– Contributed photo
Dunes opening delayed one month.
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — The State of Michigan delayed the 2020 season opening of the ORV area of the Silver Lake State Park until May 1 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The Department of Natural Resources announced the decision Wednesday evening, March 18.
The only place of its kind in the US east of the Mississippi River, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes normally open for the season April 1.
Approximately 1 million people visit the scenic and unique park every year, said Silver Lake State Park Manager Jody Johnston.
“It’s a one million visitor park,” Johnston said. That number includes both visitors to the campground and the ORV area.
“We found out yesterday,” Johnston said of the delay. “Some people were disappointed, but a lot of people weren’t surprised. A week and a half ago we wouldn’t have thought it would happen. Things may change as everything is changing rapidly. Will this delay the opening longer? We don’t know.”
Prior to the announcement of the actual delay, a joke post had recently been circulating around social media that the dunes would be closed due to COVID-19. The state park had to field many phone calls as a result, Johnston said.
The park manager said his rangers were prepared to open the ORV area as usual and had all of the signs installed on the dunes before learning of the delay.
As far as financial impacts, Johnston said he doesn’t believe the park will be significantly affected since permits are purchased annually. However, he anticipates area businesses will suffer.
“Several thousand” visitors normally come to the dunes on opening weekend, he said. “People come who travel across the state. But the governor and the president don’t want us to do that right now.
“Our staff is still working. This gives us more time to clean up and prepare.” Normally, the park experiences worker shortages at the beginning of the season when raking and other park opening preparation tasks need to be completed.
Johnston said the state park’s offices are closed to the public to “limit contact between the staff and public.”
State park campgrounds remain open, but “modern” bathrooms are closed. “Campers should plan to have a reservation before reaching the park,” states a DNR press release. “There may be limited access for self-check-in via personal phones if customers arrive without a reservation. All modern campgrounds become semi-modern with toilet-shower buildings closed. Vault toilets remain open. Current reservation holders who wish to modify their reservation to a later date beyond May 15, without incurring any fees, may contact the reservation call center at 1-800-447-2757 for assistance.”
“In 25 the years that I’ve worked for the state, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Johnston said.
This story is copyrighted © 2020, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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