OurMichiganParks.org

From the Grand Rapids Press:

Cross-country skiers, hikers and horseback enthusiasts can expect their favorite state forest trails to be rougher next year.

State officials said there is no money to maintain 60 non-motorized pathways on 4.9 million acres of state forest land.

“We’re going to have to go in a different direction,” said Lynn Boyd, chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest, Mineral and Fire Management division. “We had another cut in general fund. They took $300,000 out of the forest recreation budget. We’re down to $240,000 for the program. That money went to ski trails and non-motorized trails with no funding source, plus campgrounds.”

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From the Grand Rapids Press:

My license plate renewal arrived in the mail the other day. Like most years, I groaned at the prospect of shelling out another 100 bucks.

But, unlike previous years, this package contained something new: the opportunity to get a state park sticker for only $10.

That’s a steal.

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From the Grand Rapids Press:

It has taken a year and half of political wrangling, but a smart proposal for funding Michigan state parks finally is law. A four-bill package was signed Wednesday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The bills create a state park passport that will go into effect in October. The passport will do away with daily entry fees for Michigan residents and reduce the cost of annual admission from $24 to $10.

It wasn’t an easy passage. The Chamber of Commerce and transportation lobby opposed it. Speaker of the House Andy Dillon held it up over the holidays, reportedly to help an old college buddy, now a transportation lobbyist.

But in the end, wiser heads prevailed.

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From Howard Meyerson’s m-live column:

I typically am not one to write holiday-themed columns, but I do want to say thank you this week to the legislators in the Michigan Senate for having the wisdom to pass the Michigan State Parks Passport legislation last week.

It is a smart idea that has real potential for mitigating, if not solving, Michigan’s state park funding problems.

The legislation is only halfway home. It needs to be voted on by the state House and signed by the governor to take effect.

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