Group wants Sleeping Bear license plates

By AL PARKER
Special to the Record-Eagle

August 31, 2008 12:00 am

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EMPIRE -- Kerry Kelly remembers the first time he took in the beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, even though it was three decades ago.

"It was back in the '70s and we climbed the dunes and walked across to look over Lake Michigan," he said. "It was so beautiful."

Now Kelly is spearheading a specially designated license plate campaign that could generate thousands of dollars to support projects throughout the 71,000-acre park.

He is board chairman of Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, an all-volunteer nonprofit group of about 200 members whose mission is to help preserve, restore and interpret the natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources of the park.

Congress authorized Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 1970. It encompasses a 35-mile stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern shoreline and North and South Manitou Islands.

Located about 25 miles west of Traverse City, the lakeshore also contains many cultural features, including an 1871 lighthouse, three former U.S. Life-Saving Service or Coast Guard Stations and a rural historic farm district -- Port Oneida.

"I was told about how a special (license) plate of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park had raised a substantial amount of money -- some $2 million over 10 years," said Kelly, a retired Dow Chemical manager. "At least three other national parks have these."

Kelly contacted state lawmakers to see if there was any interest in Lansing in supporting the concept of offering motorists a Sleeping Bear Dunes license plate, similar to those that honor state universities, the Children's Trust Fund, veteran's memorial, Olympic training center, water quality fund, lighthouse preservation, critical non-game wildlife habitat and agricultural heritage. There's also a designated USA license plate.

"There actually has to be a state law drafted and passed by both houses and signed by the governor," said Kelly, who received backing from state Rep. David Palsrok, whose 101st District includes Benzie, Leelanau, Mason and Manistee counties.

Palsrok introduced the legislation, but it languished in Lansing while state officials dealt with Michigan's budget woes.

Palsrok's staff told Kelly there were obstacles to overcome. In 2006, legislation was enacted so the beneficiary of any new specialty license plates would have to pay start-up costs of $15,000 and meet sales minimums of 2,000 plates the first year and 500 new customers each year for five years in order to continue production.

"To make it happen, we need to raise money," said Kelly. "My recommendation is that we investigate to see if we can raise $15,000. We need to contact donors and see how many people would see value in this. If we can do it, I see very little downside."

It's still too early to discuss plate design, but park officials would be part of the decision-making process, said Kelly. The final design would require approval by the Secretary of State.

Dunes-themed license plates could provide needed revenues every year to help the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes work on park improvements.

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes already completed several projects, including providing a computer to map physical resources in the park using the GIS system, purchasing a lumber wagon that was used on North Manitou Island and providing two automatic electric defibrillators for park use.

Three months ago, through donations by several members and Cherry Republic, the group purchased a tractor and brush hog mower for $15,000 and donated it to the park.

And the group is working with others to develop a bicycle trail that generally would follow M-22 and M-109 from the northern border of the lakeshore to the Benzie-Leelanau county line.

"There's no really good place for families to ride bikes in the park," said Kelly. "We're very excited about the possibility of this happening."

Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will meet at 10 a.m. on Sept. 3 at park headquarters to discuss the license plate project and other issues.

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