Q. What is the "Recreation Passport"?
A. The Recreation Passport is a new way to fund programs for state parks and forest recreation and to improve local government recreation programs. It replaces the traditional Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP) system in place since 1961 for access to state parks, recreation areas and boat launches.

Q. How does the Recreation Passport program work?
A. Instead of purchasing a Motor Vehicle Permit for park or boat launch entry ($6/day or $24/year) motorists can pay $10 ($5 for motorcycles) when they renew their license plates through the Secretary of State. This will allow entry into state parks and boat launches for the period of the registration. Camping fees at state parks and state forests will remain in place.

Q. Why is this being changed? What's wrong with the old system?
A. The funding model for state parks was not adequate to meet operational and maintenance needs. State parks and recreation areas lost all taxpayer support in 2004. Since then, park operations had been funded by user fees. We were about $4.8 million short of funding day-to-day park operations and could pay for less than one percent of necessary repairs. Without this change, drastic cuts to park programs and services would have been inevitable. This program will provide an affordable method for the public to invest in state park, boating, state forest and local recreation programs.

Q. I don't use state parks, so why should I get a Recreation Passport?
A. Whether you camp, swim, hike, bike, fish, hunt, paddle, ski, geocache, bird watch, ride, or just enjoy Michigan's beautiful landscape, the Recreation Passport will benefit you.

Your $10 also helps to maintain and preserve:

• 133 state forest campgrounds
• Nearly 1,000 miles of hiking, biking and skiing trails
• More than 1,000 boat launches
• Historic and cultural sites in state parks
• Parks in your community
• Our beautiful natural resources for future generations
• Healthy economies that benefit from recreational visitors
• The ability to attract new businesses and jobs to the state

You will also receive benefits through the Recreation Passport Perks Program. These are businesses providing discounts for individuals who participate in the Recreation Passport program when they renew their registration. More information on what the benefits are can be found at www.michigan.gov/passportperks.

When you check "YES" for the Recreation Passport, your $10 will help keep campgrounds open, trails maintained and green spaces available for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Questions about state park access

Q. If I forget to buy my Recreation Passport when I register my vehicle, can I still get into the park?
A. Yes, you will be able to buy your Recreation Passport at the park, however you will not be eligible for the Passport Perks program.

Q. How will park rangers know that I bought my Recreation Passport?
A. The license plate renewal sticker from the Secretary of State (that you stick on your license plate) will have a "P" on it. If you purchase the Recreation Passport at the park or access sites, you will get a sticker to put inside the front windshield. The sticker will be valid until you renew your registration.

Q. How is your staff going to be able to see this small "P"?
A. Although the "P" is small, our focus is to change how we handle the passport verification within the parks or access sites. Our intent is to try and alleviate some of the lines when entering a park or access site, but we anticipate staff will be available this first year to provide information. Enforcement will be focused in the parking areas once someone has entered a site. For those who don't have a passport, you will find reminders on your vehicle to come to the office to purchase your passport. Failure to purchase a passport could lead to enforcement repercussions.

Q: What if I want to use the parks in 2011 before my registration renewal date - will I have to pay twice?
A. The Recreation Passport funding model is not tied to the calendar year - instead, it will be based on your personal vehicle registration date. For the initial 2011 year you will be admitted into our parks for free until your registration renewal date provided that your renewal date is prior to Oct. 1, 2011.

Here is an example of how it will work the first year of the program:

• Your vehicle registration renewal is in July
• You want to visit the park in April

When your registration packet comes in the mail you will have the opportunity to opt in for the recreation passport for the 1st time at that time.

We recognize that your vehicle has not had a chance to register since October 1st and that you will not have a chance to pay the $10 until July, and you will not be asked to purchase anything on-site. However, if you don't buy your Recreation Passport in July and you visit a park in September, you will have to buy a one at a state park or recreation area.

Q. If I renewed my license plate but didn't get the Recreation Passport, can I still get into the parks or boat launches?
A. If you renewed your license plate either on or after October 1st, 2010 and did not purchase a Recreation Passport, you can purchase one at the park for $10 ($5 for motorcycles). This locally sold Recreation Passport will be valid until your registration is renewed the following year. In the future, the cost of purchasing a Recreation Passport at the park may be more expensive than what is sold through the Secretary of State Office registration process, so we encourage people to purchase the passport at the time of their renewal.

