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MUNISING -- Hiawatha National Forest staff is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to help shape the next phase of planning for the Grand Island National Recreation Area, and also draft management strategies developed from community input gathered in May 2025.
"For generations, people have ferried to Grand Island for quiet beaches, cliffside views and time in the forest. We're inviting you to review and refine draft strategies -- so any decisions protect what people love while keeping access practical and safe," said Forest Supervisor Shannon Rische in a news release.
A public meeting will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Alger Parks and Recreation building at 413 Maple St. in Munising. All are invited to attend, as a wide variety of perspectives will be essential to the success of this project.
Public input will inform this plan for long-term vision and future management options. This process is not a National Environmental Policy Act environmental analysis; any implementation actions may require NEPA review and additional public comment.
The news release states that "Grand Island sits about a half mile off Munising in Lake Superior -- close enough for an easy ferry ride, yet quiet enough to retain a backcountry feel that people value.
"The island's 13,500 acres of sandstone cliffs, pocket beaches, hardwood forests and inland lakes are part of why families have crossed over for generations. Your voice, and the voice of other community members, is essential to ensuring the plan reflects community values while keeping access practical and safe.
"Visitation has climbed from roughly 2,000 a year in the 1990s to more than 20,000 a year in recent seasons, creating pressure on sensitive natural and cultural resources and challenging infrastructure and the quality of the visitor experience."
For additional information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/hiawatha