Selected State Parks to Be Quiet July 4th

Two western Upper Peninsula state parks will be among 12 facilities that will be quieter this year on Independence Day. Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County and Bewabic State Park in Iron County will ban fireworks for the holiday. The idea for the Fireworks-Free Fourth came from a conversation state officials had with a veteran, who mentioned that fireworks and other loud noises sometimes bring up distressing memories from military experiences. One in five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress injury. Wells State Park in Menominee County and the Menominee River State Recreation Area in Dickinson County will also take part in the Fireworks-Free Fourth. While loud, aerial fireworks will be banned, small novelty fireworks will still be permitted.

Other state parks participating in the program include:
– Brighton Recreation Area-Bishop Lake Campground (Livingston County)
– Cheboygan State Park (Cheboygan County)
– Hayes State Park (Lenawee County)
– Lake Hudson State Park (Lenawee County)
– Leelanau State Park (Leelanau County)
– Orchard Beach State Park (Manistee County)
– Rifle River Recreation Area (Ogemaw County)
– Sleepy Hollow State Park (Clinton County)