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Gordon Turner Park lies on the shore of Lake Huron, at the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Named after a local journalist who held special regard in the area, the park includes a large wooden playscape and other playground equipment, a picnic area, a large swimming beach on Lake Huron, a boardwalk that leads to the Cheboygan Crib Light, and a walking trail that leads to an overview of the wetlands.

Cheboygan Crib Light

Nature, Blue, Daytime, Tower

"City Beach" at Gordon Turner Park

Body of water, Coastal and oceanic landforms, Natural environment, Fun

Cheboygan Crib Light ca 1904

Tower, Monochrome photography, Monochrome, Black-and-white

Cheboygan Crib Light - Notice Unsafe Sign

Body of water, Tower, Liquid, Coastal and oceanic landforms

Cheboygan Crib Light and Pier

Body of water, Nature, Daytime, Natural environment

Gordon Turner Park Sign

Plant, Branch, Woody plant, Trunk

Gordon Turner Park Playscape

Nature, Wood, Daytime, Architecture

Gordon Turner Park Marsh Boardwalk

Nature, Wood, Green, Natural landscape

View of Mackinac Bridge from Pier

Body of water, Suspension bridge, Bridge, Photograph

Gordon Turner Park is a popular location for residents and visitors to swim, play, explore and enjoy nature. It’s hard to believe that at one time, this location was inaccessible to the community. At one time, Huron Street ended around Lake Street with the area north of there being a marsh.

One of the complaints people had about Cheboygan was that, even though it was located on the Straits, there was no way to drive to the shore and have access to it. That changed when Joseph Doyle became City Manager / City Engineer. Around 1942, Joe took advantage of a government project to dredge the Cheboygan River for the purpose of deepening it. He arranged to have the fill pumped to the marsh area north of Huron Street, which allowed him to extend Huron Street about 1200 feet and begin building the beach and park. The new park and beach became very popular and continued to develop over the years.

Gordon Turner Park’s namesake was a local journalist for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. He began working for the Tribune in 1927, planning to work three months and then head for the big time. He ended up working for the Tribune for six decades. Known as “Scoop” Turner, it is estimated that he wrote around 10,000 articles for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. Gordon Turner died on November 27th, 1995 at the age of 89.

One of the great attractions at Gordon Turner Park is the Cheboygan Crib Light. This light has become a symbol for the city of Cheboygan, being used in logos for the city. This light was originally built in 1884 on an offshore crib and used to help mariners find the entrance to the Cheboygan River. The light had multiple renovations and improvements over the years, until the 1980s, when the Coast Guard determined it would be less expensive to demolish the structure rather than repair it. The light was transported and placed upon a cement foundation at the foot of the pier in Gordon Turner Park. From the end of this pier, it is possible to see the Mackinac Bridge.

The park also has a boardwalk and observation tower which overlooks the 15-acre cattail marsh. Visitors come here to birdwatch and enjoy nature. Also, near the park is the Joseph Doyle Recreational Area.

“Cheboygan Area Parks.” Cheboygan Area Trails, Parks, Boating, Fishing, and Other Information, www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/cheboygan/.

“Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse.” LighthouseFriends, www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=217.

Hahn, Kortny. “Gordon Turner Returns to Cheboygan.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, 24 Sept. 2020, www.cheboygannews.com/news/20200924/gordon-turner-returns-to-cheboygan.

Hahn, Kortny. “New Sign Installed at Gordon Turner Park.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, 8 Oct. 2020, www.cheboygannews.com/news/20201008/new-sign-installed-at-gordon-turner-park.

“Lively Newsman, 88, Is Town's Soul.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 1994, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-22-mn-60699-story.html.

Turner, Gordon. “Cheboygan's Bathing Beach Was Once Just Swampland.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune.

Turner, Gordon. “Local Engineer Put Cheboygan on The.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune, 23 May 1983, pp. 1–3.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

“Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse.” LighthouseFriends, www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=217.

“Cheboygan Area Parks.” Cheboygan Area Trails, Parks, Boating, Fishing, and Other Information, www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/cheboygan/.

“Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse.” LighthouseFriends, www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=217.

“Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse.” LighthouseFriends, www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=217.

“Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse.” LighthouseFriends, www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=217.

Hahn, Kortny. “New Sign Installed at Gordon Turner Park.” Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI, 8 Oct. 2020, www.cheboygannews.com/news/20201008/new-sign-installed-at-gordon-turner-park.

“Cheboygan Area Parks.” Cheboygan Area Trails, Parks, Boating, Fishing, and Other Information, www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/cheboygan/.

“Cheboygan Area Parks.” Cheboygan Area Trails, Parks, Boating, Fishing, and Other Information, www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/cheboygan/.

“Cheboygan Area Parks.” Cheboygan Area Trails, Parks, Boating, Fishing, and Other Information, www.eyeonmichigan.com/guides/cheboygan/.