News Release

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Seeks Public Input for Visitor Use Management Project

Date: April 25, 2018
Contact: David Horne, 906-387-2607 ext. 1202

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has scheduled open house meetings in Munising and Marquette to update the public and gather feedback on the lakeshore’s Visitor Use Management (VUM) project. The project, which focuses on analyzing visitor use issues at high visitation areas from Sand Point to Spray Falls, began in 2017 and will continue through 2019.

National Park Service (NPS) staff will be on hand to brief the public about the current status of the VUM project, its purpose and overall goals, and implications for future park management decisions. NPS staff will also answer questions and solicit input from the public on use-related concerns they would like to see addressed.

The Munising meeting will be held at the Alger Heritage Center, 1496 Washington Street, on Tuesday, May 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Marquette meeting will be held in the Business Reference Room of the Peter White Public Library, 2017 N. Front Street, on Wednesday, May 9, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

The goal of the VUM project is to develop guidance for management of visitor use within the national lakeshore, particularly in the Miners Beach area. Increased visitation over the past several years has caused significant congestion and crowding at Miners Beach during the summer season.

"Increased visitor use is an important issue for the national lakeshore, and I urge the public and all interested stakeholders to engage with us in this planning process,” Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore superintendent David Horne said.

The public will be invited to comment online at the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PIRO_VUMplan between May 8 and June 6, 2018.