Q. I purchased my Recreation Passport through the Secretary of State but I haven't received my sticker. When should I expect it?
A. There is no separate sticker for when you purchase the recreation passport through the Secretary of State Office. The indication is in two places:

• 1. The tab on the plate is marked with a "P"
• 2. "Recreation Passport" is on the upper, left-hand side of your registration certificate.

Q. Do I have to get a passport for each car or can I transfer it to multiple vehicles?
A. For all vehicles that are eligible to renew through the Secretary of State Office, a recreation passport is required for each vehicle. They are linked to individual cars registration/plates so you would need one for each vehicle. Since the indicator is on the tab that goes on your plate, you cannot remove the tab and place it on another vehicle.

Q. Can I still just buy a resident daily pass?
A. No, the Recreation Passport program replaces all park entry permits for Michigan resident vehicles.

Q. In the past, I have purchased passports as gifts. Is this still an option?
A. No. The reason is that the passports coincide with the registration renewal date, not calendar year, so depending on when you a renewal notice is due, there is a difference in passport stickers and someone may purchase the wrong sticker. We encourage people to be creative in giving $10 gifts to people in place of purchasing an individual sticker.

Q. I have a gift certificate, can I use it to purchase a Recreation Passport?
A. You can use the gift certificate to purchase a locally sold Recreation Passport at the park, but you cannot redeem the certificate at the Secretary of State Office, for they will not accept certificates for the $10 option through their office.

Q. How do out-of-state visitors participate in this program?
A. Out-of-state visitors will still be required to purchase non-resident stickers at a cost of $29 annually or $8 daily. This sticker can be purchased at any State Park or Recreation Area as well as the Michigan e-Store.

Q. Can senior citizens (age 65+) still get a discounted yearly pass for $6?
A. The cost for the Recreation Passport will be the same for all Michigan residents--$10 per vehicle per year. Maintaining one Recreation Passport rate for all registered automobiles will reduce confusion during vehicle registration.

The Bridge Pass park permit (for qualifying low-income Michigan residents) will also now cost $10 instead of $18. ($5 for motorcycles).

Q. What will happen to staff that sold stickers?
A. Staff hours that were used to collect and remit entrance permit funds will be used to enhance guest experiences through improved programs and services. Reassigning staff will improve flexibility and efficiency.

Questions about access to other parks, trails and marinas

Q. How does the Recreation Passport program benefit state forest recreation?
A. State forest campgrounds have experienced decreased funding, resulting in the closure of 12 campgrounds in the last two years. Seven percent of the Recreation Passport revenues are dedicated to support state forest campgrounds, pathways and non-motorized trails.

Q. Do I need a Recreation Passport to visit a state forest trail or stay at a state forest campground?
A. No, but you will need to pay the camping fee at state forest campgrounds.

Q: Why doesn't my local marina accept the Recreational Passport for the launch fees? If the state provides the funding for construction then shouldn't they honor the Recreational Passport?
A. While State funds may have been used in the construction of a marina; the ongoing management of the marina is handled by the local municipality. They will not be receiving money from the Recreation Passport fund, and therefore still need to collect fees to help offset their operational costs.

Q. Does the Recreation Passport get me into my local county parks or Metroparks, too?
A. No. While there will be grant monies made available to local recreation agencies through the Recreation Passport, your local park still needs to raise money for daily operations.

Q. The Recreation Passport provides funds to my local community recreation agency. Does that mean my $10 Passport also covers the entry fee into boat launches and parks run by my county or township?
A. No. While funds will be available to help maintain and improve your local parks through a grant program, use fees at those sites will still be in effect.

Questions about specific vehicle types

Q. Do I need the Recreation Passport for every vehicle?
A. Any vehicle that you would like to use to access state parks, recreation areas or boat launches will need a Recreation Passport.

Registering all of your vehicles is an affordable way to contribute to the vitality of the state because the Recreation Passport:

• Funds outdoor recreation facilities and opportunities
• Provides stewardship of our unique natural resources and protection of critical habitat
• Stimulates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact for local communities from tourism
• Enhances the quality of life for Michigan residents
• Attracts new businesses and jobs to the state
• Contributes to local economies near state parks, state forests, trails and boating facilities
• Protects our beautiful natural resources for future generations

Q. Do I need the Recreation Passport for a towed vehicle?
A. Yes. If you plan to use that vehicle while staying at the park, you will need a Recreation Passport.

