Jacob Tenbusch spent most of Tuesday afternoon with his sisters, cousin and parents at the Empire Village Beach.

New playground

While Jacob, 4, liked the beach, it was the newly installed playground equipment that caught his eye.

“I liked the rock climbing wall, the merry-go-round. It was fun,” he said, jumping up and down. Mike and Marita Tenbusch of Ypsilanti and their children Grace, 8, Julia, 6, Jacob and niece Angelica, 10, are spending the week at Empire staying at a friend’s house.

“I really like the telescope and the climbing wall,” said Grace. Julia said she spent a lot of time on the merry-go-round. “I liked it all,” she said.

The Tenbusch’s experience and reaction were echoed by about 50 people who attended the Village Council meeting Tuesday night. Families, parents, grandparents and children filled the township hall to boisterously support keeping the playground equipment where it is, and deter any effort to have it moved.

Over the last two weeks, village officials have been approached by some people who are upset that the playground blocks the view of the horizon from vehicles parked behind the equipment. Others said a wall that was constructed blocks the view of the water and beach activity for elderly people who enjoy watching sunsets from cars in the parking lot.

Empire Township resident David Hendricks asked the council to consider moving the equipment to a different part of the beach to facilitate a better view, and use private funds for the project. Hendricks said he had been out of the area for about two years and wasn’t around when the beach project was reviewed. He said overall he likes improvements being made and has nothing but respect and appreciation for the work done. But, he said he felt the equipment made Empire’s beach look like “Every Beach, USA.”

But the majority of people in attendance opposed moving the equipment.

Ella Skrocki, an 11-year-old village resident, spent a half-hour Tuesday afternoon gathering signatures of 72 children and people at the beach asking the council to keep the equipment where it is.

“The playground is a lot safer and a lot more fun to play on,” she said.

Emma Velis, 11, of Empire, read a letter she wrote in support of keeping the equipment where it is. “As a person who uses the playground, I would be very sad if the equipment was moved,” she read.

Life-long village resident David Taghon said those who don’t like the equipment because it takes away from the natural beauty of the beach, should keep in mind they are in the middle of a huge national lakeshore. “There are many natural, undeveloped beaches up and down the shoreline. The one here in Empire should offer more for families and children,” he said.

Council trustees read 20 letters into the record on the playground equipment: two for moving the equipment, 18 for keeping it where it is. The council took no action on Hendrick’s request.

Paving of the parking area and Niagara Street from the parking area to Lake Street was schedule to occur today and tomorrow. But beach committee chair Linda Payment said Elmer’s, the paving contractor, can’t be there until Monday. The pedestrian access-only policy for Niagara Street from Lake Street west to the beach will be strictly enforced today and Friday, June 29. The road will be open over the weekend, but will be closed to all traffic on Monday, July 2, for final improvements and paving.