Pools, parks and lakes: Where to dip your toes in the water in Greater Lansing this summer

LANSING — Toes in the sand, Emberleigh Perry was relaxing in a chair on a beach in Greenbush Township, north of St. Johns.

She kept an eye on four children, her own and nieces and nephews, all between five and 12 years old, as they splashed in the lake at Motz County Park. She had just seen someone swimming laps in a wetsuit.

Perry said she normally likes to go Up North or to Lake Michigan for swimming with family, but long weekends are rare so one of her go-to swimming holes is Motz, which is close to her Elsie home.

Motz wasn't busy on June 14, when the temps were in the mid-70, despite the sunny skies.

"Come back here in July, there's going to be a lot of people here," Perry said.

Sitting on the beach nearby were three friends enjoying their retirement, lounging in beach chairs and visiting the park for the first time.

"I'd come back - very nice, very clean," said Lisa Nurenberg, who was with Lynne Wieber and Shelly Pline.

They usually go to lake cabins for swimming, but they said they are starting to enjoy local spots, especially on afternoons when they can enjoy the water without a long drive.

There's a lot of places to cool off in the water near Lansing this summer, despite some of the area's longstanding favorite pools being dry for the start of the season.

Three popular pools are currently closed. Hunter Park's pool is expected to reopen soon. The former Michigan State University natatorium has been demolished and the century-old historic landmark Moores Park pool sits in financial limbo.

The number of public pools in Michigan include somewhere between 4,500 and 5,200 pools, according to Scott Dean, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Those state-regulated public pools range from large municipal water parks with slides to small fitness center or hotel spas.

Still, be aware: There's a lifeguard shortage. Hiring enough people to watch pools and beaches has been a challenge, and officials are warning that lifeguards may not always be present at beaches.

Lifeguards are required at pools with diving boards, those that are exceptionally large with 2,400 square feet or more and government-owned pools, including school pools.

State officials attribute the shortages to COVID and a lack of in-person training, Dean said in an email.

He said other states have used incentives like higher pay, paid lunch and paid training to help recruit lifeguards.

Scott Bean, a spokesman for Lansing, confirmed there aren't enough qualified people applying for lifeguard jobs and it will likely be noticed at city pools this summer.

As many as half the nation's public pools could need to close or reduce hours this summer due to the lifeguard shortage, said Wyatt Werneth, a spokesman for the American Lifeguard Association.

He said boosting the status of the job - he became a lifeguard back when "Baywatch" was king - as a responsible profession and a precursor to a fire or military career could help bring more people back to lifeguard towers.

"Lifeguards are a unique opportunity to help the community and boost tourism and prevent people from getting into danger," Werneth said.

Here's a list of places to cool off as temperatures rise this summer:

Let's start with pools

East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbot Road, East Lansing

This is a family- and kid-centered pool with 190- and 140-foot water slides, zero entry pool, splash park, concession stand and water features for toddlers.

The pool is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until Sunday, Aug. 20, which marks the start of another school year for several districts. It will be open for two more weekends with the last swim planned for Sept. 4.

Daily admission is $11; season passes are $95; and booklets of 10 tickets, $90. There also are senior discounts, along with free entry for children 2-years-old or younger.

Alfreda Schmidt Community Center Pool, 5825 Wise Road, Lansing

It's the only Lansing city pool to be open at the start of the season, but it does not have open swim hours. There is open lap swimming for $3 from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing

The center has a 25-yard indoor heated pool with lap times that can be reserved with a maximum 12 people an hour. There are open swim times available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Charlotte Aquatic Center, 1068 Carlisle Highway, Charlotte

The center has a 91-degree therapy pool, with regular programming, and an 83-degree competition pool with more open times. Entry is $4, and instructional classes could cost more.

The center has "pool parties" that act as open swim hours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The main pool is open to members and non-members throughout the week but some lanes may be taken by instructional classes. The therapy pool has open times between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and most days from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and after 7 p.m.

