Thanks to a $250 million tranche of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, campers, day visitors and school children can look forward to a newly renovated Saginaw Bay Visitor Center in the Bay City State Park and improved camping facilities at Interlochen State Park.
Saginaw Bay Visitor Center (Bay County)
As part of a $1.5 million project, the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center in Bay City State Park will undergo major interior and exterior renovations .
The work includes renovations to the reception and exhibit hall, a new roof and siding, and the addition of a new science lab. These improvements will benefit the thousands of people who visit each year – alone or as part of a program – to learn more about Michigan’s natural resources.
The Visitor Center will be closed to the public during construction, which begins Nov. 21. The project is expected to welcome visitors in late June 2023. Periodic updates to the construction schedule will be posted on Michigan.gov/BayCity.
Interlochen State Park (Grand Traverse County)
Between three improvement projects, more than $3.5 million in ARPA funding will be invested in Interlochen State Park.
The first project will involve the replacement of the electrical system, including new pedestals at each campsite in the South Campground. The project is underway and is expected to be completed between Memorial Day and July 1, 2023. The reopening date will be announced at Michigan.gov/Interlochen.
Other park improvements – which will take place in later phases – will upgrade and improve accessibility in the park’s day-use building and restrooms, replace the sanitary lift station that sends waste to the local sewage treatment and improve the underground water and sewage system. Construction dates are yet to be determined.
Funding
A total of $250 million in federal relief funds have been made available to the DNR last March to help address a long list of critical needs in state parks and trails, and build a new state park in Flint. These American Rescue Plan Act funds are part of a $4.8 billion infrastructure package outlined in Governor Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together plan.
Follow our progress
To stay up to date on the status of projects and learn more about funding and decision-making, visit the new State Parks Progress page.
You will find :
• An interactive map identifying proposed project locations and details, including the status (proposed, design/tender phase, construction started or project completed) of each project. Please Note: This map is specific to ARPA-funded projects; it does not include the variety of other work that takes place in state parks, trails, and waterways.
- Frequently Asked Questions.
- State Park Facts.
- A scalable photo gallery, including many examples of work to be done. As projects are completed, “after” photos will be added.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/StateParksProgress.
Questions about the projects? Contact Rich Fenner, Acting Superintendent of Bay City State Park, at 989-684-3020 or [email protected] or Christopher Bush, Acting Superintendent of Interlochen State Park, at 231-276-9511 or [email protected].
