Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Douglas Rich, Department of Natural Resources district supervisor for the Western Upper Peninsula, look at Lake of the Clouds during a visit to the Porcupine Mountains Saturday.

PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist visited the Porcupine Mountains Saturday to view recent and upcoming improvements to the park.

The state announced $250 million in improvements to state parks earlier this year as part of the Building Michigan Together plan, including $6.6 million at the Porcupine Mountains. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the $4.6 billion infrastructure bill into law in April. 

Saturday was Gilchrist’s first chance to visit Lake of the Clouds. 

“It’s good to put eyes on it myself and thank the professionals at the DNR, the seasonal staff, the permanent staff here, to see what really is a crown jewel,” he said. 

Before the stop at the lake, Gilchrist also visited the administrative headquarters and took in several other sites where the park will make upgrades. 

Projects included in the plan include:

• $1.4 million for historic service area building renovations and preservation

• $833,000 for modernization and replacement of the campground electrical system at Union Bay Campground

• $500,000 for replacement, rehabilitation and modernization of the ski hill’s outside infrastructure for year-round enjoyment

• $500,000 for renovations of the Summit Peak parking lot and toilet facilities

• $1 million for modernization of the sanitary sewer system

• $1 million for modernization of the Visitor Center for preset use standards

• $1.4 million for resurfacing and reconstruction of the Visitor Center and Headquarters roads and parking lots

“This is what Pure Michigan means,” Gilchrist said. “The governor and I are going to fight hard to support this kind of stuff all the time, and work with the legislature to get this funding through.”

During a two-day visit to the Upper Peninsula, Gilchrist also visited businesses such as Stormy Kromer and Connor Sports Flooring, and the site of a $9.9 million road construction project in Bessemer.

He also toured Gogebic Community College, where he visited the skilled trades center talked with President George McNulty about the Michigan Reconnect program. About 150 students have graduated through that program, which provides free tuition at community colleges for in-district residents over 25, and “Futures for Frontliners,” a state scholarship program for people who were essential workers in spring 2020. 

“We’re just wanting to understand how we can continue to be helpful in supporting the communities here in this part of the Upper Peninsula,” Gilchrist said. 

Gilchrist said the state budget, which was passed by the state legislature two weeks ago, should be passed “very, very soon” after the bills are formally drafted and transmitted to the governor. Whitmer has already signed the state education budget for the coming year. 

The proposed budget funds a number of projects in the region, including $10 million for Buffalo Reef and $3.1 million for unfunded pension liabilities in Ontonagon.

“It’s a big budget, the biggest ever in the history of the state of Michigan,” he said. “We have a lot of investment to do across our state. We are excited about what that investment is going to unlock for generations in Michigan, including here in the western U.P.”