ARPA Funds Boost State Park Improvement Projects; 73% Complete or Underway

Thanks to a historic $273 million federal infusion from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Michigan state parkgoers have reason to celebrate.

This federal COVID-19 relief funding, which was outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan, has been a game-changer for the state parks system, allowing the DNR to significantly reduce a decades-long backlog of vital repair and maintenance projects and support the development of a new state park in Flint – the first in Genesee County.

While many improvements wrapped up this summer and over the past year, significant work has been actively transforming our parks since early 2024. More specifically, out of 168 planned improvement projects, 73% (122 projects) are already completed or are in progress.

To learn more, read the full press release or explore the DNR's state parks progress page.