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The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum would likely be impacted by the parking fees.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — Three nonprofit organizations that operate popular attractions along Ludington’s waterfront could be negatively impacted by the City of Ludington’s proposed seasonal paid parking program. Representatives of the Mason County Historical Society and Ludington Area Jaycees have raised concerns that charging visitors to park could reduce attendance, increase costs for families and volunteers, and ultimately decrease the organizations’ ability to serve the community.
The initial proposal presented to city council last month would charge visitors $15 per day or $75 for an annual pass to park at Stearns Park and several nearby waterfront locations, including the Loomis Street Boat Launch area and the parking lot serving the Ludington Area Jaycees Mini Golf Course and skate park. Qualifying City of Ludington residents and property owners would receive free parking passes.
The original proposal called for the parking fees to be in effect from May 15 through Sept. 15, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
While the city views the proposal as a way to generate revenue for waterfront maintenance and improvements, representatives of nonprofit organizations that have invested in waterfront attractions say the additional expense could have unintended consequences.
Historical society raises concerns about museum access
Through an email, Rebecca Berringer, executive director of the Mason County Historical Society, recently addressed the organization’s members about concerns raised by its board of directors regarding the potential impact on the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum.
The museum, located at 217 S. Lakeshore Drive, does not have a dedicated parking lot and relies on nearby public parking spaces for its visitors.
“Representatives from MCHS attended Monday evening’s City Council meeting to share our concerns,” Berringer stated in a message to members. “The Maritime Museum does not have its own parking lot, and many visitors must use the nearby public parking areas. Adding a parking fee on top of museum admission could discourage visitation, particularly among families and others seeking an affordable way to experience Ludington’s maritime history.”
The historical society, established in 1937, operates the maritime museum in the former U.S. Coast Guard Station Ludington, which was constructed in 1934. The Coast Guard operated from the building until 2004, when a new station was constructed nearby.
In April 2007, the city and historical society entered into an agreement allowing the organization to develop and operate a maritime museum in the historic building. The federal government transferred ownership of the property to the city in 2010.
Following an extensive restoration and development project that raised more than $5 million, much of it through local contributions, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum opened in June 2017.
The building remains owned by the city, with the historical society operating the museum through a long-term agreement.
According to Berringer, the 2017 agreement included provisions requiring the city to provide 20 parking spaces and one motorcoach parking space for museum visitors. It also called for parking along South Lakeshore Drive, south of Loomis Street, to be reserved for museum visitors during museum operating hours.
Nearly 10 years after the agreement was signed, historical society representatives say the city has not fulfilled those parking provisions.
Parking on South Lakeshore Drive is frequently occupied by people visiting nearby condominiums and residences, as well as other waterfront visitors. During the busy summer months, museum patrons often must find alternative parking.
The situation is further complicated by parking at the Loomis Street Boat Launch.
The city already charges fees for vehicles with boat trailers using the launch facility. However, the southern portion of the parking area includes designated single-vehicle parking spaces that are currently free.
Those spaces are regularly used by people walking along the harbor channel, watching the SS Badger and other vessels, visiting the nearby dog beach and attending the maritime museum. There is also a nearby public picnic shelter and a fish cleaning station.
Vehicles hauling boat trailers also sometimes park illegally in the single-vehicle spaces along South Lakeshore Drive to avoid the existing boat-launch parking fees.
Under the city’s proposal, the currently free parking area south of Loomis Street would become part of the seasonal paid parking program.
Berringer said the arrangement could create additional difficulties for school groups and their chaperones.
“We are especially concerned about the impact on school groups,” she stated. “Chaperones often drive separately and meet the students at the museum to help during their visit. Requiring each chaperone to pay for parking could create an added financial burden for the families and volunteers who make these educational experiences possible.”
Berringer also questioned where school buses would park if access to the boat-launch parking area were restricted.
Another concern involves the museum’s senior citizen visitors, who make up a significant portion of the museum’s attendance and membership.
Berringer said requiring visitors to obtain parking passes inside the museum and then return to their vehicles would be an unreasonable burden for some visitors.
“A significant portion of the museum’s visitors and members are senior citizens,” she stated. “Requiring visitors to enter the museum, obtain a parking pass, and then walk back to place it in their vehicle would create an unnecessary hardship, particularly for older adults and visitors with limited mobility. This is not a practical or acceptable solution.”
She said that if the city implements paid parking, an enforcement system would be necessary to ensure parking spaces designated for the museum remain available exclusively to museum visitors.
Berringer also emphasized the financial investment made by donors and members to establish and maintain the museum.
“Our members and donors have invested in more than the preservation of the museum,” she stated. “Their support helps bring visitors to Ludington; both near and far, contributing to the economic growth and vitality of our community. Under the proposed plan, these same supporters would be required to pay for parking each time they visit the museum and the community they are helping support.”
She added that reduced museum attendance would affect admission revenue that supports exhibits, building maintenance and the preservation of the historic Coast Guard station.
