Let’s hit the beach! Were there ever more delightful words to childish ears? Families seeking summer’s traditional treasures can now map their routes to some real gems. Kosciusko County beaches have opened to promise long, wind-swept and sun-bleached days.
Center Lake and Pike Lake beaches in Warsaw
Pike and Center lakes are open. The beaches are they swim at your own risk, said Warsaw Parks Dept. recreation director Sheila Wieringa. Both beaches are free and have restrooms, and Center Lake has a large playground area, a pier and diving board
“They’re small – less than a quarter-mile total – but they pack big fun,” she said. Daily grooming with a surf rake and water quality testing by the Kosciusko County Health Dept. ensures not only great aesthetics but a safe and healthy environment.
School groups, daycare classes and summer camps have often made day trips to the beaches, she said. While groups may not be as plentiful this summer, anyone can use the beaches, as well as their parks and beautiful lakes, where swans, geese and ducks share their watery homes with visitors.
Water fountains are available at both beaches, and both have parks dotted with grills and tables for picnics and extended family outings. The Pike Lake Beach at 1009 E Arthur Street closes at 10 p.m., while Center Lake at 119 East Canal Street extends hours to 11 p.m.
Winona Lake Beach and Limitless Park
Saunter past The Village at Winona to 1590 Park Avenue to arrive at the Winona Lake Beach and adjacent Limitless Park, where fun for everybody is job one.
The name Limitless Park has a couple meanings, said Winona Lake Park Director Holly Hummitch, who has led a fund-raising group to make the park’s amenities accessible to everyone. Now into the second phase of a master plan, the playground is one-quarter of the way toward its accessibility goal, with the splash pad, designated universally accessible, opening on July 4 daily from the hours of 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
In addition to the playground and splash pad, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, a beach area, pavilions and tables for picnics, and lots of beautiful trees and grassy areas give visitors almost unlimited opportunities for fun –perfect for a family outing.
Lakeside Park, Syracuse Lake Beach and Hoy Beach in Syracuse
Situated on Lakeside Park, the anchor and largest park in the Syracuse system, the public beach on Syracuse Lake offers expansive views of the lake, plenty of picnic tables and a covered pavilion. The beach rivals Winona Lake’s in size and boasts ample green space at Lakeside, 801-901 N. Long Drive, Syracuse.
According to Amanda Torres, park office administrator, Lakeside’s green spaces allow for vigorous games of Frisbee, corn hole games and football, while a volleyball net invites even more athletes and spectators to join the fun. Picnic tables and grills allow cooks to show off culinary skills in an outdoor meal. There’s no lifeguard on staff now, but the department hopes to reinstate one in the future, Torres said.
If you’re in Zen mode and simply want to be present and contemplate nature’s beauty, Hoy Lake Beach is for you. With a simple picnic table and bench as the only amenities, this secluded lake beach at 399-353 N. Front St. is a favorite local getaway. As at all Syracuse beaches, you swim at your own risk.
North Webster Town Park and Beach
The North Webster Town Park, on the shore of Lake Webster at South Dixie Drive, rewards visitors with a small sandy beach, swing for adults, a large pavilion used to host musical activities and family gatherings, and public piers so boaters can motor over and tie up. Restrooms, drinking fountains and Lakeview Restaurant (a Pizza King) with indoor dining and outdoor lakeside deck tables make this beach visit convenient and fun. Due to COVID-19 virus restrictions, a ride on the Dixie Sternwheeler, a 91-year-old sternwheeler with a dock next door, will have to wait a season. In operation on Lake Webster since 1929, the Dixie will be back, with all her colorful history, next year.
Waubee Lake Park and Beach in Milford
One of the area’s larger beaches lies on Waubee Lake Park in Milford. The comfortable depth of 50 yards allows families to spread out towels, blankets and chairs for a roomy and comfortable soak in the sun. Situated on the lake’s northern tip at 325 E Camp Mack Road, the beach may be one of the region’s best-kept secrets. The beach is the boss here, as activities beyond picnicking at tables and enjoying the lake view from a bench are few. The payoff is peace and quiet, with plenty of room to spread out and explore.