The Community of Disc Golfers and About All Things Disc Golf

Disc Golfers in Michigan State Parks

There is a bill that is going to be introduced into the Michigan Legislature that will change funding for the Michigan State Parks. In essence, it would cost any disc golfer in Michigan, zero dollars to play at any State Park, since they will have paid their $10.00 when they renewed their licence plate. So, if you support this action as a disc golfer or disc golf club please contact your state representatives and let

If you are not familiar with this proposal, it basically eliminates both the $24.00 State Parks sticker and the $24.00 Boating Access Site stickers and all Michigan residence are allowed access to these facilities/locations by paying a $10.00 fee at the Secretary of State when you renew your licence. This would provide State Parks with the stable funding source it desperately needs and also helps support the State Forests and local parks and recreation agencies like Oakland County Parks, Genesee County Parks and the Huron Clinton Metroparks (but you would still have to buy stickers from them).

Late yesterday we learned that the License Fee bill is scheduled for introduction on Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. in Rooms 402 and 403 at the Capitol. I will call you this weekend to fill you in and ask that you contact Friends groups and other stakeholders to request their presence at the bill introduction. This is the most significant opportunity in our careers to establish sustainable, long-term funding for State Parks, Recreation Areas and Boating Programs. It is critical that we have our stakeholders present at this event. Please make these contacts beginning today!

Some concerns were raised on our local message board about out of state people using the park for free while Michigan residents have to pay and also the concern that no more courses being built because there is no revenue coming in from them. This was the response from my contact:

Out of state people will still pay the same prices and be required to display a valid permit in there window just like now. The purpose of these courses being built in MI State Parks is not exclusively revenue related (though that is a nice perk). It is also an attempt to keep up with current outdoor recreation trends that are low impact to the natural resources and will get people out into the MI State Parks. To this end, we are now catering to this state's large population of disc golfers and introducing the sport to our traditional users which will hopefully result in more people using the parks more often. It's a big picture sort of thing.

So, if you support this it is a pretty short deadline thing. It is being introduced on Thursday so contact your legislatures today!

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Garrett Graham on March 10, 2009 at 9:35am: How do i do this mark; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Stephens on March 10, 2009 at 9:37am: Contact your local state representatives. Give me a bit & I am sure that I can find a link to where you can find out who there are. Busy posting this to other sites... : ); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Stephens on March 10, 2009 at 9:41am: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Use this link to find your representatives. You can call or email them. It is the License Fee Bill for the Michigan State Parks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Garrett Graham on March 10, 2009 at 9:59am: I want to support this is that what I tell them in my email?

Mark Stephens said:
http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Use this link to find your representatives. You can call or email them. It is the License Fee Bill for the Michigan State Parks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Stephens on March 10, 2009 at 10:06am: I just wrote a short message to my representatives something to the effect of:

"There is a new bill being introduced on Thursday for the Michigan State Parks called the License Fee Bill. I would urge you to support this bill as it will allow the State Parks have a means of having the operating capitol that they need as well as offer access into all Michigan State Parks without purchasing stickers. Maintaining the large public park system is important to me and to the people of the State of Michigan. Quality outdoor recreation is something that we have long enjoyed in this state and I would like t to think that it is something that we can look forward to for many years to come. Thank You."

At the end of your email you should put your address so the representative knows that they are actually representing you. : ); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Garrett Graham on March 10, 2009 at 10:08am: Thanks mark Ill send an email now; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by rob bax on March 10, 2009 at 11:15am: I'll do this as well. Thanks for the post.

Mark Stephens said:
http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

Use this link to find your representatives. You can call or email them. It is the License Fee Bill for the Michigan State Parks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by stevo on March 10, 2009 at 11:27am: a3 disc sent me a link to a poll about state parks,but the link didn't work; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Terry "the Pirate" Calhoun on March 10, 2009 at 11:29am: I sent an email off. Thanks for sharing this here, Mark.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Stephens on March 10, 2009 at 11:30am: Thanks.

I think that there are 4 courses in State Parks so far.

HollyWoods (the first one)
Fort Custer
One towards the West Side
One in Southern Michigan (Swan Lake or something); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by First Run Apparel on April 5, 2010 at 12:49pm: I think there are 6. Here is a link to state park disc golf club.

http://www.discgolfersr.us/group/parkyourdriveseriesmichganstateparks; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Stephens on April 5, 2010 at 12:54pm: There are 5 however this thread was from a year ago and I don't think that all 5 were open at that time...

Newaygo State Park
Waterloo Recreation Area
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Holly Recreation Area
Sleepy Hollow State Park; ▶ Reply to This