Hamilton Reef
05-13-2006, 09:09 PM
At Bass River, summer fun will cost $6
http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/114683496063750.xml&coll=6
Friday, May 05, 2006 By Howard Meyerson Press Outdoors Editor
The state plans to start collecting entrance fees at the largely unknown 1,665-acre Bass River State Recreation Area in Robinson and Allendale townships this summer. Users say the move is good.
With money in hand, the state will be more likely to make future improvements. The undeveloped area with its shoreline, forests and trails already draws thousands of boaters bicyclists, horseback riders and hikers each year.
"It's a good thing," said Dennis Murphy, president of the Western Michigan chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association. "We've been benefiting from it for years and this will just bring it in line with other state parks and recreation areas."
Volunteers in the cycling group have been clearing the trails annually. There are six miles of trail along the Grand River. The group also invested in 25 trail signs that will be installed this June after the state dresses up the entrances.
Department of Natural Resources staffers say they plan to have signs installed that will identify each of the two entrances to the recreation area. Each entrance has a parking lot where fee pipes will be installed so that visitors can pay on the honor-system when the ranger is not on duty.
"We're going to have a ranger out there full time in a couple of weeks," said Charles Ehrlich, the manager for the area. "He will have (daily and annual) permits with him."
The fees at Bass River will be similar to other state park and recreation areas. A daily pass will cost $6. An annual pass will cost $24.
The recreation area drew 30,720 visitors in 2005, according to Ehrlich. Most were boaters who came up the river. But the park also is visited by horseback riders, bicyclists and hikers. Motorized traffic is not allowed.
"We hope this will lead us to bigger and better things with Bass River," Ehrlich said of the park where there was once an open-pit gravel mine.
Bass River has no amenities such as drinking water, picnic tables or toilets, but Ehrlich believes that will change once it starts generating revenue. The collected money will be returned to Lansing, where it will go into a large pot that is doled out to the park system.
"People have been using it for free and they are going to see signs now and fees, but not the benefits that money will pay for. At least not for awhile.
"But we hope that this will make the park more visible and increase (agency) interest in development and planning. With money going into a general parks and recreation fund, it won't be long before we have to come up with a justification for improvements."
The Bass River State Recreation Area also includes the 550-acre Bakale Tract on its eastern edge, which is primarily managed for wildlife and hunting along with compatible recreation such as hiking or bird watching.
The tract was acquired in 2003. Mountain biking, horseback or motorized use is not allowed there.
Murphy says that is not a problem, but he hopes a day will come when cyclists will be able to add trail loops on the portion of the recreation area that is open to cycling. The six-mile trail, he said, offers some challenges but is not overly difficult.
"It's superb trail for beginners and moderate beginners to get some trail-riding experience," Murphy said. "A number of people consider it a hidden jewel."
http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/114683496063750.xml&coll=6
Friday, May 05, 2006 By Howard Meyerson Press Outdoors Editor
The state plans to start collecting entrance fees at the largely unknown 1,665-acre Bass River State Recreation Area in Robinson and Allendale townships this summer. Users say the move is good.
With money in hand, the state will be more likely to make future improvements. The undeveloped area with its shoreline, forests and trails already draws thousands of boaters bicyclists, horseback riders and hikers each year.
"It's a good thing," said Dennis Murphy, president of the Western Michigan chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association. "We've been benefiting from it for years and this will just bring it in line with other state parks and recreation areas."
Volunteers in the cycling group have been clearing the trails annually. There are six miles of trail along the Grand River. The group also invested in 25 trail signs that will be installed this June after the state dresses up the entrances.
Department of Natural Resources staffers say they plan to have signs installed that will identify each of the two entrances to the recreation area. Each entrance has a parking lot where fee pipes will be installed so that visitors can pay on the honor-system when the ranger is not on duty.
"We're going to have a ranger out there full time in a couple of weeks," said Charles Ehrlich, the manager for the area. "He will have (daily and annual) permits with him."
The fees at Bass River will be similar to other state park and recreation areas. A daily pass will cost $6. An annual pass will cost $24.
The recreation area drew 30,720 visitors in 2005, according to Ehrlich. Most were boaters who came up the river. But the park also is visited by horseback riders, bicyclists and hikers. Motorized traffic is not allowed.
"We hope this will lead us to bigger and better things with Bass River," Ehrlich said of the park where there was once an open-pit gravel mine.
Bass River has no amenities such as drinking water, picnic tables or toilets, but Ehrlich believes that will change once it starts generating revenue. The collected money will be returned to Lansing, where it will go into a large pot that is doled out to the park system.
"People have been using it for free and they are going to see signs now and fees, but not the benefits that money will pay for. At least not for awhile.
"But we hope that this will make the park more visible and increase (agency) interest in development and planning. With money going into a general parks and recreation fund, it won't be long before we have to come up with a justification for improvements."
The Bass River State Recreation Area also includes the 550-acre Bakale Tract on its eastern edge, which is primarily managed for wildlife and hunting along with compatible recreation such as hiking or bird watching.
The tract was acquired in 2003. Mountain biking, horseback or motorized use is not allowed there.
Murphy says that is not a problem, but he hopes a day will come when cyclists will be able to add trail loops on the portion of the recreation area that is open to cycling. The six-mile trail, he said, offers some challenges but is not overly difficult.
"It's superb trail for beginners and moderate beginners to get some trail-riding experience," Murphy said. "A number of people consider it a hidden jewel."