OurMichiganParks.org

From the Grand Rapids Press:

A proposal to change parks funding from a $24 annual fee to a $10 fee for parks users attached to license plates seemed to be enjoying bipartisan support until end-of-the-year marathon legislative sessions cut off the plan at the knees — for 2009 at least.

Republican State Sen. Patty Birkholz, who co-wrote the legislation along with Ann Arbor Democratic Rep. Rebekah Warren, said she was shocked to hear Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon wanted to put the breaks on the legislation late last week.

Birkholz said she managed to negotiate a deal with Dillon that would allow a ready-to-go proposal be introduced at the start of the 2010 session in January and the old system would be allowed to expire after three months.

Birkholz said Dillon agreed not to oppose the new bill.

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A Grand Rapids Press editorial:

Giving Michiganders easy, affordable access to their 98 state parks and 77 state boat launches — that’s reason enough for the state to adopt a pending “Parks Passport” plan, where just $10 buys an annual vehicle pass.

But here’s another, equally appealing objective: raising millions of dollars to improve a valuable parks system that has been falling into disrepair for years.

Legislators should pass the plan, which has the support of the Department of Natural Resources, and the governor should sign it.

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[Note that these are state forest campgrounds and are not part of the state park system. However, the Recreation Passport proposal would provide funding to help keep these campgrounds open.]

From Howard Meyerson of the Grand Rapids Press:

Twelve state forest campgrounds are slated for closure this month, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials.

The closures come in response to budget cuts sought by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Her executive order this week cut state funding by $221,864,600. The DNR’s budget was cut by $572,900. Granholm sought to trim general fund programs. Only 4 percent of the DNR’s budget comes from state tax dollars.

“No one likes to make cuts, but we have to live in our time,” said Brenda Curtis, the DNR state forest campground program manager. “Everyone is impacted.”

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From the Grand Rapids Press:

A Michigan Senate panel has voted to eliminate entrance fees for state parks and instead give motorists the option of paying $10 more in annual vehicle registration fees.

It now costs $6 daily and $24 annually to use state parks.

A Michigan license plate would provide unlimited access to parks. Random checks against vehicle registrations could lead to fines against visitors who hadn’t paid the $10.

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