SILVER LAKE, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Friday night that they will postpone the opening of Silver Lake State Park ORV Area in Oceana County until Saturday, June 13.
The additional time allows for new operational functions associated with COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines to be integrated, as well as significant progress on construction of the new dune entrance ramp.
In addition, the opening date coincides with the updated “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order, announced last Friday, which now ends June 12.
“Silver Lake ORV Area draws in a passionate community of ORV riders, and we want to be sure that our staffing, infrastructure and new operational protocols are firmly in place before we swing open the gates,” said Jody Johnston, Silver Lake State Park manager. “The new June 13 opening date gives us 10 days of additional prep time, so the construction crew can work on completing the new entrance ramp project that was delayed due to the state’s executive order, and staff can complete a number of new COVID-19 safety measures to keep everyone safe.”
In preparation for the June 13 opening, the welcome center at Silver Lake State Park will be open at 8 a.m. Friday, June 12, to begin selling ORV licenses, trail permits and Recreation Passports.
Parking lot vouchers will be handed in the normal manner. The voucher system, which is free, was developed to manage the long lines of ORV users waiting to enter the park.
Visitors also can electronically obtain ORV licenses and trail permits at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses. A Recreation Passport must be displayed on all motorized vehicles.
Anyone planning to visit any state-managed land is encouraged to first visit the DNR COVID-19 response page for updates and frequently asked questions on facility closures, changes in services and event/meeting cancellations.
