Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Silver Lake State Park Voucher Center becomes the new ORV Welcome Center

Silver Lake State Park Voucher Center becomes the
new ORV Welcome Center

Effective immediately, the Silver Lake State Park Voucher Center will be known as the ORV Welcome Center. This change is the result of several months of strategic planning between the DNR and a volunteer task force who are working to improve the Silver Lake ORV Area (SLORVA).

Beginning April 1 through mid-May, the Welcome Center will be open Friday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Customers wishing to visit the sand dunes, buy a Recreation Passport and/or buy an ORV permit can do all of these things at the Welcome Center or at the Silver Lake State Park Headquarters. The park headquarters is open Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The SLORVA Task Force, which is comprised of various business owners, commercial users, residents and off-road enthusiasts, made recommendations to the DNR to improve the ORV area. Specifically, members strategized how to make dune entry for both local and traveling dune users faster by reducing unnecessary wait lines. The task force unanimously voted to eliminate permit sales at the ORV area entrance, so permits will now be available at the new Welcome Center, at the Silver Lake State Park campground office and at several local businesses. To find a list of DNR retail sales agents in Oceana County, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_14518-34869--,00.html.

"We hope that by moving sales from the ORV area to the Welcome Center, the traffic coming through the dune entrance will move at a steady pace," said Greg Sherburn, Silver Lake State Park supervisor. "We will be able to spend more time with customers and educate on dune readiness and safety without holding up a line at the ORV area."

Part of the task force's plan includes that all vehicles lined up at the ORV area entrance gate after 9 a.m. must be "dune-ready," meaning they must have all required permits, a flag, and be ready to drive straight up in the dunes. If an ORV is checked at the gate and is not dune-ready, the vehicle will be directed back to the Welcome Center to get information and any required permits, equipment or information. The task force is working with the DNR to create and distribute educational materials to prepare dune enthusiasts for the changes at the Silver Lake ORV Area this summer.

As the task force continues to work toward improving the ORV area, additional updates will be announced via press release and ORV Trail email updates and on the Silver Lake ORV Area webpage.

For more information about the SLORVA Task Force, please contact Charlotte Kiefer at 231-873-3083.

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A Recreation Passport grants vehicle access to any Michigan state park, boat launch, state forest campground or nonmotorized state trailhead parking. Residents can purchase the Passport for just $11 ($5 for motorcycles) at the time of Michigan license plate renewal through Secretary of State. Forgot to check "YES" during renewal? Residents and nonresidents can purchase a Recreation Passport window sticker during regular business hours at state parks. Learn more about how the Recreation Passport supports state parks and local outdoor recreation opportunities at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Contact: Greg Sherburn or Charlotte Kiefer at 231-873-3083