Q. Do I need the Recreation Passport for my moped even though I don't register it with the Secretary of State?
A. Yes. Because it is a motorized cycle, the $5 motorcycle Passport will be needed. This can be purchased at any state park or recreation area and is good for the entire calendar year.

Q. I have an antique car/veterans plate that doesn't get renewed every year. How do I get the Recreation Passport?
A. You can purchase the "blue" 2011 sticker which will be good for the rest of the calendar year. This also applies to these plates:

Disabled Veteran
Ex-POW
Manufacturer
Medal of Honor
Municipal
Non-Profit Organization (Y plate)
Tribal Government

Because you are not eligible to purchase the Recreation Passport through the renewal process at the Secretary of State, the Recreation Passport can be sold locally each year at the same price.

Another change is that if your vehicle is not annually renewed, you may affix your locally sold Recreation Passport on to a clear backing and place it in the vehicle window.

Q. Our school has a field trip scheduled after Oct. 1, 2010 to a state park, how will the bus gain admission into the park?
A. School busses will be eligible to purchase the "blue" 2011 sticker available to all non-annually renewed plates. The passport may then be affixed to a clear backing and placed in the bus window when parked.

Q. I have a commercial vehicle. How do I get the Recreation Passport?
A. The Secretary of State's system will not be offering the Recreation Passport to owners of vehicles with a GVW of over 24,000 pounds or vans/buses with a capacity of 16 or more. These vehicles, as well as tour buses, will be required to purchase a $15 daily permit upon park entry. If you have a commercial vehicle without a Recreation Passport and you are using the vehicle for non-commercial, recreational use in the park, you will need to purchase the Recreation Passport at the park for $10.

Q. Will I need to pay the $10 for my ATV/ORV when I go to the Silver Lake Dunes?
A. You will be able to purchase a $10 Recreation Passport at the facility for your ORV. Any ORV's utilizing the Silver Lake scramble area will also be required to display the Michigan ORV sticker along with the Recreation Passport. ORV stickers may be purchased at Silver Lake State Park.

Background questions

Q. Will the cost increase?
A. The Recreation Passport will remain just $10 in 2012. The cost will increase along with the Consumer Price Index rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. However, the Recreation Passports sold at the park can be up to twice the amount sold at the Secretary of State Office. The idea behind this is to encourage people do this through the Secretary of State, so we can repurpose staff on other tasks, such as cleaning bathrooms and campground patrols.

Q. Who developed the Recreation Passport program?
A. This initiative grew out of a proposal developed by the Citizens Committee for Michigan State Parks seeking to establish a long-term, stable funding source for the state park system and other public recreation entities.

Q. Why should I give the state more money? I already pay taxes.
A. Taxpayer support of the state parks ended in 2004. Over the past four years the state park budget has been reduced by $2.8 million each year. Permanent staffing of state parks has diminished nearly 15 percent since 2000. The park system has been unable to keep up with infrastructure repairs and replacements. Our park system is one of the largest in the nation, but, is tied for last in public funding support. The Recreation Passport program will provide an affordable method for the public to invest in state park, boating, state forest and local recreation programs.

Q: I heard the DNR's Park Endowment Fund just received a large sum of money from the oil and gas lease auction of state-owned land parcels. If that's true, why do we still need the Recreation Passport?
A: Although this has not yet occurred, the dollars going into this fund will certainly be a windfall - and great news for Michigan! However, even if this endowment fund were to receive the maximum amount, that funding would cover just 10 percent of the needed infrastructure repairs at our state parks and recreation areas.

The Park Endowment Fund offers much-needed support for Michigan's state parks and recreation areas, but does so for a small list of fixes and in amounts that vary from year to year. The funding is a drop in a bucket that's overflowing with needs that must be met in a more sustainable and predictable way.

Michigan's Recreation Passport is a chance for residents to say- each and every year - that quality outdoor recreation opportunities are important. It is an opportunity to provide ongoing, stable funding that will be used for day-to-day operations and staffing of state parks and forest campgrounds, to support community recreation through grants, to support community cultural and historic resources, and to maintain and improve our state forests' non-motorized pathways and trails.

The Park Endowment Fund and the Recreation Passport are both critical sources of funding for Michigan, but neither can sustain the system alone. Together, they will help Michigan cement its standing as one of the country's premier destinations for outdoor recreation.

Q. Where can I get more information about this Recreation Passport program?
A. Please visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport , or contact the Recreation Passport call center, open 9 AM to 6 PM weekdays at (517)241-PARK (7275).