Kayaking is quickly become a favorite around South Bass Island State Park, thanks to maps of the Lake Erie and Mainland Water Trails and the Kayak Rendezvous there the second weekend after Memorial Day.

PUT-IN-BAY – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has named a new park manager at South Bass Island and Oak Point state parks. Michael Pucak will be responsible for planning and managing the day-to-day operations of each location, as well as overseeing maintenance for facilities at both state parks.

Pucak has more than 10 years of experience with ODNR. He began as a seasonal employee at Headlands Beach State Park in 2008. After a brief stint with the state of Delaware and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pucak returned to ODNR’s Division of Parks and Watercraft in 2014.

He has worked at several state parks including Maumee Bay, East Fork, and Stonelick. Pucak most recently served as the Natural Resource Technician Supervisor at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park in southwestern Ohio.

“I look forward to welcoming visitors to South Bass Island and Oak Point state parks,” said Pucak. “My goal is to find more ways for the parks to improve sustainability, such as replacing single use features with more environmentally friendly options.”

Pucak holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University. In the off season, he plans to reside in the greater Toledo region. Pucak enjoys hiking and is an avid golfer in his time off.

South Bass Island offers camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and more. Oak Point State Park is a day use park offering a shelter house for gatherings, boat slips, and restroom facilities.