The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host virtual meetings next week to gather public feedback on new draft general management plans for Leelanau and Keith J. Charters Traverse City state parks.
General management plans are used to define a long-range planning and management strategy that protects a state park’s resources while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities.
Each virtual meeting will begin with an overview of the planning process and draft plan, followed by an opportunity for people to share feedback and questions with DNR staff. Registration is required:
The Leelanau State Park virtual meeting will take place 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 10. Visit Michigan.gov/Leelanau to view a copy of the draft plan and to register for the GoToWebinar meeting. A video recording of the meeting will be posted approximately one week later.
The Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park virtual meeting will take place 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 18. Visit Michigan.gov/TraverseCity to view a copy of the draft plan and to register for the GoToWebinar meeting. A video recording of the meeting will be posted approximately one week later.
Opportunity for additional feedback
Following the virtual meetings, an interactive public input survey will be made available on the respective park pages to solicit more detailed feedback on each draft plan’s components.
Comments also can be shared via email through March 30 with Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, at JensenD1@Michigan.gov.
“Public input is a critical part of the planning process,” said Jensen. “Nearly 1,200 people responded to online input surveys on these parks in fall 2019, which provided important guidance for drafting the plans.”
Park details and features
Leelanau State Park, located at the tip of Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, is home to more than 1,550 acres waiting for visitors to explore. The park showcases the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, a rustic campground, mini cabins, the park’s trail system (also known as Cathead Bay trails), an interactive playground and a picnic area with a pavilion. Much of the park’s southern portion is protected as designated critical dunes. Most of the park land is open to hunting.
Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park is a popular urban park located on the east arm of the Grand Traverse Bay, just 2 miles from downtown Traverse City. The 75-acre park is home to a modern campground, a fully equipped lodge, mini cabins and a day-use area. The day-use area is located directly across U.S. 31 and features a quarter-mile of sandy beach, a small beach house and a picnic area. The TART trail, a 10.5-mile paved trail, can be accessed from the park and connects to downtown Traverse City and other regional trails.