Jaycees concerned about impact on mini golf and community donations
Similar concerns have been raised by the Ludington Area Jaycees, which operates the miniature golf course at Stearns Park.
Mary Burden, manager and co-chair of the Jaycees Mini Golf Course, addressed City Council during its Oct. 26 meeting.
Burden, a Victory Township resident, said charging for parking in the lot serving the miniature golf course and skate park could significantly affect the attraction’s business.
“I am concerned about the currently written proposed seasonal parking program in the Stearns Park area, in particular the small parking lot used for the mini golf and skate park,” Burden told councilors. “It will adversely affect our mini golf business, our ability to donate back to the community, and provide funding for the Fourth of July festivities.”
The miniature golf course has operated at Stearns Park for decades, providing an affordable recreational activity while generating money that the Jaycees redistribute to other community organizations and activities.
Burden said most customers spend less than an hour playing a round of miniature golf, which typically costs $9.
Under the proposed parking plan, a nonresident family visiting the attraction could face an additional $15 parking expense on top of the cost of playing miniature golf.
“The vast majority of our customers spend under an hour playing at the mini golf,” Burden said. “We pride ourselves in providing an entertaining activity at a reasonable price.”
She said she believes some potential customers would choose other activities rather than pay the additional parking fee.
Burden explained that the golf course normally employs six people. In 2026, only two of those employees were City of Ludington residents, meaning most employees would not qualify for the proposed free city resident parking passes.
She said approximately 58% of the course’s gross income is used to cover operating expenses.
For the past 60 years, she said, between 20% and 30% of the miniature golf course’s annual income — not just its profits — has been donated back to the community through nonprofit organizations and other local programs.
“Implementing this proposed seasonal paid parking program will decrease our customer attendance, which will decrease our income, which will decrease the amount of funding we can provide for community enrichment,” Burden told councilors.
Burden asked city officials to consider alternatives if the parking program moves forward.
Among her suggestions was reserving three free parking spaces for miniature golf employees and Jaycees volunteers. She also suggested similar accommodations for Stearns Park concession stand employees and lighthouse volunteers.
Additionally, she asked city officials to consider an hourly parking rate for the miniature golf and skate park parking lot, recognizing that most visitors spend considerably less than a full day at those attractions.
Lighthouse also serves visitors
Another nonprofit organization operating along the waterfront is Lakeshore Keepers, which manages public access to the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse.
The lighthouse, located at the end of the north breakwater, is a popular destination for visitors to Stearns Park and the Ludington waterfront.
Lakeshore Keepers generates income through admission fees for visitors who climb the lighthouse tower and through souvenir sales. That revenue helps support the organization’s operations and preservation efforts.
Visitors who drive to Stearns Park to tour the lighthouse would also be subject to the proposed parking charges unless they qualify for an exemption.
The city’s current proposal includes one free parking space for a North Breakwater Lighthouse volunteer and two free spaces for the Stearns Park concessions vendor. It does not provide general parking exemptions for visitors to nonprofit attractions.
All three organizations — the Mason County Historical Society, Ludington Area Jaycees and Lakeshore Keepers — are nonprofit organizations that depend on revenue from visitors, memberships, donations and other fundraising activities to support their missions.
City seeking revenue for waterfront maintenance
City officials have said the proposed parking program is intended to generate a sustainable source of funding for maintenance and capital improvements at Stearns Park and other waterfront facilities.
The program would cover approximately 411 parking spaces, including spaces at Stearns Park, Loomis Street, the miniature golf course and skate park, the lower water plant lot and the west end of Ludington Avenue.
According to the city’s draft proposal, parking revenue remaining after operating expenses would be directed toward waterfront and park maintenance and improvements, helping reduce reliance on the city’s general fund.
The proposal remains in draft form. Final revenue projections and implementation costs have not been completed, and City Council has not voted to implement the program.
The issue has generated controversy in previous years. In June 2023, following considerable public opposition, City Council voted 6-1 against implementing paid parking at Stearns Park.
The renewed proposal has also drawn opposition from descendants of Justus and Paulina Stearns, whose family was instrumental in establishing the lakefront park more than a century ago.
For organizations operating attractions at the waterfront, the discussion involves more than the cost of parking. Their representatives say it also involves maintaining access to facilities supported by decades of volunteer labor, charitable contributions and community investment.
Berringer said the historical society recognizes the financial challenges facing the city and appreciates the willingness of city officials to discuss the concerns.
“We understand that the City is working through difficult financial decisions, and we appreciate the time City officials have taken to listen to our concerns,” she stated. “We plan to attend the Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on Thursday to continue the conversation and advocate for a solution that protects access to the museum and recognizes the significant community investment that made it possible.”
Following recent feedback from the council and members of the public, Ludington City Council’s Cemetery, Parks and Recreation Committee is scheduled to discuss the proposal further today, Thursday, Nov. 12, during its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. at the Ludington Municipal Building, 400 S. Harrison St.
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