Mason High School, 1001 S. Barnes St., Mason

The school pool has open summer hours from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with extra hours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. There are additional summertime adult swim and water fitness times.

Open swim entry is $3 for adults and $2 for students and seniors, or an $8 family of four rate.

Sparrow Michigan Athletic Club, 2900 Hannah Blvd, East Lansing

Open swim hours vary at the club's three pools, which are an indoor lap and recreation pool, an outdoor lap pool and a leisure pool. The M.A.C. requires membership. Visit https://www.sparrow.org/our-hospitals-services/michigan-athletic-club for membership and schedule information.

St. Johns High School pool, 501 W. Sickles St., St Johns

Open swim sessions are 1:15-4:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting June 21. Access is through the school's activity entrance. The swim time costs $3 for adults, $2.50 for children seven to 17 years of age and $2 for children four to six years of age with younger children free. A family visit pass is $12.

Don't forget the beaches

Before you swim at a public beach, take a quick check on the conditions at a state-maintained BeachGuard database (https://www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/ ).

The database tracks approximately 1,200 public beaches and 600 private beaches in the state for closures and advisories.

On Thursday, the state had beaches on Haynor Lake in Livingston County, Cass Lake in Oakland County and two on Saginaw Bay-Lake Huron in Arenac County on its advisory list.

Motz County Park, 4630 N. DeWitt Road, St. Johns

The completely handicap-accessible park has a sandy beach, unisex bathrooms, picnic tables, a fishing pier and trails. The park is free. It is open from 8 a.m. until sundown and park rangers are on duty until Labor Day.

Clinton Lakes County Park, 4665 N. DeWitt Road, St. Johns

Across the street from Motz Park, this park features a stocked fishing pond, a sloped swim area, toilets and five miles of hiking trails. It is also free and operates with the same schedule as Motz.

Park Lake Beach,  6244 Park Lake Road, Bath Township

The sandy beach with a swim area, pavilion, picnic area, fishing dock and portable bathroom is on the north shore of Park Lake and near the Park Lake Creamery. There is parking for about 20 vehicles.

Lake Lansing Park South, 1621 Pike St., Haslett

It is the former home of an amusement park with some remnants remaining, like a small racing track now used for tricycles. The park has a sandy beach, bath house and snack bar, and there are regular concerts during the summer. It is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day from noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

The beach may be closed during poor weather and lifeguards will be on duty when available.

The Ingham County park has a vehicle entry fee of $3 for county residents and $5 for others, with yearly passes available.

Valhalla Park, 2287 Pine Tree Road, Holt

The park has bathrooms, a beach and playground along with baseball/softball diamonds. It is open 8 a.m. to dusk year-round, with cross-country skiing taking place of swimming during the winter.

Burchfield Park Beach, 881 Grovenburg Road, Holt

The beach is in a 540-acre park with woods and trails and public beach access. The beach is open from noon to 8 p.m. and staffed with lifeguards as available. There is a bath house. Like other Ingham County parks, there is a vehicle entry fee.

Fox Memorial Park, 3981 E. Gresham Highway, Potterville

This beach, on a small kidney-shaped lake in a 100-acre park, is open from 8 a.m. to dusk. Vehicle entry fees have been waived for 2023. The park includes restrooms, trails and an open air observatory.

Last, but not least: Splash parks

Hawk Island Splash Pad, 1601 E. Cavanaugh Road, Lansing

The splash pad at Hawk Island Park will be open through Labor Day weekend from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, weather permitting. The splash pad is free, but there is an Ingham County vehicle fee to worry about. The park also includes a beach and an asphalt walking trail around the entire lake. The beach is open from noon to 8 p.m. and staffed with lifeguards when available.

Grand Ledge Splash Pad at Jaycee Park, 525 E. River St., Grand Ledge

The Jaycee Park splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. The splash pad is free.

St. Johns Community Spray Park: 805 W. Park St., St. Johns

The St. Johns Community Spray Park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There is no admission charge.

Did we miss your favorite swimming spot? Let us know!

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Here's where you can cool off this summer in the Lansing area