Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently held an open house at the Peninsula Township Hall to discuss plans and gather input for Kelley Park, located on Mission Road across from the Old Mission Inn.
The park, also known as the “Old Moorings” or “Nevinger Campground” to longtime locals, was purchased by the DNR a number of years ago with funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.
At an informational meeting last year in August 2017, DNR District Supervisor Tim Schreiner outlined plans for the park, noting that the DNR has concluded that Kelley Park is best suited for carry-down boats – kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, etc. – which do not require a dredged channel. The launch of larger boats will remain at Haserot Beach. Read more about that meeting here.
At the recent open house, the DNR presented two plans for Kelley Park, both of which include a carry down launch, vehicle and trailer parking, vault toilet, ADA parking spaces, using the existing road system, vegetative plantings and stormwater management erosion control.
Both plans also include removing all existing structures, decommissioning all existing utilities, and a one-way vehicular circulation on the site.
The differences include the placement and number of parking spaces, vault toilet, direction of the one-way road and other details as noted in the images below (click the images for larger views).
At the meeting, Annamarie Bauer, DNR Regional Field Planner, said that no matter what the final plan for the park includes, the DNR will begin expanding and improving the stormwater retention area this fall.
The DNR is looking for input on the plans by Oct. 1, 2018. Email comments and suggestions to:
By mail:
Annamarie Bauer, Regional Field Planner
Cadillac District Office
8015 Mackinaw Trail
Cadillac, MI 49601
By email:
[email protected]
A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, and magazines like Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So of course, I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the Old Mission Peninsula. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb
[…] have taken place about the plans for Kelley Park, including meetings with the DNR in 2017 and 2018. Several options for the park were reviewed, and one year ago in September of 2019, the Township […]