No State Park Nearby? Why You Might Still Pay Michigan’s Recreation Passport Fee

The state legislature is debating a proposal that would add a mandatory "Recreation Passport" fee to every car registered in Michigan. Currently, the Recreation Passport is an option for drivers every time they renew their registration.

The mandatory fee proposal would lower the current fee of $14 down to $10, but tack that 10 bucks on to every registration.

The proposal passed the Michigan Senate but appears to be dead on arrival in the House of Representatives.

The Mandatory Fee Michigan Recreation Passport Proposal Details

While it's worth noting the Recreation Passport is needed for admission to all Department of Natural Resources facilities like boat launches the main use for many Michigan residents are for State Parks.

The reason for the opposition in the House is the unavoidable $10 fee creating a hardship, with a leading member on the budget committee telling The Center Square,

As chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism, I want both our citizens and visitors to enjoy Michigan’s natural wonders and make memories with their families. Our constituents should not be penalized for choosing to put food on the table or enjoying Michigan’s great outdoor attractions.

Is $10 on top of an already likely $100+ annual registration truly a make or break for "putting food on the table?"

Perhaps the more interesting argument that should be made is the lack of state park facilities in many counties. Why should Michigan residents who don't have a state park nearby to enjoy be saddled with a fee to enter a park they need to drive a great distance to enjoy?

READ MORE: There Are 35 State Parks Abandoned by Michigan - What Happened to Them? + These Are the Next Three State Parks the State of Michigan Will Develop

This map from the state displaying its DNR facilities shows how barren part of the state (in particular the central Lower Peninsula) is when it comes to state parks and recreation areas.

Michigan Counties Without Easy State Park Access

Consider how many counties lack a state park or recreation area: Cass, St. Joseph, Hillsdale, Calhoun, Eaton, Shiawassee, Kent, Montcalm, Saginaw, Tuscola, Saginaw, Midland, Isabella, Lake, Osceola, Gladwin, Missaukee and Branch by an asterisk which contains the undeveloped Coldwater Lake park.

👇🏼BELOW: The Only Destination For These Special Highways are Michigan State Parks + Seven Michigan Counties That Are Larger than All of Rhode Island👇🏼

That's a large portion of Michigan to not have a state park nearby. It's an interesting argument no one is making when it comes to the possibility of mandatory Recreation Passport fees.