Friends of Watkins Lake State Park launches

Meet the leaders: The new group Friends of Watkins Lake State Park is coordinated by board officers Geoffrey Cripe, president (far left); Laura Watkins Koelewijn, vice president (second from left); Sylvia Kay, secretary (second from right) and Spencer Kellum, treasurer (far right). Ben Spiegel (third from left) is the MDNR park supervisor and Mikayla Carbone (third from right) is the MDNR park ranger.

Story and photos
By John Hummer
Editor

More than 50 people came out on a beautiful August afternoon to a meet-and-greet open house hosted by Friends of Watkins Lake State Park (FoWL) at the park. The event officially launched the new group.

The afternoon featured a slate of speakers talking about the park’s rich history and natural wonders, music by Little Spoon River (an Irish Hills based duet), kids’ activities, wildlife viewing, a nature walk, and refreshments.

Watkins Lake Park & County Preserve, opened by the State of Michigan and Washtenaw County in 2016, features over 1,000 acres of hardwood forest, open meadows, fens, marsh, and open water. These areas all play a critical role in providing habitat for Michigan’s frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders, and a wide variety of wildlife and waterfowl.

Geoffrey Cripe, president of FoWL, served as the emcee and first speaker of the afternoon at the first public event held by FoWL. “We’ve been meeting for about three months trying to get everything launched,” Cripe said, adding that the group formally kicked off on Aug. 13.

Jeremy Siegrist, guitarist and singer of Irish Hills based duet Little Spoon River, entertained guests at the FoWL open house. His partner is singer and keyboardist Anna Snoeyink.

So, what is the new group setting out to accomplish? “We’re aiming to provide stewardship, education, and advocacy to those in appreciation for Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve,” Cripe explained. “This event today is really aimed at bringing our community together to appreciate this wonderful place and appreciate this moment in time with each other, and to bring awareness and build support for what Friends of Watkins Lake would like to accomplish. We’re going to need a lot more support in terms of helping hands to continue to sustain it.”

Cripe said FoWL will be holding some stewardship workdays with volunteers, likely starting next spring, to try to address some invasive species at the park (the primary one being autumn olive) to help increase biodiversity and attempt to create new native habitat. They also plan to address some of the safety hazards like removing old interior pasture fences. He noted that FoWL plans to hold educational events for the public, with a special focus on getting kids involved.

Left: Laura Watkins Koelewijn, FoWL vice president, spoke on the treasured history of the Watkins family and its great efforts to steward and safeguard the land around Watkins Lake since their arrival to the property in 1834. Her great-great-great-grandfather Royal Watkins, right, along with her great-great-grandfather LD Watkins came to Michigan in 1834 to the land that is now the state park. Laura says, “I spent many hours with my dad and grandpa experiencing the land and hearing stories of all that went on before. It has always been a special place for me…”

The park is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on the Jackson County side of the park (717 acres) and by the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission on the Washtenaw County side (405 acres). FoWL plans to support both entities as part of its mission. A formal memorandum of understanding is in the works with the MDNR.

Watkins Lake State Park & County Preserve was dedicated in memory of pioneers/settlers Royal Watkins and his wife who came from Keene, New Hampshire in 1854 via the Erie Canal to Detroit by steamship. Four yokes of oxen were purchased in Detroit that took the family on a six-day trip to the new land.

FoWL officially kicked off as a membership-based organization on Sunday. Individual memberships are $20; family/organization memberships are $50. (See end of story for more details on how to join.). The group has applied for its federal 501(c)3 status and is already registered as a nonprofit organization at the state level.

Approximately 50 people turned out for the Friends of Watkins Lake State Park meet-and-greet open house this past Sunday amidst a beautiful day of community building and nature.

Annual dues will support the group’s mission to provide stewardship, education, and advocacy to foster appreciation for Watkins Lake State Park and help sustain its attributes into the future. Cripe said funds will also help to put on the group’s events, bring in speakers, and provide matching funds for stewardship grants, among other activities. “We’ll have several subcommittees to work behind the scenes,” he noted.

Cripe noted the best way currently to connect with FoWL is through its Facebook page: WatkinsLakeSPCP. There is also a temporary website set up at friendsofwatkinslake.my.canva.site. For more information and to become a member, email Cripe at friends@watkinslake.online.