Michigan will soon have a new state park. The Department of Natural Resources says the state spent $2.9 million to purchase 717 acres in Jackson County. The property runs adjacent to 405 acres in Manchester Township owned by Washtenaw County. The official name will be Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve.
Michigan’s 103rd state park becomes the first to be jointly managed by the state and a county recreation agency. The public will be invited to future meetings to discuss a management plan to guide park development. Officials expect the park to host hiking, bird watching, upland hunting and mountain biking.
The land features open meadows, mixed hardwoods and low wetlands. Watkins Lake also proves popular with waterfowl during the fall and spring migration.
Watkins Lake becomes the latest of several sites to receive state park declaration in recent years. Most notably, Belle Isle in Detroit became the 102nd in 2014.
Michigan residents have the option to add a Recreation Passport to vehicle license plates for an additional $11 at registration, opening up access to all state-owned parks, recreation areas and rustic campgrounds. Motorcycles cost $5. Out of state visitors and those without a Recreation Passport can access the parks through day passes, or annual passes available at park entrances.
