Campers are happy with DNR decision

BY SHERI McWHIRTER
smcwhirter@record-eagle.com

May 14, 2008 04:00 am

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ALBA -- Charlevoix resident Anne Zukowski spent the weekend hiking in the Jordan River Valley and camped overnight at Pinney Bridge state forest campground in Antrim County.

"It's really beautiful, a real pristine and wild area," she said.

An 18-mile hiking path leads into the valley and to the rustic campground along the Jordan River, a secluded spot about five miles northwest of Alba and only accessible by hikers and canoeists. The place was among 20 northern state forest campgrounds closed last summer by state officials, sacrificed to budget-balancing efforts.

But now Pinney Bridge is open again, along with the other 19 formerly closed campgrounds, a decision that pleased Zukowski and others who favor the rustic sites.

"A lot of people like to hike down into the valley, stay the night and hike back up the next day," Zukowski said.

Tricia Stevens of Interlochen is thrilled that an annual family camping trip at the Forks state forest campground in Grand Traverse County is back on after last year's hiatus to their 60-year tradition.

Part of the group went to another campground when the Forks closed.

"It's hard to express what not having it meant to the family," Stevens said.

Also, about a half-dozen fewer customers per week spent money last summer at the Country Store in South Boardman, the nearest business to the Forks.

"We had a lot of customers who were upset when it closed," said store owner Fred Schlosser.

It's not the kind of campground where visitors make reservations online, so many showed up to find the gate padlocked, he said.

Now it seems this summer he'll go back to selling supplies and fishing bait to campers from the Forks, he said.

The 20 campgrounds were re-opened after recent legislative approval of a $500,000 shift in general fund dollars to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources trails and recreation program, said Jim Radabaugh, section supervisor.

The campgrounds were closed last year after a $75,000 cut was made to the program, he said.

The re-opened campgrounds also include Twin Lakes, Black Lake Trail Camp and Stoney Creek Trail Camp in Cheboygan County; Walsh Road Trail Camp in Crawford County; Johnson's Crossing in Otsego County; and Long Lake in Wexford County.