Where Those Recreation Passport Dollars Go

Events Calendar

concept drawing of Diggins Hill Sensory playground in Cadillac, one of the funded projects (from City of Cadillac)

a news release of Michigan DNR

The Recreation Passport replaced the DNR’s traditional annual motor vehicle permit for state park access in 2010 with a purchase program tied to the renewal of license plate registrations. The Recreation Passport is a $14 annual pass required for access to 103 state parks and recreation areas, more than 140 state forest campgrounds, Michigan historic sites, hundreds of boating access sites and thousands of miles of trails. The goal is boosting visitation and funding for Michigan state parks. The income also supports operations, infrastructure and historic and cultural assets in Michigan’s state parks and recreation system. Approximately 97% of funding for recreation operations and maintenance is generated from user fees including the Passport, and 11% of this comes from oil and gas revenue.

Ten percent of the proceeds from Recreation Passport sales are granted to communities across the state for development and improvement of local public recreation facilities.

Counties where funded grant projects have been approved for 2025 include Allegan, Barry, Branch, Clinton, Genesee, Ingham, Leelanau, Macomb, Muskegon, St. Clair and Wexford, five of which are in west Michigan.

Selected projects were scored and selected from a field of 57 grant applications, and a total of $22.3 million statewide has been awarded.

West Michigan recipients are:
 • Barry County- Charlton Park Boating Area Improvements- $150,000
 • Wexford County- Diggins Hill Sensory Playground- $127,800
 • Allegan County, City of Saugatuck- Village Square Park Improvements- $150,000
 • Muskegon County, Fruitland Township- Accessible Pathways for Nestrom Park- $82,300
 • Leelanau County, Suttons Bay Township- Herman Park Playground Project- $105,000

“The Recreation Passport remains one of the best values in outdoor recreation anywhere in the United States,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “Beyond providing annual public access to dozens of state parks, trailheads, state forest campgrounds and boating access sites, 10% of the proceeds from each $14 Recreation Passport help fund state park improvements and maintenance and grants to communities for additional local park improvement projects.”

See full list of 2025 Recreation Passport Grant recipients


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