Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ PARKS AND RECREATION ~
~ PUBLICLY SPEAKING ~
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
Click on the Names Below
to access the separate web pages relating to Emmet County's Parks and Recreation web pages on this same site.
Forestry and Timber
Headlands
McGulpin Lighthouse
Petosega
Skillagalee Island
Waugoshance Lighthouse
to access the separate web pages relating to Emmet County's Parks and Recreation web pages on this same site.
Forestry and Timber
Headlands
McGulpin Lighthouse
Petosega
Skillagalee Island
Waugoshance Lighthouse
~ Emmet County State Game Refuge ~
to become
Wilderness State Park
to become
Wilderness State Park
|
Two sanctuaries were located near the Petoskey city limits.
The 200-acre Burns Sanctuary is near US–131, close by the Petoskey–Harbor Springs Airport, 5 miles northeast of Petoskey. Here are many of the native song and game birds, several of the smaller species of animals, and a profusion of the north–Michigan wild flowers. Three small streams thread their way through the first growth, adding their charm to the peaceful setting.
The Galster Refuge and game farm is 5 miles west of the city on US–31, near the Petoskey Cement Company plant, on a 300 -acre plot of rolling ground. Here may be seen many varieties of pheasant.
In these two areas the nature lover will note the almost complete absence of fear on the part of the birds and animals. With a fair degree of patience, the camera fan may secure excellent studies.
~ Transcribed from the 1941 "Where Michigan Began A Guide to Emmet County" booklet on page 15
Rick Wiles, local historian, wrote in his March 2019 Mackinac Journal article titled, "The Honor System: Emmet County's State Prisons":
"Wilderness State Park, the 7000 acre park, was established in 1928 along the shoreline of the Straits of Mackinac. The National Park Service outlined a program to develop the park's recreational uses, and a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp was built on the property.
In 1922, prior to becoming a state park, the former timber land, which had reverted to the state due to unpaid taxes, became the Emmet State Game Refuge. The property was then turned over to the Parks Division of the State of Michigan to be renamed Wilderness State Park. In October of 1933, during the time of the Great Depression, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was erected on the property and consisted in time, of sixteen buildings... the CCC was discontinued in 1937, so in October of 1949 the former CCC Camp structures came under the direction of the State of Michigan Corrections Commission and Camp Wilderness became a minimum security forest prison camp.
Wilderness State Park continued to exist after October 1949. A campground was constructed further to the east at Big Stone Creek."
As noted under the 1956 photo clipping below, Camp Wilderness prison camp was moving to a new location... Camp Pellston, close to Pellston Airport location.
"Wilderness State Park, the 7000 acre park, was established in 1928 along the shoreline of the Straits of Mackinac. The National Park Service outlined a program to develop the park's recreational uses, and a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp was built on the property.
In 1922, prior to becoming a state park, the former timber land, which had reverted to the state due to unpaid taxes, became the Emmet State Game Refuge. The property was then turned over to the Parks Division of the State of Michigan to be renamed Wilderness State Park. In October of 1933, during the time of the Great Depression, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was erected on the property and consisted in time, of sixteen buildings... the CCC was discontinued in 1937, so in October of 1949 the former CCC Camp structures came under the direction of the State of Michigan Corrections Commission and Camp Wilderness became a minimum security forest prison camp.
Wilderness State Park continued to exist after October 1949. A campground was constructed further to the east at Big Stone Creek."
As noted under the 1956 photo clipping below, Camp Wilderness prison camp was moving to a new location... Camp Pellston, close to Pellston Airport location.
In 1956, before Camp Wilderness prison camp actually moved, it ran into oppostion.
In the end, however, the state persevered, and the prison camp moved and became Camp Pellston.
In the end, however, the state persevered, and the prison camp moved and became Camp Pellston.
By 1956 (article above) and 1957 as noted in the text of the photo clippings below,
the former prison Camp Wilderness facility was being investigated for use by Petoskey School students.
the former prison Camp Wilderness facility was being investigated for use by Petoskey School students.
Camp Wilderness Projects
1968
1968
~ Fish Ladder ~
1910
1910
~ Petoskey State Park Proposed ~
1961
1961
View additional text and photos about the Petoskey State Park on this same website by clicking HERE.
~ Present and Future Status of Recreation in Emmet County ~
1970
1970
1990
Undated Photo Below:
Cecil Bay
Cecil Bay
Emmet County purchased Cecil Bay property from Francis Clark Egan on 8 June 1990 for $54,841,00. The address is 4064 Pointe Drive. The county has added a picnic shelter, parking area for day visitors and so on; this falls under the maintenance of Emmet County's Parks and Recreation department.
