Recreation Passport giveaway set for Saturday on Belle Isle
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/15/2014 08:19 AM EDT|
1,000 Recreation Passports given away - free - at Belle Isle May 17. |
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Belle Isle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2014
Contact: Merrill Cain (Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix), 313-748-1842; or
Maia Turek (DNR), 989-225-8573
Grand Prix-sponsored Recreation Passport giveaway set for
Saturday on Belle Isle
Starting this weekend, a thousand more vehicle owners (and their friends and family in the vehicles) will get the opportunity to explore Belle Isle Park free of charge – courtesy of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Last week at the Belle Isle cleanup event, the Department of Natural Resources and Grand Prix officials announced the giveaway of 1,000 free Recreation Passports to Michigan-registered vehicles.
The Recreation Passport giveaway begins at noon Saturday, May 17, near park shelter No. 9 (located next to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle). Representatives of Grand Prix and DNR will distribute the Passports (normally priced at $11 for Michigan residents) to the owners of the first 1,000 Michigan-registered vehicles that don’t currently have the Recreation Passport. Free Passports will be distributed through 3 p.m. or until 1,000 Passports have been given away.
“The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix wants to make sure that everyone gets a chance to experience the beauty of Belle Isle and take advantage of all this wonderful park has to offer,” said Bud Denker, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix chairman. “We recognize the Passport expense is not something that every person can afford, so we want to do our part and give back to the community that has supported our event and Belle Isle.”
Denker added that the Grand Prix will invest several hundred thousand dollars into Belle Isle this year to help the DNR improve the island park and that “the Passport program is an extension of that mission.”
The Recreation Passports distributed during Saturday’s giveaway will be valid for entry to Belle Isle (and all Michigan state parks) until each vehicle’s registration renewal date in 2015. For example, if a vehicle registration renews in October, then the free Recreation Passport will be good through October 2015.
“The DNR is pleased to continue its strong partnership with the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “This funding will expand opportunities for the public to have year-round access to Belle Isle Park and all of Michigan’s 102 state parks."
Recreation Passport
The Recreation Passport requirement on Belle Isle, which began in February, is being gradually phased in for park visitors. The Passport applies only to vehicles, not to individuals. Pedestrians, bicyclists and those using public transportation can enter Belle Isle for free and will not need the Passport.
The Recreation Passport can be purchased during license plate registration renewal with the Secretary of State or at a state park, including Belle Isle Park. In addition to Belle Isle, the Recreation Passport gives the holder's vehicle access to state forest campgrounds, boat launches, nonmotorized trailhead parking and Michigan state parks and recreation areas, including many – Bald Mountain Recreation Area, Dodge 4 State Park, Highland Recreation Area, Island Lake Recreation Area, Maybury State Park, Milliken State Park, Proud Lake Recreation Area and Sterling State Park – in the metro Detroit area.
Learn more about this creative way to sustain Michigan's state parks and outdoor recreation opportunities at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
About the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for May 30-June 1, 2014, the event will include the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans featuring cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers with the sports cars of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the Cadillac V-Series Challenge presented by the Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers featuring the cars of the Pirelli World Challenge Series and the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Series. Partners for the 2014 Grand Prix include General Motors, Quicken Loans and MotorCity Casino Hotel. For more information, visit www.DetroitGP.com and follow our social media pages at www.facebook.com/detroitgp and www.twitter.com/detroitgp.
For more information about Belle Isle Park and the Recreation Passport, call 1-844-BELLE-PK or visit www.BelleIslePark.org.
Follow us on Twitter @MichiganDNR. We encourage Belle Isle partners and others interested in the park’s revitalization to use the hashtag #AllinforBelleIsle.