Sterling State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William C. Sterling State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Pedestrian bridge over lagoon
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 William C. Sterling State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Frenchtown Charter Township Monroe County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Monroe, Michigan |
| Area | 1,300 acres (530 ha) |
| Elevation | 591 feet (180 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1935 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Sterling State Park |
William C. Sterling State Park is a fun place to visit in Michigan! It's located in Frenchtown Charter Township, near the city of Monroe. This park is special because it's the only state park in Michigan right on the shores of Lake Erie.
The park covers about 1,300 acres, which is like 1,300 football fields! Much of it has cool man-made lagoons and a beautiful beachfront close to where Sandy Creek meets the lake. People love coming here for the big campground, the sandy beach, places to launch boats, and great spots for fishing from the shore. Plus, there are over 7 miles of trails perfect for biking and hiking!
Contents
Park History
How the Park Started
The park is named after a man named William Clark Sterling (1849–1924). He was a businessman who also loved the outdoors. William Sterling was one of the first people to understand how important it was to protect natural swamp areas. He knew these places were good for the environment and for future generations.
In 1935, the state of Michigan bought the first 134 acres for the park. This land was a narrow strip between Lake Erie and a lagoon. Some of the land was given by the city of Monroe and a company called Monroe Piers Land Company. William Sterling used to own this company. The park officially opened the next year, in 1936.
Cleaning Up Lake Erie
For a long time, the water at Sterling State Park was very polluted. This was because of dirty water flowing into Lake Erie from the Detroit River. The pollution harmed a lot of wildlife and made the lake unsafe for swimming.
To fix this, millions of dollars were spent to clean up the Lake Erie coastline. This effort helped restore the area. In the late 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the area was still a concern because of pollution in Lake Erie and the River Raisin. Studies showed high levels of certain chemicals, like PCBs, in fish. This pollution came from factories and power plants near the River Raisin and Lake Erie.
For example, a Ford plant and the Monroe Power Plant (which burns coal) had a big impact. In 1997, the Ford company worked to remove about 25,000 cubic yards of polluted mud from the River Raisin. This was a big step in cleaning up the area.
Park Improvements and Wildlife Return
In 2001, William C. Sterling State Park became part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. This was great news because it meant the park could get money from the government. About $12 million was spent to make the park even better!
The park closed in 2003 for a big renovation project. They added miles of new walking paths through wetlands. These areas had been closed for a long time. Today, the park has many beautiful lagoons and marshes. These places are now great homes for many different kinds of wildlife and birds that have returned to the area.
During the renovation, there were some concerns about E. coli bacteria in Lake Erie. However, William C. Sterling State Park was closed then, so its waters were not tested. Today, swimming in Lake Erie is always checked to make sure the water is safe. The lake has been much cleaner in recent years, which is a huge benefit for William C. Sterling State Park.
Park Activities and Fun
Today, William C. Sterling State Park offers many fun things to do!
- Camping: There are 256 modern campsites. They are open from April 15 to November 1.
- Picnics: You can enjoy picnic areas and shelters for outdoor meals.
- Trails: Explore miles of trails perfect for biking and hiking.
- Metal Detecting: There's a special area where you can use a metal detector.
- Beach Access: Enjoy the beautiful beach on Lake Erie.
- Playgrounds: Kids can have fun on the playgrounds.
If there's more than four inches of snow, you can even go snowmobiling in the park! The park is also next to a large 36-hole golf course.
Every year for Independence Day, the city of Monroe has a fireworks show over Lake Erie. You can see the fireworks clearly from the park! Thousands of people come to watch, and many boats gather on the lake for the best view.
