TRAVERSE CITY -- One of the restroom and shower buildings at Traverse City State Park dates back to the late 1920s.
Sure, it's had some remodeling and modernization work since then, but lead ranger John Walter thinks it's about time for a new building.
"There's another one that's been here since I think the late '40s," he said.
A new, $1.8 million energy-efficient toilet and shower house that's in line with federal disability access laws is on the list of requests for federal economic stimulus funding.
State parks in Traverse City, Interlochen and Northport want nearly $12.5 million for new restrooms, water treatment systems, road work and other improvements.
"There are hundreds of millions of dollars that need to be done at state parks, replace old water systems, replace old sewer systems ... there's just no money in our budget to do these projects," said Mary Dettloff, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR submitted requests totalling more than $200 million for park projects in Michigan, which has one of the oldest and largest state park systems in the country.
But Dettloff said it's not likely they'll receive much, if any help from the federal government.
"Based on our initial analysis of the federal bill, there didn't seem to be an identifiable funding source for those projects," she said.
The state in 2004 increased the motor vehicle entrance fee, but stripped $9 million in general fund dollars for the parks. The fee increase generated only $2 million in revenue, Dettloff said.
That's left little room in the budget to fix the parks' deteriorating infrastructure.
Walter said he's grateful for a new shower building that opened in 2007, and playground equipment going on the beach, but there's plenty more the popular Traverse City attraction needs.
"I'd like to see many things that would benefit the campers themselves," he said. "I'd like to see some improved campsites, more (disabled) accessibility, pull-through, full hook-up sites."
The park spans about 45 acres along Munson Avenue in Grand Traverse County's East Bay Township. Plans are in the works to expand by about 28 acres south of the campground with the help of grant money, Walter said.
Michigan's oldest state park also needs some work, said Craig Gulseth, parks and recreation manager at Interlochen State Park.
The park, opened in 1917, currently covers 187 acres on M-137 between Duck Lake and Interlochen State Park Lake.
A lot of the equipment and buildings are decades old, he said. It's been tough to fund improvements because the lack of DNR general fund dollars, Gulseth said.
"We've been maintaining our funding," he said, "but it's gotten to the point where it's getting really critical, and I can see in the near future where we'll have some problems."
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State park and DNR stimulus requests
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources asked for millions of dollars in federal economic stimulus funding. The following are some local proposals:
-- Traverse City State Park: $5.2 million for a campground electrical system, road improvements, accessible playground equipment, new restroom and shower building and sanitation station upgrade.
-- Interlochen State Park: $4.5 million for a sewer line replacement, water treatment system, cold storage building, water well, electrical system replacement and new restroom and shower building.
-- Leelanau State Park: $2 million for new restroom and shower building, water treatment system and road repairs.
-- Traverse City DNR field office: $2.9 million for an energy efficient administration building, including storage facility, exterior lighting and parking lot.
-- Gaylord DNR Operations Service Center: $646,000 for an energy efficient administration building, including exterior lighting, parking lot and a lean-to for vehicle storage.
-- Otsego Lake State Park: $977,500 for interpretive trails, beach and water access and playground elements.
-- Lake Ann State Forest Campground: $354,000 for pathway redevelopment.
-- Upgrades to boat access sites in several area state forest campgrounds.
