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Learn about new draft management plan for Van Buren State Park at June 3 public meeting

Join the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at a public meeting Tuesday, June 3, to learn about and share feedback on a new draft general management plan for Van Buren State Park in Van Buren County.

The meeting will take place 6 to 7:30 p.m. at South Haven Township Hall, 09761 Blue Star Memorial Highway in South Haven.

At the meeting, DNR staff will present an overview of the draft plan, proposed park improvements and the planning process, followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions and provide comment.

The DNR uses general management plans to define a long-range planning and management strategy that protects the resources of a park while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities.

"Last fall, we sought input from visitors, community members and stakeholders through an online survey," said Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. "That valuable feedback, along with input from park staff, helped shape the draft plan that will be presented at the June public meeting."

About the park

Located on Lake Michigan near South Haven, Van Buren State Park features 1 mile of sandy beach, towering dunes, a modern campground, wooded trails and a day-use area. Visitors can also explore the 4-mile Van Buren State Park Spur Trail, which leads to the city of South Haven. Along the way, they can connect to the 12-mile Van Buren Trail State Park and the 33.5-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park.

Can’t attend the meeting?

For those unable to attend, an interactive public input survey is available through June 20.

A link to the project page, which includes links to the draft planinteractive public survey and other planning resources, is available at Michigan.gov/VanBuren.

Questions?

Additional information on the DNR’s general management plan process is available at Michigan.gov/ParkManagementPlans.

For more information about the June 3 meeting or the draft plan, contact Debbie Jensen at JensenD1@Michigan.gov. Anyone needing additional accommodations to effectively participate in this meeting is asked to contact Jensen at least five business days before the meeting.


Accompanying photos set at Van Buren State Park are available below for download.