The Starke County Forest may soon get some parking upgrades. The county park board is applying for a grant from the Hardesty Memorial Foundation Fund at the Starke County Community Foundation to help improve access to the forest.
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Beach Grant
Potential upgrades to the Bass Lake Beach will be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. According to the advance agenda, board members will discuss a grant received for the beach project. The park board has been working on plans to restore the sand, and install glacial stone to prevent future erosion, as well as damage to the seawall.
Starke County Forest Hunting Rules Questioned by County Park Board Member
Who’s allowed to hunt in the Starke County Forest and who gets to make that decision were topics of discussion during last week’s County Park Board meeting. Forester Bruce Wakeland previously told board members that he typically rents the forest to a group of hunters each year over the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s to help control the deer population, but also to raise a few hundred dollars for the forest.
Starke County Park Board Member Pushing for More Winter Recreation Activities at County Forest
The Starke County Forest may soon offer more winter recreation activities. That’s the hope of Starke County Park Board member Chris Lawrence.
Starke County Park Board Considers Grant Opportunities
The Bass Lake Beach and Starke County Forest would stand to benefit from some grant opportunities being explored by the Starke County Park Board. A few funding sources were discussed during Tuesday’s meeting.
Starke County Park Board to Continue Discussing Plans for Bass Lake Beach and Campground
The future of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground will continue to be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. The operator of the facility, Callahan Development, LLC, plans to keep leasing it from the county through April of 2028. But the company said it may be willing to give the beach itself back to the county, while it would continue to run the more profitable campground and pier slots.
Park Board Gets Update on Starke County Forest
The Starke County Forest is starting to build up some savings. It’s designed to be a self-sufficient park facility, with timber sales being the main funding source. Forester Bruce Wakeland told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that the forest will soon have enough money on hand to start looking at some improvement projects.
Starke County Park Board to Get Updates on Bass Lake Beach, Koontz Lake Lions Club Park
The Starke County Park Board is expected to continue discussing several ongoing issues when it meets tonight. One of those is the proposed county ownership of Koontz Lake Lions Club Memorial Park. Lions Club members say they plan to continue maintaining the park as long as they can, but transferring ownership to Starke County would save them the cost of insurance.
Northern Wood Products Offers $8,500 for Starke County Forest Timber
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Beach Maintenance, Open Timber Bids
Upgrades to the Bass Lake Beach seawall will continue to be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. Board members are calling on facility operator Callahan Development, LLC to stabilize the seawall surrounding the beach house patio. Representatives from the county discussed the issue with Callahan’s attorney last month, and the entire board is expected to get an update tonight.
Forester Touts Educational Opportunities at Starke County Forest
Starke County Park Board Updated on Timber Sale Process
Proposed Bass Lake Beach Improvements to be Discussed by Starke County Park Board
Updates on the Bass Lake Beach and Campground and the Starke County Forest are expected, during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. The park board’s calling on the operator of the Bass Lake Beach to repair the beach house patio and the seawall surrounding the site.
Starke County Council Creates Fund for Park Donations
You can now make a donation to the Starke County Park Board. While the park board oversees a few different facilities, including the Bass Lake Beach and Campground and the Starke County Forest, it does not have a dedicated funding source from the county government. However, the county council last week created a “special non-reverting park and recreation fund,” designed to let the park board accept “gifts, donations, and subsidies.”
Starke County Forest to Proceed with Timber Sale
Timber Sale Planned for Starke County Forest
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Grant Opportunities, Bass Lake Beach and Campground
The Starke County Park Board will discuss some potential sources of grant funding during tonight’s meeting.
Improvements Planned to Starke County Forest Access Lanes
As the Starke County Forest’s drainage issues are being resolved, Forester Bruce Wakeland is turning his attention to improving access throughout the property. He told the Starke County Park Board Tuesday that he’s been taking with Surveyor Bill Crase about building up the access lane to prevent it from washing out. Wakeland said Crase has sand available, but funding is needed to transport it to the forest. Continue reading
Bass Lake Beach and Campground, Starke County Forest to be Discussed by County Park Board
The Bass Lake Beach and Campground will once again be discussed by the Starke County Park Board tonight. The park board recently decided to hire an independent contractor to inspect the property, after the board was unable to get a formal report from the county building inspector. Continue reading
Beavers Removed from Starke County Forest to Solve Drainage Issues
Beavers have been removed from the Starke County Forest, in an attempt to improve drainage in the area. Starke County Park Board President Debbie Mix says the removal is complete, and the board approved the bill for the work Tuesday. Continue reading
