About

Our History

Community leaders established Lake Antoine Park Partners (LAPP) to help meet the needs of the eighty-year-old Lake Antoine Park. This exceeded the ability of one full-time county employee, especially after the devastation caused by a windstorm in 2015. Initially, a volunteer group gathered to help with storm damage clean-up. That group continued its work wherever needed and gained momentum with public support expressed at two community meetings hosted by Breitung Township. Seeing significant citizen passion for restoring and improving the aging park, a steering committee was formed to develop the group’s name, by-laws, and logo. Nine individuals accepted the invitation to become members of the inaugural Board of Directors of the Lake Antoine Park Partners and were seated in July 2017. LAPP established its financial structure, applied for, and received 501 (c) 3 non-profit status in early 2018. An all-volunteer Board of nine members continues to make up the Board of Directors. Community volunteers assisted us with various events and projects. LAPP has been a member of the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce since 2019 and enjoys learning from other groups in our community while allowing businesses to contribute to the park.

A five-year Strategic Plan was approved in May 2018, incorporating a ten-year plan for park improvements and LAPP’s goal to encourage long-term community support. The LAPP Board approved a second five-year Strategic Plan in 2023, reflecting the completion of nearly all items in the first plan and moving the organization ahead with an emphasis on increasing accessibility at the park and creating more stable funding through memberships and other means. Board members have utilized their skills to garner support and partnership on numerous grant or donor-funded park improvement projects. LAPP initiated seven popular community events at the park to expand usership and create goodwill (Crafty Flea Market, Movies in the Park, Free Family Fishing, Fall Fest, Lights at the Lake, Kites Over Awesome Lake Antoine, Clean-Up Days.) These had brought thousands of people to the park in the Fall and Winter months when dog walkers previously used the park minimally. LAPP maintains a cooperative and productive relationship with the County Board and the park staff. Our efforts are geared toward non-infrastructure improvements that improve usership and aesthetics at the park while complementing county policies and park ordinances. Increasing access for users of all abilities is a strong focus of our efforts.

Our park improvements include the addition of a community calendar to the boat landing area, upgrading pavilion signage, the installation of a series of seven large display panels on the beach house depicting the history of Lake Antoine Park and the surrounding area, and planting a butterfly garden on the lake side of the beach house, plus the unveiling in April 2024 of two US veterans art work on the former concession stand.Since its inception in late 2017, Lake Antoine Park Partners has received over $100,000 in grants and donations. All funding has gone to improving the park. The LAPP Board volunteers their time to write grants, seek bids for projects, cooperate and communicate with the county, procure materials and partners, and complete grant reports.

Partnership and grant funding has been secured from individual donations, corporations, and foundations, including Boss/Toro Community Giving Program, Michigan Arbor Day Foundation, Weyerhauser, Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development, Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands, Walmart, Dickinson Conservation District, and dozens of local businesses. These funds have helped us install 270' of beach wall with a handicap ramp to stabilize and improve access to the main beach area; re-face the front entrance structures; give a facelift to the camp store, a restroom, and the beach house; improve safety and aesthetics at the nearby historic artesian well; improve park signage; and add amenities like information kiosks, recycling bins, dog waste stations, a kayak launch, a Wi-Fi café/seating area near the office, a history wall, butterfly garden, and thirty new trees.

Our most recent park improvements include the addition of a community calendar to the boat landing area, upgrading pavilion signage, the installation of a series of seven large display panels on the beach house depicting the history of Lake Antoine Park and the surrounding area, and planting a butterfly garden on the lake side of the beach house to help improve a dismal looking space, plus the unveiling in April 2024 of two US veterans art work on the former concession stand. Donors funded this project at the location of what LAPP hopes will be the new Sunset Beach.

Community Support

Since its inception in late 2017, Lake Antoine Park Partners has received over $100,000 in grants and donations. All funding has gone to improving the park. The LAPP Board volunteers their time to write grants, seek bids for projects, cooperate and communicate with the county, procure materials and partners, and complete grant reports.

Partnership and grant funding has been secured from individual donations, corporations, and foundations, including Boss/Toro Community Giving Program, Michigan Arbor Day Foundation, Weyerhauser, Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development, Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands, Walmart, Dickinson Conservation District, and dozens of local businesses. These funds have helped us install 270' of beach wall with a handicap ramp to stabilize and improve access to the main beach area; re-face the front entrance structures; give a facelift to the camp store, a restroom, and the beach house; improve safety and aesthetics at the nearby historic artesian well; improve park signage; and add amenities like information kiosks, recycling bins, dog waste stations, a kayak launch, a Wi-Fi café/seating area near the office, a history wall, butterfly garden, and thirty new trees in the camping area, and a new shoreline boulder wall in front of a new picnic area with ADA walkways.