Michigan state parks news - August 2022

As we celebrate 75 years of the waterways program, Michigan's boating industry is coming together to find ways to recycle fiberglass boats, a national challenge that Michigan is determined to solve.?

Want to help??Complete this online form to help us estimate how many fiberglass boats are out there and ready to be recycled. At the same time, you can sign up for text updates on the recycling project and provide your input.

Fiberglass boat recycling opportunities could be available as early as spring 2023.?Boat shrink-wrap recycling is already available, and Boat Michigan is encouraging you to "Think before you shrink" this fall.?

Thanks to $250 million in record-breaking federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan, two of the first "shovel ready" projects for campers to get excited about will soon be breaking ground.

The approximately $2 million Straits State Park project includes the replacement of the park's two upper campground toilet and shower buildings, mirroring many of the finish details from recently constructed buildings in the lower campground.

A roughly $750,000 project to upgrade electrical and water distribution systems is set for Cheboygan State Park's modern campground. The project entails the replacement of below-ground water mains and electrical conduit, meters and distribution panels, as well as upgraded jug fillers and electrical pedestals. An estimated $2 million is proposed in later investments in the sewer system.

The funding stems from the federal relief program, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

We?ve put together a site to help you follow along. Here you?ll find FAQs, a photo gallery and an interactive map identifying proposed project locations, details and status of those projects. Visit Michigan.gov/StateParksProgress.?

You and your friends are invited to ride Michigan's 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and/or the state?s six scramble areas during the second Free ORV Weekend this year.

Both Michigan residents and visitors can ride DNR-designated routes and trails Aug. 20-21 without an ORV license or permit. All other ORV rules and laws still apply, and the Recreation Passport is required where applicable.

Typically, there's an entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park (although no Recreation Passport requirement), but the fee will be waived for this special weekend.

If your Labor Day weekend travel plans include crossing the Mighty Mac, please keep in mind that the Mackinac Bridge Authority will close the bridge Monday, Sept. 5 from 6:30 a.m. to noon for the 2022 Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk.

Why not make the most of your extra time and explore a new (or favorite) destination??There are so many things to explore, such as Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, Ocqueoc Falls (the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula), Fayette Historic State Park in the Upper Peninsula and more.