By Lisa Carolin
(Chelsea Update is running a series on businesses in Chelsea beginning with businesses that belong to the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce. This week it’s the Waterloo Recreation Area.)
The Waterloo Recreation Area, which is 21,000 acres, is the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula. It is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division and a member of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.
Waterloo was designated a state park in 1943, and today offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation.
“There are four campgrounds, access to ten lakes, and multiple developed day use areas,” said Gary Jones, park manager of the Waterloo Recreation Area. “There are over 50 miles of trails that include hiking, equestrian and mountain biking.”
The Discovery Center is also part of the Waterloo Recreation area and provides year-round programming in environmental education as well as classes on recreational activities like kayaking, fishing and archery.
‘While the 600,000 visitors a year come from all over, Waterloo Recreation Area also contributes to the quality of life for the local residents,” said Jones. “Waterloo is part of the Chelsea Chamber to be better connected and support the community. Staff has worked with the chamber and other local groups to form the Big 400 with an economic development goal that balances nature with commerce.”
We are fortunate to have such a wonderful resource available to us all.
Indeed we are incredibly fortunate. There are so many lovely places to hike and so many wonderful things to see.