Celebrate Earth Day at Watkins Lake

Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve. Mirror file photo.

submitted by Sarah Cripe, Friends of Watkins Lake State Park 

Friends of Watkins Lake State Park (FoWL) invites you to an Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 19, from 12:30pm to 3pm, at Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve. Come enjoy the beauty of the park and adjacent preserve, learn about area organizations, and join us for a hike. There will be a kids hike and an all-ages hike, along with lots of children’s activities. The event is free and open to the public; it will proceed rain or shine. The park’s parking lot is located at 14801 Arnold Rd. 

FoWL is hosting this event to bring the community together in support of nature and wildlife and to raise awareness for the park, as well as FoWL’s mission and goals. FoWL aspires to provide stewardship, education, and advocacy for the park in coordination with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve became Michigan’s 103rd state park in 2016 encompassing over 1,200 acres straddling Jackson and Washtenaw counties. It includes a waterfowl refuge that is used by thousands of migratory waterfowl spring through fall. The park is also home to many vulnerable aquatic and terrestrial species of wildlife and many state and regionally significant plants. FoWL’s goal is to foster an appreciation for Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve and to help sustain its many natural and historical attributes for people and wildlife. 

To find out more about FoWL, join our email list and learn about ways to get involved. You can email friends@watkinslake.online or check out our website at protectingwatkinslake.org or Facebook.com/WatkinsLakeSPCP 

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.