~ Cecil Bay Park Building Fire ~
1992
1994
~ Cecil Bay ~
2003
2003
Photo Labels Include:
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
P&R = Parks and Recreation Board (Minutes~Legal Documents)
E-mail = My personal FOIAed e-mail already made public in 2017, so now posted on "Publicly Speaking"
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
P&R = Parks and Recreation Board (Minutes~Legal Documents)
E-mail = My personal FOIAed e-mail already made public in 2017, so now posted on "Publicly Speaking"
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Below was in a 16 December 2016 e-mail addressed to an Emmet County commissioner:
Here is the ordinance for the Historical Commission telling 7 members… PLUS immediately following, an amendment telling 9 members… I have to wonder about where it states that 3 members may be residents outside of Emmet County.
http://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ordinance-08-4-Historic-Commission.pdf
http://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/11-01-Historical-Commission.pdf
Here is the MAIN page for ALL of the Ordinances Adopted by Emmet County:
http://www.emmetcounty.org/community-resources/ordinances/
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Below was in a 16 December 2016 e-mail addressed to an Emmet County commissioner:
Here is the ordinance for the Historical Commission telling 7 members… PLUS immediately following, an amendment telling 9 members… I have to wonder about where it states that 3 members may be residents outside of Emmet County.
http://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ordinance-08-4-Historic-Commission.pdf
http://www.emmetcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/11-01-Historical-Commission.pdf
Here is the MAIN page for ALL of the Ordinances Adopted by Emmet County:
http://www.emmetcounty.org/community-resources/ordinances/
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Well, if you liked that last little bit of discovery of “where did that money come from… AND, better question yet… where did that money go?” OR “Which shell has the money hidden under it this time?"
I also sent this following discovery off to … and now to you… so, ..., here is a good one. Did you know that a county grant paid for the resurfacing of the outdoor basketball courts in Mackinac City? I haven’t seen the courts, but the following reports makes it at least sound like it was to happen… I am not certain it did???
09/08/16 St. Ignace News:
http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2016-09-08/News/Mackinaw_Citys_Short_Term_Rentals_Need_Regulation_.html
[No longer accessible at the above link!]
"The outdoor basketball courts at the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex have been resurfaced. The project was paid for by Emmet County.”
??????????? HMMMMMM???????? Is this true? Did this happen?
Well, I guess this St. Ignace News
06/16/16 previous to the above article tells it all…
http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2016-06-16/News/Mackinaw_City_Recreation_Center_Will_Be_Tobacco_Fr.html
[No longer accessible at the above link!]
"Mackinaw City Recreation Center Will Be Tobacco Free
The Mackinaw City Recreation Complex at 507 West Central Avenue will now be a tobacco-free facility as part of a new arrangement for Emmet County to hold events there. The Mackinaw City Village Council approved a resolution to ban tobacco use at the complex written by the county during its Thursday, May 19, meeting.
The resolution comes after Emmet County acquired a state wellness grant to support programming for children and older adults. Emmet County is looking to stage programs using the grant in Petoskey and Mackinaw City with the recreation complex as its preferred site to do in the village. The money for the project requires programs to take place in designated tobacco-free buildings. Village Manager David White said Emmet County has offered to help the village update some aspects of the recreation complex in exchange for its use, offering to resurface the basketball court and the tennis courts."
..., what are the Emmet County events that have been held at the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex???
AND reported before the above in the
05/12/16 St. Ignace News:
Mackinaw City, Emmet County Look at Rec Center Options
By Erich T. Doerr
"The Village of Mackinaw City is weighing its options for a partnership with Emmet County to find possible uses for the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex. The Mackinaw City Village Council received an update about the proposed alliance during its Thursday, April 21, meeting after its Parks and Recreation subcommittee met with county officials to discuss future events that could take place in the structure.
Trustee Tom Chastain said the county has offered to market the recreation center if the communities enter a partnership. Trustee Scott Newman said Emmet County does not have any other recreation buildings that large. The county officials said they have 14 events that they could put at the complex, but that doing so would require the village to dismantle the building’s ice rink boards.
Removed boards would be retained for possible future use. The building’s refrigeration system is being maintained and cycled every six months so it will be ready if the need arises to make ice again."
