The Mackinac Island State Park Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26, in the Commission Conference Room at the Petersen Center, 207 West Sinclair, in Mackinaw City.

The meeting agenda includes a report from the Airport, Building and Grounds Committee, horse and bicycle license requests, sublease approvals, a lease transfer, policy updates, activity permit requests, several use permit requests, a Wawakashmo Golf Club resolution, and collections acquisitions.

The meeting will be preceded by a joint work session with the Mackinaw City Village Council at the Audie’s Restaurant Annex, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Mackinac Island State Park Commission is the seven-member governing body of Mackinac State Historic Parks. In 1875, the government land on Mackinac Island—encompassing 50 percent of the island—was designated the second national park in the United States. It was turned over to the State of Michigan in 1895, becoming Michigan’s first state park. At that time, the state legislature created the Mackinac Island State Park Commission to be stewards of the park and its many historic structures. Due to the commission’s efforts, parkland now encompasses more than 80 percent of Mackinac Island, which includes 1,800 acres. The commission also oversees and manages parks on the mainland. The Mackinac Island State Park Commission is responsible for a combined 2,500 acres of parkland within Mackinac State Historic Parks, over 110 buildings, and approximately 1.7 million artifacts.

“During its 128 years of history, the commission has protected, preserved and presented the parks’ historic and natural resources by securing additional park acreage, restoring historic structures, and creating and operating one of the most visited history museum systems in the nation,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director.

Mackinac Island State Park Commissioners, who serve six-year terms, are appointed by the governor of Michigan and subject to confirmation by the Michigan Senate. Commission Chairman Dan Loepp began his chairmanship in September of 2019. He has served on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission since 2015.

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