To ensure plans for Van Riper State Park in Champion and the 120-acre property that surrounds the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee best meet the needs of visitors and the community, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on new management plans for both popular Upper Peninsula properties located in Marquette County.
Under the DNR, the Michigan History Center manages the museum's daily operations and exhibits, while the Parks and Recreation Division manages infrastructure improvements and the property's natural resources. The site is a subunit of Van Riper State Park.
Anyone interested in sharing their opinions, ideas and experiences for one or both of these locations is encouraged to participate in an online survey available through Sunday, Nov. 1. The feedback will be used to help inform the draft general management plans, which also will be shared with the public before they are approved.
Links to the Van Riper State Park and Michigan Iron Industry Museum property project page — including both online surveys — are available at Michigan.gov/ParkManagementPlans.
The DNR uses general management plans to define long-range planning and management strategies that protect a park's natural and cultural resources, while also addressing recreation and educational needs and opportunities. Public input is a critical component of the planning process.
Van Riper State Park, located 35 miles west of Marquette off U.S. 41, spans 1,135 acres and features 1.5 miles of pristine waterfront along both Lake Michigamme and the Peshekee River. The park is a favorite destination for modern and rustic camping, featuring a buoyed swim beach, sandy shores, bicycle pump tracks, accessible playgrounds, trails, picnic areas and a pavilion. North of the highway, miles of scenic trails wind through the hills, offering glimpses of early mining ventures from nearly a century ago.
Just 8 miles west of Marquette, tucked into the forested ravines of the Marquette Iron Range, the 120 acres surrounding the Michigan Iron Industry Museum overlook the Carp River and the historic site of the region's first ironworks. The museum property — recently expanded to include the Upper Carp River Falls — features two short interpretive trails highlighting the Carp River Forge, local flora and fauna, geology and Native American culture. The plan will focus on enhancing visitor access to these expanded natural lands.
Additional information on the DNR's general management planning process is available at Michigan.gov/ParkManagementPlans.
For more information about the public surveys or proposed plans, contact Debbie Jensen at JensenD1@Michigan.gov or 517-230-6837.