Even on a chilly, rainy day in Marquette, Convention attendees packed the room for the breakout session on The Power of Parks, Heritage, and Outdoor Assets. Michiganders tend to take our natural assets for granted when thinking about community placemaking, but as the session’s presenters described, Michigan’s outdoor assets have a huge affect on the local economy and play a major role in attracting and retaining residents.

According to presenter Brad Garmon of the Michigan Environmental Council, when deciding where to live, Michigan college graduates say they rate outdoor activities as more important than finding a high paying job. These educated, talented millennials are exactly the residents the state needs to focus on keeping and attracting to have the greatest economic impact. From creating regional identities around outdoor assets, to promoting health, to improving non-motorized transportation, Garmon described how communities should focus their efforts on identifying, improving, and promoting their natural assets. For more information, explore the Michigan Recreation and Park Association recent article: Positioning Michigan’s Parks and Outdoor Assets in the Place-Based Economy.

The presentation also featured outdoor-focused case studies and success stories that inspired attendees to think about how to promote outdoor placemaking in their own communities.

Al Hansen of the city of Petoskey shared the community’s visioning and implementation process for the Bear River Recreation Area. The city’s $2 million investment to the area has had a positive impact on the economy and has boosted the city’s tourism.

Scott See of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission discussed the commission’s process to stabilize and rehabilitate the Quincy Copper Smelter complex. After decades of neglect, the area is finally getting cleaned up by area residents, the National Parks Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Amy Mangus of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments took the conversation to a regional level and highlighted the important economic impacts a region can experience when coordinating its approach. Focusing on non-motorized connectivity, green infrastructure, and even simple initiatives like tree planting can have a major impact on the area’s economy and improve residents’ quality of life.

Outdoor initiatives sometimes get overlooked in planning and policy discussions, but it’s clear Michigan’s parks and outdoor assets are an effective way to promote place, attract and retain talent, boost the economy, and improve residents’ connection to their community.

Keep the conversation going by exploring our Green Initiatives and Physical Design & Walkability placemaking pages and talking about ways to promote outdoor assets in your own community.

~ Sarah Craft, Program Coordinator
Michigan Municipal League