Parks & Recreation Five Year Recreation Plan ... - City of Marquette

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update 2011
City of Marquette
An attractive bell tower is located at the west entrance to the park and dedicated as a
Firefighters and 9-11 Memorial. It also serves as a focal point and gateway from downtown to
the Mattson Park.
Shiras Park
Shiras Park is located on the shore of Lake Superior the northernmost part of which is known as
Picnic Rocks near the intersection of Lakeshore Boulevard and East Fair Avenue. The
approximately 31 acre park has a beautiful five-eighths mile long sand beach.
The Picnic Rocks area has restrooms, grassy open space, benches, cooking facilities, picnic
tables, a drinking fountain, and paved and graveled parking lots. There is also a playground
which was dedicated by the Zonta Club of Marquette, with swing sets, tot riding apparatus (two),
a wood/steel play unit, and climbing tires. In addition to motor vehicle access, the park is
accessible by the shoreline bike path. Improvements to the Picnic Rocks area were part of a
U.S. Land and Water Conservation project. For the past several years the site has
accommodated the annual Outback Art Fair.
McCarty’s Cove
Located adjacent to the former U.S. Coast Guard Station near the intersection of Lakeshore
Boulevard and East Michigan Street, McCarty‘s Cove (officially the south extremity of Shiras
Park) includes a swimming beach on Lake Superior with lifeguard watch, information kiosk,
water rescue station stocked with a ring buoy and personal floatation devices, two volleyball
areas, picnic tables, four permanent park benches
overlooking the lake, grassy open space, small
restroom facility, drinking fountain, parking area, and a
playground with a wooden play structure, slide and
climbing apparatus on the bluff above the beach. The
park, adopted by the Marquette Noon Kiwanis Club, is
accessible by the aforementioned shared-use path.
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