LANSING -- The Department of Natural Resources tabled its decision on campground closures until June.
Department of Natural Resources Director Rodney Stokes on Thursday tabled a director’s order to close 23 state forest campgrounds until the June 9 Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting. The order was eligible for Stokes’ signature at Thursday’s NRC meeting in Flint.
Stokes said he was tabling the order to give DNR staff more time to work on two plans to keep more of the campgrounds open. First, he wants to give DNR staff more time to discuss leasing agreements with local units of government that have expressed an interest in some of the campgrounds targeted for closure.
Stokes also wants to give the DNR’s Forest Management Division staff time to work with the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division staff on a joint management agreement for some of the campgrounds. He also announced that the Lime Island State Forest Campground in the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie, on the list for closure, would be transferred to the DNR Parks and Recreation Division to manage.
“It is always unfortunate when we have to close campgrounds due to budget cuts and low revenues,” Stokes said. “However, by tabling this order until the June NRC meeting, we buy some time to keep discussing options with local units of government and within the Department to keep some of these campgrounds operating this year.”
In May, the DNR announced it would be closing 23 of the 133 state forest campgrounds in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. State forest campgrounds are rustic camping sites located within state forest land – they are not state parks. Reasons cited for the closures are a 63 percent reduction in General Fund support for the State Forest Recreation Program over the last three years and declining use and revenues.
Two state forest campgrounds in Pigeon River Country are proposed to be closed among the 23. But state lawmakers don't want them to die that easy, in fact, they're looking for ways to keep them alive.
Michael Overton is the Cheboygan County Administrator and says he's been contacted by state representatives about his thoughts on the county or local townships taking over the parks if they are in fact closed.
"I don't think it's in anybody's interest to allow the parks to close," said Overton.
Overton says it would hurt the economy if the sites do close. Lawmakers are looking into leasing the camp sites for one dollar if local counties or townships will take over and keep them as campgrounds.
"Sounds like a good deal to me!" said Overton.
"We're not opposed to locals taking these campgrounds and running these campgrounds. if the local government is willing to take additional responsibility and cost," said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Mary Dettloff.
The DNR says it would cost counties about $8,000 to $10,000 a year to maintain their own campsites.
To learn more information on the proposed sites to be closed, click on THIS LINK.
The June 9 NRC meeting is scheduled for the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in Lansing near the Michigan State University campus.
For more information on the NRC, including agendas, past meeting minutes and informational memos, go to THIS WEB LINK.
