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100 E. Michigan Blvd., Suite 2 Michigan City, IN 46360-3293
(219) 873-1506 www.emichigancity.com
Submitted by Shannon Eason, Assistant Superintendent
Michigan City Parks and
Recreation Department
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Washington Park and Michigan City Beaches
07/17/20 Mayor’s Executive Order 2020-08 closed Washington Park and all city beaches through 11:59 pm on 07/23/20
07/24/20 Mayor’s Executive Order 2020-09 closed Washington Park and opened all city beaches outside of Washington Park through 11:59 pm on 07/30/20
07/31/20 City Council Resolution No. 4782 extended the Mayor’s Executive Order 2020-09 through 11:59 pm on 08/13/20
08/14/20 Mayor’s Executive Order 2020-11 closed Washington Park and all public beach paths in Sheridan Beach through 11:59 pm on 08/20/20
08/21/20 City Council Resolution No. 4786 extended the Mayor’s Executive Order 2020-11 through 11:59 pm on 09/13/20
08/27/20 Mayor’s Executive Order No. 2020-12 re-opened Washington Park to LaPorte County residents with a 2019 or 2020 annual sticker and re-opened all public access beach paths through 11:59 pm on 09/03/20 (Labor Day)
09/01/20 City Council Resolution No. 4546 opening Washington Park from 10 am to 8 pm daily to LaPorte County residents with a 2019 or 2020 annual sticker. There is no end date on the resolution.
Beach Marking System
Winter storms caused severe beach erosion this year and most of our flag poles were displaced and/or damaged. We were able to repair and reinstall them in the spring. The marker at stop 13, which was removed in 2019 due to erosion, was reinstalled and added to the beach location map.
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Beach Safety Signage
Three-sided sign kiosks are located in high traffic areas at Washington Park beach and the Senior Center beach path.
Side 1: Location on Beach Side 2: Regulations & Tips Side 3: Rip current and Shelf ice warnings
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Beach location signs contain a QR, or quick response code. When scanned with a smart phone, the QR code will take the user directly to our website www.emichigancity.com, where they have instant access to current beach conditions, water quality test results, beach rules and regulations, events, and more information about the Park Department.
Water Quality Testing and Notification Program
The Park Department was the recipient of a $20,1250 Beach Act Grant through The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) funded through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for monitoring and notification activities that were conducted in LaPorte County adjacent to Lake Michigan Coastal Recreational Waters during the 2020 beach monitoring season.
Water testing was performed by the Sanitary District of Michigan City. Program dates were May 16th through September 7th, 2020.
Notification of test results were posted daily by Park Staff: ▪ Beach Hotline 219.873.1540
▪ Park Department website www.emichigancity.com
IDEM’s Beach Guard website https://beachguard.idem.in.gov/BeachGuard/ ▪ Beach Notification Signs (6 signs in Washington Park)
o NOTE: In the past 14 signs were posted from Washington Park to Beachwalk by the lifeguards. In 2020 there were no lifeguards on duty so only 6 signs were posted in Washington Park by the parking staff.
▪ Washington Park Entry Gates at Lot#1 and Lot#2 Testing sites included:
▪ Washington Park – 3 samples 7 days per week
▪ Stop 2 – California Avenue – 3 samples 7 days per week ▪ Stop 7 – Beachwalk – 1 sample 7 days per week
Beach Sanitary Surveys
As requested by IDEM, the Sanitary District completed Beach Sanitary Surveys during their water testing which monitored temperature, waves, wind direction, rain fall events, number of birds, number of sun bathers and swimmers, number of boats, amounts of litter, etc.
Page 5 of 6 WASHINGTON PARK Washington Park 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 Total Samples 339 339 339 339 345 Total Exceedances 14 18 18 18 27 Total Actions 10 12 9 12 22 1-234 OPEN 103 95% 101 89% 104 92% 101 89% 93 81% 234-999 ADVISORY 10 9% 12 11% 6 5% 12 11% 15 13% 1,000 CLOSED 0 0% 0 0% 3 3% 0 0% 7 6%
STOP 2 AT CALIFORNIA AVENUE
Stop 1 California Avenue 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020
Total Samples 339 339 339 339 345 Total Exceedances 18 18 6 8 10 Total Actions 9 12 4 5 6 1-234 OPEN 104 92% 101 89% 109 96% 108 96% 109 95% 234-999 ADVISORY 9 8% 12 11% 4 4% 5 4% 4 3% 1,000 CLOSED 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 2 2% STOP 7 AT BEACHWALK Stop 7 Beachwalk 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 Total Samples 113 113 113 113 115 Total Exceedances 6 5 3 4 4 Total Actions 6 5 3 4 4 1-234 OPEN 107 95% 108 96% 110 97% 113 96% 111 97% 234-999 ADVISORY 6 5% 5 4% 3 3% 4 4% 4 3% 1,000 CLOSED 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%
We will apply for the IDEM grant for the 2021 beach season and request testing seven days per week at all three locations.
Beach Management Practices
▪ 2009 Resolution No. 4058 prohibiting the feeding of wildlife on Park Department and Port Authority properties
▪ 2009 Revised beach sanitation methods (deep tinning) ▪ 2009 Covered trash barrels (IDNR Grant)
▪ 2010 Goose Eradication Program
- Bird bangers, rubber coyotes, and plastic alligators were used throughout Washington Park and the Port Authority to deter geese
- Tall grasses were incorporated in the plantings along the marina walkway to deter geese
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▪ 2011 NOAA Rip Current Observation Report ▪ 2012 Beach marking system implemented ▪ 2012 Beach safety signage installed
▪ 2013 USGS Predictive E-coli Model Implemented
▪ 2017 Installed life rings at Millennium Plaza and along the lighthouse pier ▪ 2018 “Monday Mornings” beach clean-up program was implemented ▪ 2019 (4) Electronic Message Board Signs were installed in Washington Park ▪ 2019 Installed designated beach path markers
▪ 2020 Beach Path Erosion Control and Public Access Project: The Park Department was awarded an Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program Grant in 2019 in the amount of $44,500 to further implement our “Sheridan Beach and The Esplanade Public Access, Land Management and Implementation Plan” by installing 4 beach access mats at California, Louisiana, Georgia, and Illinois Avenues in Michigan City, and planting the exposed sand around them with marram grass per the specifications outlined in our land management plan. The beach mats were funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program.
Lifeguard Operation
There were no lifeguards during the 2020 beach season.
Monday Mornings!
The Monday Mornings beach cleanup event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.