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Palms Book State Park

bird's-eye view of Palm Books State Park's spring and raft

Palms Book State Park

The DNR has begun the process of developing a new general management plan for Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County. The process typically takes one year to complete, and it's currently in the beginning stages. The project is facilitated by Beckett & Raeder Inc. of Ann Arbor. Public and stakeholder input will be a critical part of the process.

A park's general management plan defines a long-range (10- to 20-year) planning and management strategy to protect and preserve the site’s natural and cultural resources and provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities.

Public input

To help develop the draft plan, visitors, local community members, stakeholders and others interested in sharing their opinions, ideas and experiences were asked to participate in an online survey which was available throughout May 2023. The planning team is currently evaluating the survey results. The next step will be to complete the draft for a new general management plan, which will be available for public review in the fall of 2023.

There is also a new general management plan in the works for Indian Lake State Park, including an opportunity to share opinions, ideas and experiences via an online survey.

About the park

Palms Book State Park, located at the north end of Indian Lake, is home to Kitch-iti-kipi or the Big Spring. This renowned natural attraction is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring with more than 10,000 gallons of water per minute gushing through fissures in the underlying limestone at a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can view the springs from a self-propelled ADA accessible observation raft. Concessions and souvenirs are available at a store open seasonally and a boat launch provides access to Indian Lake, the Upper Peninsula’s fourth-largest inland lake.

Resources

Contact

For more information, contact Debbie Jensen, DNR Parks and Recreation Division Management Plan Administrator, at Jensend1@michigan.gov