Summer is rapidly fading but do not put the camping equipment away just yet. There are many fall events planned. Take a look at our calendar . You will find a Geology Arts Fair, a historic encampment; radio-controlled flying planes, triathlons and walks (some for charity), camper cook-offs, a lighthouse festival and a tour to find sandhill cranes and much more including the Fall Harvest Festivals.

Detroit Center for the Dramatic Arts

We were very fortunate to have the young adults of the Detroit Center of the Dramatic Arts perform at Interlochen's 90th Anniversary celebration in August. These very talented youngsters will perform the musical "Dream Girls" at a few more events. Special performances will be at Sleeper State Park on Sept. 29, Fayette Historic State Park on Oct. 6 and at Holland State Park on Oct. 27. The performances at Sleeper and Fayette are open to the public-not just those camping (details for the Holland performance are not finalized). 

Native Seed Collecting 2007

The State Park Stewardship Unit invites volunteers to harvest native prairie seeds at several state parks and recreation areas throughout October and early November. The seeds collected by volunteers will be used to reestablish tallgrass prairie, lakeplain prairie and oak savanna ecosystems.

Seed collection workdays will take place in nine state parks and recreation areas across southern Michigan. A complete schedule can be found at www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers; then follow the "Calendar of Volunteer Stewardship Workdays" for October events. Volunteers are asked to register by mailing or faxing in a registration form that is available on the Web site.

Volunteers should bring a clean, empty gallon milk jug to collect seed and wear sturdy shoes.  Hiking distance will vary depending on the site. Prairie remnants often are very sunny places so a hat, sunscreen and drinking water are recommended. If you are allergic to bees, please bring your sting relief kit. An adult must accompany children between the ages of 5 to 15 and a parent or guardian must sign a liability waiver for anyone under 18. If you belong to a group or organization that cannot participate on weekends, special arrangements may be made for weekdays.

For more information, contact Laurel Malvitz at malvitzl@michigan.govor (248) 359-9057.

Statewide Development Efforts (We are working hard to make improvements)

Here is a list of some exciting projects at state parks, harbors and access sites. Some have been completed over the past year and some are just beginning. Almost all of these projects are made possible through grants and partnership efforts.

Boating Projects

Cheboygan Lock and Dam will undergo the replacement of critical infrastructure and the reworking of the public areas to make the dam tailwaters more accessible for fishing and viewing. Bids are due by mid-September. The project is being funded through federal Sport fish Restoration funding (75%) and Waterways funding (25%). This project is the result of an inspection by the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission.

Mackinaw City State Dock is substantially completed through Phase 2. Phase 3 is going through the final engineering process. Phase 3 is the harbormaster building that includes toilet and showers for the marina and the general public. The building will contain many green components and will be a good demonstration building in a high-profile area. We will be installing a windmill to generate electricity to power some of the building components. It will be a smaller unit than the windmills currently working in the Mackinaw City vicinity.

There are numerous paving projects at boating access sites moving forward through Coast Guard Marine Safety Grant funding. These projects include West Houghton Lake BAS, Pine Street BAS, M-37 Bridge BAS, Ocqueoc River Mouth BAS, Bear Lake BAS, Bird Lake BAS, Thumb Lake BAS and Mullett Lake BAS.

Recently completed grant-in-aid facilities include St. Clair Municipal Marina and the Muskegon Hartshorn Marina.

Park Projects

Kellogg "Access to Recreation" (A2R) projects for enhanced accessibility  can be found at Wells, Otsego, Rifle River, Port Crescent, Dodge 4, Muskegon and Brighton. 

Camper Cabins are built  through a partnership with the Department of Corrections and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund; new locations for camper cabins can be found at Tawas (complete), Lakeport (complete), Mitchell (finishing site elements), Interlochen (finishing site elements), Waterloo (in construction), Pinckney (in construction), Yankee Springs (in construction), Holland (in construction), Onaway (in construction), Tahquamenon (materials being purchased), Van Riper (materials being purchased), Bewabic (location to be determined and materials being purchased), Metamora (in construction), Orchard Beach (in construction) and Proud Lake (in construction). 

"Green" Toilet/Shower Buildings - using green technologies and enhanced accessibility options, new facilities are being constructed in campgrounds at Grand Haven and Otsego

Waterloo, Mill Lake Outdoor Center - partnership with Ryan Newman Foundation and NASCAR for redevelopment of the facility See newsletter article on "Partners".

Twin Lakes - electric system upgrade

Indian Lake - addition of second island to sanitation station

Porcupine Mountains - new "Artist-in-Residence" cabin

Craig Lake - new yurt camping

Tahquamenon - new interpretive learning station at Upper Falls

Burt Lake - campground electric system upgrade

Otsego - new pavilion

Interlochen - north campground loop, new paving

North Higgins - new accessible walkway at the CCC Museum area

Rifle River - new interpretive panels and improved gravel parking at Pintail Pond

Traverse City - new entry improvements

Ludington - Hamlin Dam repairs and extension of accessible trail along Sable River

Mitchell - new archery/pellet gun ranges and accessible fishing pier at Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center

F.M. White Pine Trail - paving from Russell Road to Sand Lake

Warren Dunes and Warren Woods - trail signage

Yankee Springs - Sassafras Trail improvements

Brighton - Bishop Lake day-use toilet building and picnic shelters

Lake Hudson - dam upgrades

Sleepy Hollow - new day-use picnic shelters and trail signage

Waterloo - new shower building at Cedar Lake Outdoor Center

Seven Lakes - dam repair

Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor - development of a wetland interpretive area and trails at the Lowland Park Unit

Strategic Planning

Parks and Recreation is still looking for your input on the long-range goals and objectives for the division. Whether you use a park, harbor or access site we are looking for your answer to the following questions:

1.     What is the one thing about Michigan boating or park programs/facilities you most enjoy?

2.     What is the one change you would like to see at access sites/harbors or parks?

3.     Do you have any comments or suggestions on our programs or facilities?

And a Couple of Extras

We are working on a Web site design that should enhance your ability to search for specific features. For example, you will be able to search for a park with accessible trails or get a list of parks that offer mountain biking trails. This project should go live in mid-September.  

And we are working on an electronic report card. Many of you have taken the time to fill out a paper report card at a park and harbor to let us know how you feel. This will allow faster feedback.

Please send Comments to:  DNR-RecreationFeedback