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Van Buren State Park

bird's-eye view of water and land

Van Buren State Park

The DNR is in the process of developing a new general management plan for Van Buren State Park in southwest Michigan. The process typically takes one year to complete and is in the beginning stages. Public and stakeholder input will be a critical part of the process.

Public input is crucial to the development of the draft general management plan. The DNR will host a public meeting in spring 2025 to review the plan and gather additional feedback.

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

Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others interested in sharing their opinions, ideas and experiences were encouraged to participate in an online public survey, available through Monday, Dec. 16.

The DNR is currently reviewing submissions and will use this feedback to develop a draft general management plan. Thank you to everyone who participated!

About the park

Located on Lake Michigan near South Haven, Van Buren State Park features one 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, visitors can connect to the 12-mile Van Buren Trail State Park and the 33.5-mile Kal-Haven Trail State Park.

Contact

For more information, contact Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at JensenD1@Michigan.gov.