The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is inviting people to provide input on a draft general management plan that will guide the future of Maybury State Park(Northville Township) in Wayne County. The DNR will host a public input meeting Tuesday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northville Community Center banquet room, 303 W. Main St. in Northville.

A link to the Maybury State Park draft general management plan and additional information on the DNR’s management planning process are available at Michigan.gov/ParkManagementPlans.

Upon completion, the general management plan will define a long-range (10- to 20-year) planning and management strategy that will assist the DNR in meeting its responsibilities to 1) protect and preserve the site's natural and cultural resources, and 2) provide access to land- and water-based public recreation and educational opportunities.

“Public input is a critical component of the planning process," said park management plan administrator Debbie Jensen. "We were lucky to have more than 1,000 people respond to an online public input survey, which was a critical resource for drafting the plan."

Maybury State Park is home to nearly 1,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadow, mature forest and a variety of wildlife and wildflowers, which provide metro Detroit residents quick access to outdoor recreation in a state park setting. The state acquired the land from the city of Detroit in 1971 following the closure of the Maybury Sanitorium that once occupied the site.

The park offers an extensive trail system for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. Other recreation opportunities include an organizational campground, a day camp building, shelters available for rent and fishing on the park’s 8-acre pond. Maybury Riding Stable operates seasonally from within the park and Maybury Farm, an educational working farm operated by the Northville Community Foundation, offers visitors the chance to experience the wonder of animals, agriculture, farmland and forests. Many events and educational programs also are held each year.

"We are fortunate to have so many community partners and volunteers supporting this park," said Traci Sincock, park supervisor. “Additional public input will help ensure that we are responsive to the needs and desires of the community as we move forward."

The March 5 meeting will begin with a short overview of the draft plan followed by an open house during which the public is invited to review the planning materials, provide comments and talk to DNR staff. Comments also may be sent via email through March 12 to Debbie Jensen at JensenD1@Michigan.gov.

For more information about the March 5 meeting or the draft management plan, contact Debbie Jensen at 517-284-6105 (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired).

Contact: Debbie Jensen, 517-284-6105