Village officials will be reviewing Empire’s five year Park’s Plan at a public hearing Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.
Empire holds one of the best public beach alongside Lake Michigan, along with Shalda Park and a downtown green space in its 1.1-mile fortress.
Empire is surrounded from all directions by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
In a packet released by the village authored by March Dye, the village recognizes the importance of maintaining its parks and recreation facilities and planning for future recreation services and facilities. The park has completed most projects by applying for federal and state grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
In 2018, Empire made the decision to update recreation information and create a standalone Village of Empire Recreation Plan.
“The 2025 Recreation Plan recommends a more formal committee focusing on recreational seven issues. The committee would be a recommending body only responsible to the Village Council.
“It would serve as a community sounding board on recreation matters, working with other community partners to investigate and propose fully conceived plans (including cost analysis) and provide a forum for residents’ concerns that would ultimately be sent to the Village Council for consideration,” the proposal said.
The Village of Empire intends to continue to partner with the National Park Service, Leelanau County, the Leelanau Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and other recreation providers in Empire and its surrounding area on projects as appropriate.
The general recreation expenditure (non-project years) averages $75,513 for specific projects since 2019.
The 2024 village budget is $875,189 and the expenditures for recreation which includes Empire Beach Park, Shalda Park, and a downtown greens space, were $250,000 in 2024; $102,452 (2023); $86,149 (2022); $68,135 (2021); $235,334 (2020); and $82,255 (2019).
The plan proposes several actions over five years: Empire Beach Park
1. Develop and implement a plan to improve access to Lake Michigan Beach (rip rap/concrete removal).
2. Refresh and update the Lake Michigan Beach Park Pavilion.
3. Research and demo beach groomer options.
4. Add a changing room area by the restrooms.
5. Add additional trash receptacles during peak months 6. Acquire property along the eastern shore of South Bar Lake 7. Develop a boardwalk/walkway plan for nature viewing and fishing along the southern shores of South Bar Lake.
Shalda Park:
1. Add a playground and improved fitness facilities at Shalda Park.
2. Enhance the ballpark facilities with a new scoreboard and removal of posts and lights.
3. Research and recommend skate park options on site.
4. Add a pavilion structure in ADA picnic area.
5. Research and survey residents on support of a community garden 6. Designate an area and provide infrastructure to support a pickleball court.
Downtown Park
1. Refresh the information kiosk 2. Design a plan for park enhancements to include screening planting in the back of the property, adding a gazebo, additional benches, and smaller picnic tables.
3. Incorporate possible public restroom facility placement installation depending on future wastewater system implementation.
4. Develop a proposal and plan for an ice rink.
Trail System
1. Research and implement a shared roads campaign for Front Street, Lake, and LaCore streets.
Recreation Activity Support
1. Meet with the Chamber, EACC, Glen Lake Library, and community volunteers to formulate an achievable set of actions for a recreation activities committee group.
2. Based on the action plan from those meetings, form or reformulate a Village Council committee or agree to have a Village Council representative participate with recreation activity providers on the Recreation Activity Committee to serve as a community sounding board on recreation matters, working with other community partners to investigate and propose fully conceived plans (including cost analysis) and provide a forum for residents’ concerns.
3. Working with community partners, develop a communications plan for recreational activities and events.
