MARQUETTE — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will hold a virtual public meeting Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. to learn about and share feedback on new draft general management plans for Indian Lake and Palms Book state parks in Schoolcraft County.

DNR staff will present an overview of the draft plans, proposed park improvements and the planning process, followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions and provide comment. Advance registration is required for the meeting.

For those unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted online approximately one week after the event. An interactive public input survey also is available through Dec. 17.

The DNR uses general management plans to define long-range planning and management strategies that protect the resources of state parks while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities.

“Last spring, we sought valuable input from visitors, community members and stakeholders through online surveys for each park,” said Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator with the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “This feedback, along with input from park staff, served as the backbone for drafting the plan.”

Both state parks are receiving federal COVID-19 relief funding made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan for infrastructure improvements. The funding will support the replacement of toilet and shower buildings and utility upgrades at Indian Lake State Park, while Palms Book State Park will make parking lot renovations and enhancements to the Big Spring viewing experience.

Links to the virtual meeting registration, project websites, including the draft plans, interactive public input surveys, recorded video and other planning resources, are available at Michigan.gov/IndianLake and Michigan.gov/PalmsBook.

A printed copy of each draft management plan will also be available for review at the Indian Lake State Park headquarters, 8970 W County Road 442 in Manistique, Michigan. Call 906-341-2355 to arrange an appointment to review.

Indian Lake State Park is located on the shores of Indian Lake, 5 miles west of Manistique. This 567-acre park is composed of two units, which are 3 miles apart and separated by the lake. The south unit features a modern campground overlooking the lake and the west unit features semi-modern campsites in a wooded setting. Other amenities include two Civilian Conservation Corps-era picnic shelters, a designated swim beach, a quarter-mile, paved trail along the lake and a boating access site.

Palms Book State Park, located at the north end of Indian Lake, is home to Kitch-iti-kipi or “the Big Spring.” By means of a self-guided (accessible) observation raft, visitors can view this crystal-clear pool with an emerald green bottom. Concessions and souvenirs are available at a store open seasonally and a boat launch provides access to Indian Lake, the Upper Peninsula’s fourth-largest inland lake.