What are our State Park Infrastructure Needs?
From campgrounds to boat launches, from roads to trail bridges, our Michigan State Parks have a very substantial amount of infrastructure. Its replacement value is approximately $1 billion.
The DNR estimates this infrastructure requires $38 million per year to maintain this infrastruture in good and safe working order. Unfortunately the funding is not available to meet this need. The current funding limits the DNR to primarily dealing with major emergencies such as bridge and building failures.
The DNR has documented these state park infrastructure needs by county. They have also created a PDF slideshow depicting some of the recent park infrastructure issues they are grappling with.
Tags: funding, infrastructure needs
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March 31st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
We own 4 cars and a motorhome. Under the new proposal we would pay $50 for use of the State Park when we only use the motorhome to go in and out of the State Parks! This is a BAD proposal unles it is prorated for one car per household.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:27 am
Kathy,
That’s a question we’ve heard often. This fee is optional. One recommendation, as Senator Birkholz noted this morning, is you can pay only $10 on one vehicle just as you’ve suggested.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:12 am
At the MI DNR Western Upper Peninsula Citizens Advisory Council Meeting last night (May 18) I suggested that a way to easily identify what vehicles have paid the park fee is to use the annual month stickers we get to put on our vehicles. For those people who have paid the park fee, use one color of monthly stickers and for those who have not paid, use a different color of monthly sticker. Then a quick spot check at the parks would identify any violators without a lot of work. This would be a no real cost way to make this identification.