Michiganders who love their state parks rose to the challenge of funding them in the past year. That’s the good news.

The state switched from funding the parks solely through admission fees to asking drivers to pay $10 more for their license plate tabs — which gives them a tab marked with a “P” for unlimited entry into the parks. For people who visit a park more than one day a year, this is a tremendous deal.

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Michigan’s new method of paying for state park operations and maintenance met its fund-raising goal for the first year and is proving to be reliable, the Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

The DNR said 24.7% of the state’s motorists participated in the license checkoff plan during the last year, just above the goal of 24.3%. Director Rodney Stokes said next year’s goal will be 30%.

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This story was also covered by the Detroit News.

About 20% of Michigan drivers who renewed their license plates Oct. 1-Dec. 31 have paid the extra $10 to get the Recreation Passport, new data from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment shows.

While 20% may not seem like a high percent participation, it is a good start, said Ron Olson, chief of the DNRE Recreation Division.

Olson said they needed to get at least 17% participation to match funding from the old state park pass program, and so far, they’re pleased.

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Desperate for money to fix Michigan’s crumbling state parks, officials are gambling that motorists will chip in a little extra cash when renewing their car and truck licenses.

A new system for funding the parks begins Friday, when residents will have the option of paying $10 for a “recreation passport” in addition to their vehicle registration fee. Good for a year, the passport will grant access to all 98 state parks and recreation areas, plus boat launches.

Presently, park visitors are charged $6 per day or $24 for an annual pass.

Read more: New Michigan park funding program starts Friday | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Caught in the sad malingering that has become a Lansing hallmark, Michigan’s state parks continue to deteriorate without sustainable funding.

Lawmakers need to proceed promptly when they return this month with a plan to offer annual park admission to car owners as they renew their license plates.

If one in every five drivers signs on for the $10 fee, the program will raise a bit more than park admission fees do now (at a cost of $6 a day or $24 for an annual pass).

If half of drivers sign on, parks funding will improve greatly — allowing superintendents to start tackling their backlogged maintenance projects. The legislation also designates some of the new revenue for local parks, state forest trails and other minor categories.

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Republican State Rep. Arlan Meekhof from West Olive tells The Muskegon Chronicle the bill has bipartisan support and should be passed in January by both legislative chambers.

The plan would eliminate entrance fees for state parks and give motorists the option of paying a $10 add-on vehicle registration fee. Supporters say that, among other things, the plan will pump millions of dollars into a fund for maintaining state park facilities.

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Once upon a time — about 20 years ago, but it might as well be back in the dinosaur age — Michiganders covered about 70% of the costs of their state parks through their regular taxes. But no more. As the state’s budget has tightened and tightened, the park system got less and less money. For the last five years, the 98 state parks have received no money at all from the state’s general fund.

This situation has to be rectified. Cliched as it is to talk about publicly owned “jewels,” Michigan’s parks surely belong at the top of that category. They deserve a broad and strong financial underpinning, so no citizen is ever priced out of enjoying the state’s beaches, forests, rivers and camping areas.

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