Pier Cove Life Jacket Station
Build a Life Jacket Station on Lake Michigan at Pier Cove. This station will need volunteers to check for missing life jackets two times per week. We will replace missing life jackets.
The Fennville, Pullman, Lakeshore Rotary would like to donate a life jacket station and twenty certified life jackets (assorted sizes) for Pier Cove Beach once construction and renovations are completed. (Proposed installation -Memorial Day Weekend 2025)
In the last few years, the number of drownings and near drownings in Lake Michigan has increased. In response, Bronson Health Foundation and Safe Kids Greater South Haven program submitted a joint grant request to the South Haven Rotary for two life jacket stations and the South Haven Rotary agreed to fund two stations for City of South Haven beaches. The total cost for 2 stations was $1,640 of which $1100 went to the cost of construction of the stations and $540 to supply 20 life jackets at each station. In 2022, South Haven had their two stations installed. Pam Ford, program coordinator of the Safe Kids program has a long term plan to offer these life jacket stations along Lake Michigan beaches. In conversations with her, she has agreed to help us duplicate her efforts for Fennville area beaches.
The Fennville, Pullman, Lakeshore Rotary is prepared to cover the expenses towards the actual build of a life station i.e. construction, maintenance and replacement of certified life jackets as needed for three years with the possibility of continuing for another period of time mutually acceptable to Ganges Township. If the township wishes to close down the station, then Rotary would be responsible to take it down and off the beach grounds. The Rotary would agree to cooperate fully with the township requirements.
This project would benefit anyone visiting the area within the confines of the public beach located at Pier Cove Beach who is in need of a life jacket. Signage (agreed upon by the township) would include recommendations for appropriate use and further emergency steps.
Pam Ford has agreed to work with the Rotary to install the station with the aid of one of her experienced workers. That individual will train 3-5 Rotary volunteers who will check the station twice a week. (We envision a Friday morning check and a Monday morning check.)
The life jackets will be available May-September. (Life jacket storage, clean up and replacement will be the Rotary’s responsibility.)