OurMichiganParks.org

From the Detroit News:

Five years ago, state park officials in Montana found themselves where Michigan is today: Losing general fund support and taking in inadequate user fees to sustain the state’s park system.

They came up with a novel idea: Do away with windshield stickers and instead charge every motorist $4 for the privilege to visit Montana’s 53 parks. By all accounts, it’s an unqualified success.

“This is a superior system,” said Chas Van Genderen, acting director of Montana state parks.

Some in Michigan are looking to copy that system.

Read the entire article

From the Detroit News:

Five years ago, Montana came up with a new plan to raise money for its state parks and recreation areas.

The Western state dumped its park entrance fees and replaced them with a $4 charge that’s tacked onto the annual cost of vehicle registrations.

It’s been an unmitigated success, raising needed revenue for parks and boosting visits from 1.3 million Montanans in 2002 to 1.9 million last year.

Read the entire article