$10 Access Fee for All State Parks

$10 Access Fee for All State Parks: From the RedTape Blog: "West Michigan tourism officials are pleased by passage of a plan that will allow Michigan motorists to visit state parks by paying a $10 fee when they renew their vehicle license plates each year.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign the plan into law.


Bills setting up a state parks passport system were finalized Thursday by the Michigan Legislature and are headed to Granholm's desk.


Voluntarily paying the fee would exempt state residents from having to buy $6 daily or $24 annual park passes to enter state parks. Paying the fee also would provide access to recreation areas, forests and boat ramps. The system would take effect Oct. 1, so it wouldn't affect park entrance this summer.


Those preferring not to pay the $10 could select an option on the vehicle registration renewal form not to use the state parks system.


Out-of-state visitors still would be required to buy daily or annual passes for Michigan parks.


For the full article, see 'Bills finalized for $10 fee to use state parks', Muskegon Chronicle, via MLive, March 26, 2010.
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