Some media reports have contained misleading information regarding the fees to be charged for the Recreation Passport in 2012 and beyond. The reference to a $5 increase in the Recreation Passport fee in 2012 and a doubling of the fee in 2013 refers ONLY to the park-sold Recreation Passport. Motorists are encouraged to purchase the Recreation Passport through the Secretary of State when their vehicle plates are renewed. This fee is indexed to inflation by law and will only rise above the current $10 fee when the state Consumer Price index is calculated and is beyond $0.50, at which time the Recreation Passport will go to $11 when purchased through the Secretary of State’s plate renewal system.

The law permits the DNRE to set the fee of ld Recreation Passports sold at state parks only at up to double the rate charged by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS). Recent actions by the DNRE set the fee for the park-sold Recreation Passport at $5 over the MDOS rate for 2012 and double the MDOS rate in 2013. This was done to create a financial incentive for motorists to purchase the Recreation Passport when they renew their vehicle plates, and not wait until they visit a park. One of the anticipated outcomes of this law is to reduce the need for staffing entry stations at parks and re-deploy those employees to more customer service-related aspects of park work, including visitor programming, maintenance tasks and security patrols. That outcome can only be realized when a vast majority of park visitors have pre-purchased their Recreation Passport through the plate renewal process at the Secretary of State Office and the financial incentive to do so is in place.

We regret any confusion that this aspect of the Recreation Passport program has caused.

Michigan Recreation Passport Goes on Sale Oct. 1 – Where Can $10 Take You?

The Michigan Recreation Passport will be available starting Oct. 1 at Secretary of State offices around the state, giving motorists the opportunity to invest in Michigan’s great outdoors and protect natural resources.

The Recreation Passport replaces the long-used window sticker system, or Motor Vehicle Permit, for state park and boat launch entrance. The Recreation Passport represents a 58 percent savings over the current annual state park and boat launch window sticker, which costs $24. Camping fees still apply.

To get a Recreation Passport, motorists can add $10 at the time they renew their license plate tabs. Motorcyclists have the option of paying $5. The money will be used to support state parks, state forest campgrounds, state boat launches, non-motorized trails and historical and cultural sites in state parks. A portion of the funds will also be used to support local parks through a new grant program.

Motorists who want their Recreation Passport should check “YES!” on their license plate renewal form or online renewal form. Vehicle registrations can be renewed online by visiting the Secretary of State website at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Motorists can also find the nearest Self-Service Station by using the online Branch Office Locator.

“Purchasing a Recreation Passport is fast and easy, especially when you renew your vehicle registration online, by mail or at one of our popular Self-Service Stations,” Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land said. “It’s a convenient way for customers to take care of business while also supporting Michigan’s outdoor heritage.”

The car registration motorists receive from the Secretary of State will show they purchased their Recreation Passport. The license plate tab stickers they receive from the Secretary of State will have a special “P” designation, indicating they bought their Recreation Passport, gaining them admission to Michigan’s 98 state parks and recreation areas for the period of their vehicle registration.

Revenue raised from the Recreation Passport will be divided among several categories, with the majority of the funding going to the restricted fund used to operate and maintain state parks and boat launches. A portion of the funding will also support operation and maintenance of state forest campgrounds, state forest non-motorized trails and pathways, and cultural and historic resources in state parks and recreation areas. A grant program will also be established with a portion of the revenue to benefit community park systems.

“This is a great opportunity for Michiganians to invest in outdoor recreation, and all the added economic benefits it brings our state,” said Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) Director Rebecca Humphries. “State park visitors generate a $650 million economic impact for our state, and other activities such as birdwatching, equestrian trail-riding, mountain biking and hiking generate millions more. The Recreation Passport is a great way to support the DNRE and our work to make all these outdoor recreation opportunities available for Michigan citizens and tourists for generations to come.”

As an added bonus to those who buy the $10 Recreation Passport when they renew their plates, the DNRE is developing a “Passport Perks” program, partnering with Michigan retailers who have agreed to offer special discounts and deals when drivers show their car registration as proof of purchase for the Recreation Passport. Businesses interested in participating in the Passport Perks to support outdoor recreation in Michigan can contact Maia Stephens, DNRE recreation programmer, at 989-225-8573 for more information.

“Through the Passport Perks program, motorists who check ‘YES!’ for outdoor recreation can get their $10 back many times over through the special discounts and deals from the businesses who are supporting this effort,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNRE Recreation Division. “We are grateful to the businesses, like Dunham’s Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, and many local retailers who are supporting the Recreation Passport.”

Revenues raised by the Recreation Passport will help maintain and operate many of Michigan’s parks, campgrounds and trail systems that have lost General Fund support over the last several years.

“Maintaining recreational trails in the largest dedicated state forest system in the country has been a challenge in the last decade as General Fund support for forest recreation programs has been cut,” said Lynne Boyd, chief of the DNRE Forest Management Division. “The Recreation Passport provides those who go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching and cross-country skiing on our state forest trails a way to support our work to keep non-motorized trails and pathways available and accessible.”

While purchasing a Recreation Passport when renewing vehicle registration is the most convenient option, the DNRE points out that any Michigan resident who forgets to do so can still buy a Recreation Passport sticker for their vehicle at a state park or recreation area.  The cost for 2011 will be $10 for a vehicle or $5 for a motorcycle.

Non-Michigan residents will purchase a “non-resident Recreation Passport” to gain entrance to Michigan state parks and recreation areas. Annual permits are $29 and daily permits are $8.

Olson reminded drivers that if their vehicle registration month is earlier than October, they can still enjoy Michigan state parks and recreation areas until they renew their vehicle registration in 2011 without paying an entrance fee.

“If you have a July birthday and are visiting a state park in May, our staff will recognize from your license plate that you haven’t renewed your registration yet, and there will be no entrance fee for you,” Olson said

For more information on the Recreation Passport, including Frequently Asked Questions, information about Passport Perks and downloadable media tools, visit the Passport’s website at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources, and related economic interests for current and future generations. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/dnre.

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The Committee received the White Pine Award for Environmental Excellence for over five years of work to make our state parks better. This work culminated with the recent passage of the Recreation Passport.

The White Pine Award is actually a white pine — Michigan’s state tree — which will likely be planted in a Michigan state park. Senator Patricia Birkholz, Chair of the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee presented the award and hinted that the tree could be planted in her district.

First, the Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State parks was dissolved during the consolidation of the DNR and DEQ. A new NRC subcommittee has been formed in its place. This web site will continue to operate under the auspices of this new committee.

Second, the Recreation Passport has been signed into law. We have removed our Recreation Passport advocacy  pages and are directing viewers to the DNRE web site for more information on this exciting new program.

This is a BIG step forward for sustainable state park funding!

There is a summary analysis on-line as well. This analysis provides all the details of what these bills would do if passed and signed into law.

We urge you to please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they support these bills to help fund our state parks.

Montana has imposed a surcharge on non-commercial license plates with the revenue going to state parks. In exchange, anyone with a Montana plate is admitted to state parks free of charge, although other fees apply and this is just one source of funding for the state’s parks. The public may opt out of this charge and about 25% choose to do so. Out-of-state park visitors still pay entrance fees. Michigan is considering this idea now, and California has looked at it. The state of Washington moved from a completely voluntary program to an automatic $5 charge, unless someone choose’s to opt out of the “donation.” The funds are “keeping parks open.” Without the dollars, many parks would have been closed.

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.