Many of the services found at Michigan state parks by the annual 28 million visitors are operated by outside businesses, according to MLive.com.
The businesses provide food, equipment rentals, horse stable operations, firewood and merchandise sales, lighthouse tours, shuttle service and other services that play a big role in the experience at many state parks.
Right now, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking to fill more than 20 of its vendor slots with businesses ready to offer beach and camp stores, mobile food operations, water park operations, watercraft rentals, a riding stable and electric vehicle charging stations.
Currently, nearly 75 concessionaires operate some type of business within the Michigan state parks and recreation system.
“Our business operators provide tremendous services to our customers every year,” said Lori Ruff, DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division concession and lease manager. “They improve and add value to the visitor experience in many ways, offering services that staff otherwise could not provide.”
For example, the DNR is looking for an athletic complex operator and a food vendor for Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Riding stable and water park operators are needed at the Brighton Recreation Area. A beach store is needed at Grand Haven State Park and a beach concession stand is needed at W.J. Hayes State Park.
Visit Michigan.gov/StateParkConcessions to see a list of current opportunities and locations. This list is regularly updated as opportunities are added or filled.
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