Walter J. Hayes State Park is a public recreation area covering 654 acres (265 ha) on the southeast corner of Wamplers Lake in the Irish Hills region of the state of Michigan.[4] Most of the state park lies within Lenawee County with a small portion extending into Jackson and Washtenaw counties in the Round Lake area. The park offers access to 796-acre (322 ha) Wamplers Lake and completely surrounds 100-acre (40 ha) Round Lake, which connects to Wamplers Lake via a channel navigable by smaller boats.[5] Other scenic lakes including Evans Lake and Sand Lake as well as chains of smaller lakes lie nearby. The park is traversed by Michigan Route 124 north of its intersection with US Highway 12.

Walter J. Hayes State Park
Beach area along Wamplers Lake
Map showing the location of Walter J. Hayes State Park
Map showing the location of Walter J. Hayes State Park
Location in Michigan
Map showing the location of Walter J. Hayes State Park
Map showing the location of Walter J. Hayes State Park
Hayes State Park (the United States)
LocationLenawee County, Michigan, United States
Nearest townOnsted, Michigan
Coordinates42°03′45″N 84°08′15″W / 42.06250°N 84.13750°W / 42.06250; -84.13750[2]
Area654 acres (265 ha)
Elevation968 feet (295 m) [2]
DesignationMichigan state park
Established1920[3]
AdministratorMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteHayes State Park

History

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Dedicated in 1920,[6] the park was among the first 25 established by the Michigan State Parks Commission, which referred to it as both Cedar Hills State Park and Adrian State Park.[7][8] It originally comprised a 99-acre purchase by the state plus two donations of land which brought the park's size to some 200 acres.[8] It was renamed in 1930[9] after the family of Michigan State Senator Walter J. Hayes made a donation of land with the stipulation that the name change take place.[6] The Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements to the park during the 1930s.[10] Michigan CCC camp SP1 was active in Hayes State Park from 1933 to 1935.[11]

Facilities and activities

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The park offers fishing for bass, bluegill and pike, swimming, hiking, picnicking, boat launch, boat rentals, campgrounds, and mini-cabins.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Hayes State Park". IUCN. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Hayes State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Hayes State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Wamplers Lake and Round Lake". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Hayes State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on February 15, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  7. ^ "Annual Report". American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. 1921. p. 145. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Albert Stoll, Jr., ed. (1922). "The Biennial Report of the Department of Conservation of the State of Michigan 1921–1922". p. 233. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. ^ Dan Cherry (August 26, 2010). "Hayes State Park painting prints to be sold as fundraiser". Daily Telegram. Adrian, Michigan. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  10. ^ Julieanna Frost (2011). Adrian. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-7385-8282-5.
  11. ^ "Appendices". The Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service, 1933-1942: An Administrative History. National Park Service. February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
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