Dear Neighbor,
We Michiganders love our rivers, lakes, parks, and wild spaces. The Great Lakes hold 20% of the world’s fresh water, fueling our economy, supplying drinking water to millions, and sustaining rich, diverse ecosystems across our state. Our forests, parks, and trails are home to the plants and animals we love to see — and to all of us who live, work, and play in these incredible landscapes.
That’s why I’ve been working hard to protect our natural areas and waterways. This work is critical. It’s about making sure all of us can enjoy clean drinking water, healthy lakes, and safe outdoor spaces, now and for generations to come.
As always, if you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or need help resolving issues with the state government, please contact my office at (517) 373-2426 or SenSShink@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Sue Shink
State Senator, District 14
SenateDems.com/Shink
Explore Michigan with a Recreation Passport
A recreation passport is an easy way to access Michigan’s state parks, trails, historic sites, boat launches, and more. The purchase of a recreation passport also supports the protection of our state’s natural spaces and remains good for use year-round. Passports are valid for one year or until your license plate expires.
You don’t need a passport if you’re…
- Entering on foot or by bicycle
- In a school or public transit authority bus
- Operating a snowmobile (note: tow vehicles still require a passport)
- Driving a Michigan-registered vehicle with one of the following plates:
- Ex-Prisoner of War
- Disabled Veteran
- Medal of Honor
- Congressional Medal of Honor
More information is available online michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Protecting Michigan’s Air, Water, and Natural Beauty
For years, Michigan residents have demanded stronger action to combat climate change and protect natural resources. It’s a big part of the reason I got involved in politics! My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are working to move Michigan toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. These actions not only address environmental and health concerns but also support local communities and promote economic growth by:
- Passing the Clean Energy Future Plan to diversify the economy, strengthen Michigan’s position as a clean energy leader, and ensure protections for workers, landowners, and farmers.
- Advancing my legislation to enable the use of virtual power plants in Michigan, helping lower utility costs and increase energy reliability and resiliency.
- Repealing a law that blocked stronger environmental standards, enabling Michigan to tackle issues like algae blooms, the Flint water crisis, and PFAS contamination.
- Introducing legislation to restore local control over plastic waste, allowing communities to ban or limit plastic bags.
- Advancing my legislation to ban plastic microbeads and monitor microplastics in the Great Lakes, keeping Michigan water safe for all.
- Investing $7.5 million in Urban and Community Forestry to increase equitable access to the urban tree canopy that promotes mental and physical health.
- Investing $2 million in wetland restoration, with a quarter of this funding for urban wetlands.
Investing in Our Local Recreation Opportunities
We introduced “Michigan the Beautiful” legislation to protect our parks and natural areas, so all Michiganders have places to enjoy the outdoors, while also supporting local jobs in tourism, conservation, and outdoor recreation. We delivered millions of dollars in funding for our parks and trails!
Visit a Park Near You!
Waterloo Recreation Area is not just the biggest state Park, which includes, among other activities, swimming park in the lower peninsula — it also has the most different and boating and is just beautiful. plants and animals living in it! Close to all of us in District 14, you can hike, bike, horseback ride, boat, picnic, camp, and swim at Waterloo Recreation Area! Different activities have different starting points, so you will want to go online to find the right entry point for your activity! Visit michigan.org/property/waterloo-recreation-area.
Washtenaw County Parks offer swimming, picnicking, golf, disc golf, and just hanging out. I searched for “Washtenaw County Parks” online to find a great list of all the options.
Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve offers over 1,000 acres of birdwatching and hiking. It’s associated with the Underground Railroad, so it has a bit of history, too. It is located at 14801 Arnold Rd., Brooklyn.
Jackson County has 18 parks waiting for you! I searched “Jackson County MI Parks” online to find an easy-to-use list, including the Cascades and Vandercook Lake County Park, which includes, among other activities, swimming and boating and is just beautiful.
The Border-to-Border Trail, also known as the B2B, is a 10 ft wide, ADA accessible paved pathway consisting of six different trail corridors that connect you to cities, parks, and a great time in Washtenaw County (and it connects to Jackson County at the Waterloo Recreation Area).
Looking for fun opportunities across the state? The Pure Michigan and Michigan State Parks websites will tell you about where you might enjoy visiting in Michigan!
Stay Safe while Boating
Living in Michigan, you’re never far from a lake. If you are going out on a boat or personal watercraft to enjoy the Michigan summer or go fishing, then you are likely going to need a Boating Safety Certificate.
Online: Take a boating safety class at BoatEd.com. After you finish the class, you must pay the course fee and pass the final exam to print off your permanent Michigan boating safety certificate.
In Person: The DNR’s Recreational Safety Education Class Database has in-person classes available throughout the year and across the state. The Boater Safety Education classes are a few hours long, and you will get your boating safety certificate upon successful completion of the final exam.
For more information on boating in Michigan, including locations of in-person boating safety classes, visit michigan.gov/boating.
If you enjoy kayaking, the DNR keeps a list of launch sites on their website. You can check out the nearest DNR kayak launch sites at: michigan.gov/dnr/about/accessibility/kayak-launches
Watercraft Registration Renewal
Watercraft owners can now renew their registration at Michigan.gov/SOS or by visiting one of the 160 conveniently located self-service stations statewide. Watercraft registrations are renewed on a three-year cycle and expire on March 31 of the third year. All watercrafts must be registered, except for the following:
- Watercrafts measuring 16 feet or less in length, propelled by oars or paddles, and that are used for personal use
- Nonmotorized canoes and kayaks for personal use
- Rafts, surfboards, sailboards, and swim floats, regardless of length
- Watercrafts registered in another state and only used temporarily in Michigan
Share Your Thoughts with the DNR at Upcoming Meetings
The DNR is committed to giving Michigan residents the opportunity to share input and ideas on policy decisions, programs, and other aspects of natural resource management and outdoor recreational opportunities. One important avenue for this input is at meetings of the public bodies that advise the DNR and, in some cases, also set policies for natural resources. Contact NRC@Michigan.gov if you’d like to attend public meetings.