The family and I drove out to Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg for a level of road riding that is just a notch above what I have near my Lower Michigan home. Well, I went there for the better road riding. They went there for low-traffic paved surfaces.

Dad had to purchase his $24 state park sticker with today’s entrance. As he made his transaction at the park office, I grabbed a yellow piece of paper titled, “Recreation Passport Replaces State Park Sticker – Fact Sheet.”

If you read this blog, chances are that you’ve read the MMBA Advocacy Forum threads pertaining to this funding change, or you’ve read one of the several articles I’ve posted on this blog with details or calls to action. I’m willing to bet that you are just as informed about this issue as anyone else. There is just one problem: what about the people whose birthdays are between January 1, 2011 and October 1, 2011?

End of the State Park Sticker

Two thousand ten (2010) marks the end of the state park windshield sticker. I’ve already purchased mine, and it will allow me entrance into the state parks and recreation areas. The last day this sticker will allow me into the parks is December 31, 2010.

Beginning of the Recreation Passport Fee

The Recreation Passport Fee will go into effect October 1, 2010. This is when those who renew their vehicle registration can opt to pay the $10 fee to access the parks. This recreation passport will allow them access into parks for the duration of their vehicular registration. For example, if Joe Blow’s birthday is on October 10, and he chooses to pay the $10 fee when he pays for his vehicle registration, he will have a “passport” until his birthday of the next year.

January 1 through September 30, 2011

If the sticker expires on December 31, 2010, and the last person to pay the passport fee doesn’t register until his or her birthday on September 30, 2011, how will that person access the parks from January through September? That’s a good question.

While dad was purchasing his 2010 sticker, I asked the DNR employee that question. Her answer: We don’t know, yet. The legislature still has to figure that out. Okay. Fair enough.

Another way of putting this is: there currently is no solution or answer to this problem or question. Just stay tuned. I’ll let you know when I find out.

License Plate Sticker

The DNR employee informed me that there will be a license plate sticker. Those who pay the recreation passport fee will receive a little sticker with a “P” to place on their license plates. I am assuming that this sticker will arrive in the mail with the vehicle registration sticker.