A historic $780 million investment made over the years, supported by federal funding, is revitalizing Michigan’s parks and recreation facilities. According to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, this funding supported upgrades at over 600 sites across Michigan.
“Since I took office, we have invested a record-breaking $780 million in our state parks, trails, and outdoor facilities,” said Whitmer. “The projects we funded increased accessibility, improved infrastructure, and supported local recreation businesses.”
This investment includes the bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan, which was the largest one-time investment in state and local parks in Michigan history. It was made possible by the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan.
In a press release, the governor highlighted the impact of the $780 million investment in Michigan’s state parks, trails, and outdoor facilities.
Whitmer noted that this funding has supported upgrades at 636 sites across the state, increasing accessibility, improving infrastructure, and bolstering local recreation businesses.
“We all love our state parks because they are the best, most beautiful parts of Michigan and integral to our economy. As we kick off another busy summer, I am excited to see how our investments improve the park experience for Michiganders and visitors. I hope everyone has a chance to get outside this summer, enjoy a state park, and explore Pure Michigan,” Whitmer said.
The state has introduced the Nature Awaits program. This initiative provides every Michigan fourth grader with a free field trip to a state park.
Other projects include the development of a new state park in Flint, and the construction of wheelchair-accessible infrastructure at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula.
Another aspect of the funding is its investment in the economy. Michigan’s outdoor recreation industry contributed $12.36 billion to the state’s economy in 2022. The sector supports nearly 119,000 jobs and experienced double-digit growth for two consecutive years. Outdoor recreation also drove $4.1 billion of value to local retailers, supporting over 46,000 jobs.
In addition to economic investments, Governor Whitmer established the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2019.
