Sterling State Park on the Lake Erie shore near Monroe, Michigan, is the state’s only park on that lake and spans about 1,300 acres of lagoons, marshes, beachfront, and trails near Sandy Creek. Named for William C. Sterling, who saw the value of preserving wetlands, it began with Michigan’s acquisition of 134 acres in 1935 and was dedicated in 1936. The park’s modern significance also lies in the environmental damage and recovery of this shoreline. Pollution from nearby rivers and industry once degraded habitat and swimming conditions, but cleanup, restoration, and its 2001 role as the southern border of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge helped revive wetlands, wildlife habitat, and public recreation.