Describe a natural protected area where you live (city or state). Michigan Where is this park and what makes people want to visit it? Wilderness State Park-Michigan Wilderness State Park-Michigan Have you been there or do you plan to in the future? What are some efforts made to protect the area (natural features, animals, plants, etc.)? What are some concerns to protecting the area?

Wilderness State Park-Michigan

Where is the park, and what makes people want to visit it?

Wilderness State Park is a public recreational park in Michigan protected and managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Walker, 2021). It is located next to Lake Michigan and covers 10,512 acres, including a 42km shoreline, wetlands, swale complexes, and camping hiking areas. People visit the park to view animals, hike, and camp. The main animals that visitors view are the American black bear, beaver, snowshoe hare, bobcats, porcupines, muskrats, minks, and otters.

Have you been there, or do you plan to in the future?

I visited the park with my family last year. It was a fascinating experience walking around the shoreline, and the boating and swimming experience made the visit more exciting. We spent the night at one of their campsites divided into two units-Pines and Lakeshore. The camps are divided based on the camping options, where one side includes hook-up camping sites, and the other holds the tent-only camping sites. The camping sites also have three rustic bunkhouses and six rustic cabins.

What are some efforts to protect the area (natural features, animals, plants, etc.)?

The efforts being implemented to safeguard the area are the Michigan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and the Michigan Comprehensive Trail Plan (Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division, 2014). The Michigan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan focuses on the maximum utilization of Michigan’s abundant and diverse assets to meet Michigan visitors and residents’ relaxation, fun, and health needs and the economic development needs of local communities and the state. The Michigan Comprehensive Trail Plan focuses on expanding trail and trail experiences and opportunities to create a quality and sustainable trail system.

What are some concerns to protecting the area?

The main concerns to protecting the area are continuing to provide the features and opportunities that attract many visitors to the park annually while simultaneously protecting the resources in the park. The other concern is to prevent pollution that may affect the animals depending on the park’s resources for survival.

References

Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division. (2014). General Management Plan Wilderness State Park. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Wilderness_GMP_462495_7.pdf

Walker, T. (2021). Wilderness State Park. State Parks. https://stateparks.com/wilderness_state_park_in_