used to further enhance the parks experience.
“Trails was really high on the list of what people want to see, so we’re looking at bike trails and connecting the bike trail and using Pioneer Park to do that,” said LeDuc. “We have talked about some dog runs. We want to bring some more events to the parks. We’re just going to keep building on that.”
Pioneer Trail Park is also home to a free public disc golf course, an old cemetery, a dock on the Escanaba River, a playground, and other amenities. For LeDuc, the parks are made especially valuable by the people who visit them.
“The other day somebody pulled in with this huge motor home,” she recalled. “A gentleman came out and this little, tiny face pokes out—his granddaughter I believe—and she’s like, ‘Papa, did we get all checked in?’ He had this amazing, warming smile and he said, ‘We’re all checked in and ready to go!’ Right then I was like, ‘This is the place I want to be in.’ We’re doing everything we can to help foster lifelong memories and experiences here in the parks.”
LeDuc says she wants to hear from community members about new offerings and developments that they would like to see in any of Delta County’s parks.
“The mission is to provide quality, healthy, and meaningful recreational experiences and also preserving the natural beauty of the community that we have,” she said. “I’m excited to be a part of that.”
To give input on the Delta County parks, call (906) 786-1020, visit the Pioneer Trail Park office at 6822 US-2 in Gladstone, or email LeDuc at hleduc@deltacountymi.gov.To book a stay at one of the parks, visit deltacountymi.gov/parks and scroll to the bottom of the page.
