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July 31, 2006
Headlands Beach Update August 16, 2006
All of Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve and most of Headlands Beach State Park in Lake County reopened to visitors on Sunday, August 13. The eastern half of the mile-long beach and most of the parking lots are open, as are the main concession stand and five restrooms. Lifeguards are on duty. |
HEADLANDS BEACH STATE PARK AND NATURE PRESERVE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING
Lake County facilities closed until further notice
COLUMBUS, OH - Headlands Beach State Park and the adjoining Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve in Lake County are closed until further notice, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Extensive flooding in the Lake County area and high water in the Grand River, which flows adjacent to the park and nature preserve, have left the front entrance under water and about half of the park’s 126 acres submerged.
Assistant Park Manager Dave Frank said the water is slowly receding. However, Friday morning’s deluge partially washed out a park service road and left the entire area strewn with debris. The park’s concession stand, restrooms and service building were not damaged.
“Our biggest problem is standing water in the park and debris in the parking lot,” Frank said. “It may take us days or weeks to get this cleaned up and ready for the public to use once again.”
The park is home to Lake Erie’s longest natural sand beach - the one-mile Headlands Beach. More than 2.2 million people visited the park in 2005 to swim, sun, fish and picnic.
Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, located on 25 acres just east of the park, is one of the last remaining examples of Lake Erie beach and dune plant communities in the state. Sand-dropseed, beach pea, scouring rush, Canada wild-rye, wafer ash and wild bean are some of the plants that flourish in the preserve. In coming days, ODNR botanists will determine if any of these plant communities were damaged by last week’s flooding.
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