03/22/16 Emmet County Parks & Rec minutes below:
"Other Business: Emmet County Parks and Rec is partnering with Blue Cross/Blue Shield to promote a program aimed at getting the elderly and young people more active. We are receiving a $29,000 grant. Mackinaw City recreation center has been chosen to host the events."
This was all taken care of in the P&R committee according to their minutes below:
01/19/16 P&R Minutes AND I am not certain the entire ECBOC ever heard anything about this…. do you remember this being brought to the full board? How is it possible that a county committee can apply for a grant for the county, but then the P&R committee decides how that grant is spent?
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I also sent this following discovery off to … and now to you… so, ..., here is a good one. Did you know that a county grant paid for the resurfacing of the outdoor basketball courts in Mackinac City? I haven’t seen the courts, but the following reports makes it at least sound like it was to happen… I am not certain it did???
09/08/16 St. Ignace News:
http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2016-09-08/News/Mackinaw_Citys_Short_Term_Rentals_Need_Regulation_.html
[No longer accessible at the above link!]
"The outdoor basketball courts at the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex have been resurfaced. The project was paid for by Emmet County.”
??????????? HMMMMMM???????? Is this true? Did this happen?
Well, I guess this St. Ignace News
06/16/16 previous to the above article tells it all…
http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2016-06-16/News/Mackinaw_City_Recreation_Center_Will_Be_Tobacco_Fr.html
[No longer accessible at the above link!]
"Mackinaw City Recreation Center Will Be Tobacco Free
The Mackinaw City Recreation Complex at 507 West Central Avenue will now be a tobacco-free facility as part of a new arrangement for Emmet County to hold events there. The Mackinaw City Village Council approved a resolution to ban tobacco use at the complex written by the county during its Thursday, May 19, meeting.
The resolution comes after Emmet County acquired a state wellness grant to support programming for children and older adults. Emmet County is looking to stage programs using the grant in Petoskey and Mackinaw City with the recreation complex as its preferred site to do in the village. The money for the project requires programs to take place in designated tobacco-free buildings. Village Manager David White said Emmet County has offered to help the village update some aspects of the recreation complex in exchange for its use, offering to resurface the basketball court and the tennis courts."
..., what are the Emmet County events that have been held at the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex???
AND reported before the above in the
05/12/16 St. Ignace News:
Mackinaw City, Emmet County Look at Rec Center Options
By Erich T. Doerr
"The Village of Mackinaw City is weighing its options for a partnership with Emmet County to find possible uses for the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex. The Mackinaw City Village Council received an update about the proposed alliance during its Thursday, April 21, meeting after its Parks and Recreation subcommittee met with county officials to discuss future events that could take place in the structure.
Trustee Tom Chastain said the county has offered to market the recreation center if the communities enter a partnership. Trustee Scott Newman said Emmet County does not have any other recreation buildings that large. The county officials said they have 14 events that they could put at the complex, but that doing so would require the village to dismantle the building’s ice rink boards.
Removed boards would be retained for possible future use. The building’s refrigeration system is being maintained and cycled every six months so it will be ready if the need arises to make ice again."
03/22/16 Emmet County Parks & Rec minutes below:
"Other Business: Emmet County Parks and Rec is partnering with Blue Cross/Blue Shield to promote a program aimed at getting the elderly and young people more active. We are receiving a $29,000 grant. Mackinaw City recreation center has been chosen to host the events."
This was all taken care of in the P&R committee according to their minutes below:
01/19/16 P&R Minutes AND I am not certain the entire ECBOC ever heard anything about this…. do you remember this being brought to the full board? How is it possible that a county committee can apply for a grant for the county, but then the P&R committee decides how that grant is spent?
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While the COVID–19 Pandemic was tragic for so many, the Federal Government managed to quickly print trillions of dollars to disperse around the country for various purposes. Michigan is receiving $6.5 billion. MIchigan's Governor Whitmer's qualifying statement was "Investments in parks can uplift communities as we emerge from this pandemic." So, through the 12 June 2021 Petoskey News Review, Governor Whitmer has announced a plan to spend $250 million to upgrade state parks and trails. Emmet County's state parks were not announced as a recipient, with one of the closest parks announced for funding being Cheboygan State Park to receive $1.6 million to replace the water and sewer distribution and electrical systems at the campground.
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While St. Helena Lighthouse is not located in Emmet County, bids for the restoration of the St. Helena Lighthouse were advertised 17 September 2021 in the Petoskey News Review. The advertisement includes interesting information about the St. Helena Lighthouse.