October 15, 2010
October 15, 2010
New Recreation Passport a Bargain for Michigan Residents
For just $10, passport allows entry to all 98 state parks, recreation areas in Michigan
LANSING - For just $10, the new Recreation Passport allows state residents entry to all 98 state parks and recreation areas in Michigan, said Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Humphries made her remarks in delivering this week's radio address on behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
"The Recreation Passport just became available October 1," Humphries said. "It replaces the Motor Vehicle Permit, the window sticker that previously allowed entrance to state parks. The Recreation Passport is actually $14 less than the old Motor Vehicle Permit, and for a motorcycle it costs only $5."
Humphries said everyone who wants to enter a state park or recreation area now needs a Recreation Passport, and obtaining one is easy.
"When you renew your license plates, there's a check-off box on the renewal form for the Recreation Passport," Humphries said. "Just check 'yes' and you'll receive a sticker to apply to your license plate indicating that you have the passport. The Recreation Passport will be valid for the duration of your license plate registration."
"Besides giving you entry to all 98 state parks in Michigan and recreation areas, the Recreation Passport does much more," Humphries continued. "It helps preserve 133 state forest campgrounds; nearly 1,000 miles of hiking, biking and skiing trails; more than 1,000 boat launches, and historic and cultural sites in state parks."
"At $10 a year, the Recreation Passport is a bargain for Michigan residents," Humphries said. "And by purchasing a Recreation Passport, you'll not only have access to some of the most beautiful state parks and recreation areas in the world, you'll also be helping to preserve state forest campgrounds, boat launches and hiking, biking and skiing trails."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's website at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Rebecca Humphries, Director, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Radio Address - Recreation Passport
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov271Full_335487_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov271Edit_335490_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov271Quote_335491_7.mp3
Hello. This is Rebecca Humphries, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. I'm pinch hitting today for Governor Jennifer Granholm.
These days, $10 doesn't buy you much. But here's a bargain for you. Ten dollars buys you a passport to all 98 state parks and recreation areas in Michigan.
It's called the Recreation Passport, and it just became available October 1. It replaces the Motor Vehicle Permit, the window sticker that previously allowed entrance to state parks. The Recreation Passport is actually $14 less than the old Motor Vehicle Permit, and for a motorcycle it costs only $5.
Everyone who wants to enter a state park or recreation area now needs a Recreation Passport. So how do you get one?
It's easy. When you renew your license plates, there's a check-off box on the renewal form for the Recreation Passport. Just check YES, and you'll receive a sticker to apply to your license plate indicating that you have the passport. The Recreation Passport will be valid for the duration of your license plate registration.
Besides giving you entry to all 98 state parks in Michigan and recreation areas, the Recreation Passport does much more. It helps preserve 133 state forest campgrounds; nearly 1,000 miles of hiking, biking and skiing trails; more than 1,000 boat launches; and historic and cultural sites in state parks.
Many people have asked us why we created the Recreation Passport. They're surprised to learn that state parks and recreation areas have not received any money from the state's general fund since 2004. State parks and recreation areas truly rely completely on entrance and camping fees, along with an annual share of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
This funding model for state parks was simply inadequate to meet current and future operational and maintenance needs. The Recreation Passport will be a more stable source of revenue and is intended to prevent drastic cuts to Michigan's parks and forest programs.
Two other quick notes: if you're a camper, you still have to pay camping fees at state forest campgrounds. And out-of-state visitors are still required to purchase non-resident stickers at a cost of $29 annually or $8 daily.
At $10 a year, the Recreation Passport is a bargain for Michigan residents. And by purchasing a Recreation Passport, you'll not only have access to some of the most beautiful state parks and recreation areas in the world, you'll also be helping to preserve state forest campgrounds, boat launches and hiking, biking and skiing trails.
Thank you for listening, and enjoy Michigan's great outdoors through the Recreation Passport.
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