I was just trying to find the date the law made it legal to walk the beaches anywhere when I found this article. Very informative.
I’ve been walking the beaches all my life. And had more than my fill of selfish home owners chasing me off “their beach.” Just walking along the waters edge, what is the big deal here?
One rude woman actually chased after me shouting at me to get off HER BEACH. I said I’m not on your beach. I’m in the water. So is the dog. IN the water. Literally up to the lab’s belly IN the lake.
OHHHH she was mad. Selfish and unreasonable.
So I was delighted when Michigan changed the laws and made it perfectly legal to walk the beaches anywhere as it always should have been.
And that’s all I do. No camping out, no chair, just walking past. Usually with my feet wet at least.
I think it would be so much simpler if the laws simply stated you own your building, and if the land can support it, say a deck, then build a deck and you own that. A deck would not last if build within the natural erosion line, so that space is public. That does NOT mean you own the beach between the lake and building. Now this would not mean anyone can just camp out there. But walking past? So what? If you don’t want people walking past, don’t buy a house right on the lake.
For the past, oh, more than two decades now, my favorite spot is in SW Michigan, Silver beach. Between the public park silver beach, and further south is another park called Lions, between the two once was open land. Small homes, set back, most across the road with only the occasional small, set back cottage on the lake side of the road but well back from the water. But over the years, bigger monstrosities kept going up closer and closer to the water. The worst of all is RIGHT at the edge of Lions park. A huge castle like home went up RIGHT ON the waters edge. I’m sure the people living in the house behind it who once had a view of the lake and now have a view of their garage were just thrilled when this two story “look at MEEEE” castle went up. In fact all those huge homes blocked the views of the home owners they plopped right in front of.
Well with lake erosion going on, this house looked like it was actually in danger of sliding into the lake.
(idiots never should have built it so close in the first place.) They had steps down to the beach at one point, but the lake took care of that.
So they dumped huge boulders in front and put signs and string all over saying keep out. Only way past was to wade out into the lake.
For years I’ve watched the same old man walk the length of the beach up to the St Joe pier and back. He minded his business, just out for his hike and that all stopped when those rocks blocked the way.
Just this summer, they dredged at the opening of the river which they have to do fairly often. Only this time, they ran pipe all the way from the St Joe river south to this one house and dumped the sand there making a big new beach just for them. Gees, lions park is so eroded it’s hard to get from the parking lot to the lake because a tall metal breakwater is now exposed. Silver beach too has been badly eroded. But rather than give the sand to the public parks, this ONE home owner got it all piped to his house.
And in just a month’s time since, it’s already being eroded. Personally, I hope his whole house does slide into the lake. Karma!
hahaha… I have to laugh. The home right next to that (I call it the boulder castle) just this year decided to expand their home and effectively blocked the north view the castle once had. I’m just waiting for the home next to that one to do the same. All while the lake keeps cutting into the shore closer and closer.
Personally, (and I know it’s way too late for this.) But I wish NO ONE could own a house right on the lake. All homes should have been built on the far side of the nearest road. OR have front yards that are well beyond ANY natural erosion lines. Anything from that point to the water is public. The whole lake shore should be one big public parcel. (yea I can dream can’t I?)