PETOSKEY — If you want a say in how the dunes, trails and campsites at Petoskey State Park are managed, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hosting a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17 to gather feedback.
The meeting, set to take place from 6-7:30 p.m., is intended to allow for public input into a new draft general management plan for the state park. At the meeting, DNR staff will present an overview of the draft plan, proposed park improvements and the planning process. The public will then have the chance to ask questions and provide comments.
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The 303-acre Petoskey State Park is located along the shores of Little Traverse Bay between Harbor Springs and Petoskey. The park features beaches with sand dunes — with much of the park designated as a Critical Dune Area — along with campgrounds, hiking trails and more.
According to the DNR, the purpose of the general management plan is to guide the future long-term management and development of Petoskey State Park.
For example, a 10-year action plan for the park includes studying the potential for adding hike-in and bike-in rustic campsites, designating an area for leashed pets on the beach outside of the designated swimming beach, and completing a study to improve traffic flow at the park entrance, among many other initiatives.
“To ensure that park planning aligns with the needs of our visitors, stakeholders and local community, we conducted an earlier online survey to gather public input,” said Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, in a press release. “The feedback combined with the expertise of our park staff, helped shape the draft plan we’re excited to share.”
Advanced registration is required to attend the Sept. 17 meeting. For those unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted online approximately one week later. An interactive public input survey is also available through Oct. 1.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: DNR seeks input on management plan for Petoskey State Park
