By Laurel Droz
Staff Writer
Groveland Twp.- Along with the Canada geese and robins synonymous with spring–campers will soon return to the Holly Recreation Area.
Park supervisor Shawn Speaker is geared up for the new season, which begins April 21.
‘This is a very family oriented park,? says Speaker, who is in his second year at the park supervisor.
Each year as Michigan winter melts into spring, campers make their way to the parks secluded campgrounds. The majority of lots, costing $16 without access to an electrical hookup or $19 with, offer privacy with trees and shrubs lining the borders.
For those interested in the great outdoors but wishing to sleep indoors, Speaker recommends one of the parks rustic cabins.
The Rolston cabin is a historic log cabin on the grounds available for $80 per night. Built in 1938, the cabin is near a shallow pond in the woods and has room enough for six people.
Also available are two mini-cabins, for $45 per night.
Holly Recreation Area is nearly 8,000 acres.Three thousand acres of the park are dedicated to habitat preservation, while 5,000 acres are activity oriented. Hunting is allowed on both sides.
With swimming season quickly approaching, Speaker, 35, says he doesn’t recall any incidents the beach closing because of E.coli, a common problem in area lakes. E.coli’an infection causing bacterium? is spread through contact with human or animal feces.
Speaker said the problem is controlled in the park by controlling the population of Canada geese, one of the major contributors of the sickness. Geese are kept at bay by relocation and nest destruction, said Park supervisor Gary Orr, 39, who has been employed at the park for a year..
Additionally, the park has not seen the onslought of zebra muscles that has plagued many area lakes. Speaker attributes this to park regulations banning speed boats and other high-power boats, since those are in large part the vessels most often being moved from lake to lake.
Though park officials had difficulties with roads in the past, Speaker says those issues have been resolved.
After grinding the asphalt on park roads in an effort to re-press and smooth them, troubles began when the process did not work and left a gravel-like consistency to the roads. The result was an increase in dust and poorer driving conditions.
Speaker said the Oakland County Road Commission was hired to grade and chloride the roads until money is raised to repave them. ‘It’s made a big difference,? says Speaker. ‘It’s been a really good temporary solution.?
The Holly Civil War reenactment will return to the park for a tenth year, May 12-14. Sponsored by ‘The Friends of Holly?, the event is designed to use reenactment as a tool for education.
Holly Recreation Area operates on funds generated by fees paid by visitors. ‘A majority of funds state parks run on come in our doors,? said Speaker. ‘We’re basically a self-sustaining agency.?