Independence Lake County Park — Attraction in Webster Township

I was a witness to the unfortunate 09-02-2023 events that happened to the Yaya and Hinojosa families (who have also written reviews here). The lake and beach are beautiful (hence the 3-star review), but the treatment of that group (including kids) was something I hoped would never happen in Washtenaw County or anywhere else on earth. The group was playing Latin music at a reasonable volume that everyone at the beach seemed to be enjoying. I know I enjoyed it. The group was not rowdy or aggressive in any way. Two young women in dark uniforms (not sure who they were) walked over to the group and apparently started dumping drinks onto the ground (including the kids' Gatorades, which I heard second hand). Presumably someone in the group had beer, though I was not quite close enough to see at that point. In any case, there was a white family a few tables away very indiscreetly drinking beer, and the uniformed young women did not even approach that group. (Incidentally, I happen to be white myself). Worse yet, for some entirely unclear reason, an armed sheriff was then called over to the Latin family. Again, the group was not being belligerent, aggressive, or disrespectful in any way. The response was entirely inappropriate, and it did not make anyone at the beach any safer or feel in the slightest bit comfortable. At the very least, the families deserve an official apology, and park staff/contractors definitely need to be far better trained regarding if and how a safety intervention should be performed. My heart goes out to the group (including an off-duty nurse) and their kids for having to suffer such a...

The short version: I love Indy! Where to start? For me, disc golf. But also: Waterpark, hiking, swimming lake and beach, pavilions, nature, and not far from the freeway! The long version: The disc golf course is one of the better rated in the area. It's now two 18 hole courses (East and West), replete with a pavilions and fire pits, bathrooms, and a practice hole. The waterpark is pretty fun for its size. Sitting across from the disc golf course and on the lake proper you'll find a couple slides, some water playgrounds including a big dumping of water from a wheel every few minutes. Concessions were open with ice cream and so on. I think there were medium sized locker rooms and possibly separate family rooms. Further down the road you'll find the start of the pathway trail that weaves it's way through the park. I'm not sure about the length. Parts are on a boardwalk and cross through marsh and other grassy areas. It's pretty well done and seems to be at least a couple miles long. There are bike paths as well. Search their site for info on that. A bit further into the park and you'll find the lake swimming area. It's not very large like Martindale at Kensington or Stony, but I recall the lake being pretty refreshing without being warm or ice cold. I'll have to update. It's not filled with soft golden sand, and if I recall there were stones or something a bit on the rough side mixed with mucky mud, so I wore my water shoes. It's $12 for a daily pass plus DG fee ($10 and $2). Washtenaw residents pay $35, non $45 for sure yearly...I think. DG is another 30 or 40...

I'll start by saying that my main reason for visiting Independence Lake is for disc golf. This has been one of the best maintained courses in SE Michigan for a long time. The park performs controlled burns in the summer to cut down brush and ivy, and in the winter they shovel and salt the teepads. The park has not rested on this reputation, and in the past few years they have added some really challenging holes to be able to offer two full 18-hole courses, and more changes are in development. This spring, several existing holes are getting new basket placements, adding even more challenge. And this isn't just someone pushing more distance and dropping a basket - this is actual fairway cleaning, removing brush and saplings, and laying gravel to prevent erosion. They are doing thing the right way to ensure long term enjoyment! The park and consultants also know the risks in making some of these moves, and as a result they are even moving a teepad for player safety. I really can't say enough about what a great job Independence Lake is doing with their disc golf courses. It's so refreshing to see them use part of the parking and course fees to improve our experience. This is the reason I keep coming back and spending my time and money...