After several years of rumors, a large multi-million-dollar theme park inched one step closer to coming to Grayling, bringing with it 2,000 jobs and an estimated payroll of $25 million.
Grayling Township planning commissioners unanimously approved a concept plan for a $161-million, four-season theme park, essentially recommending the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) sell land to a Rochester-based group for the park.
Read the rest, if you can bear to.
While I entertained hopes that rising gas prices, a declining state population, and growing economic insecurity among those who remain might squash the amusement park, I suspected it would likely go forward. There is too much demand for economic growth right now in this state, and in Crawford County particularly, for any serious resistance to gel against this facility.
Leaving aside environmental and aesthetic concerns, one thing that troubles me about the expansion of developments like the proposed park is the appearance of declining interest in do-it-yourself recreation in favor of packaged experiences. In the time I've known the place, Grayling was all about the outdoors. If you went there (or to other places focused on low-tech outdoor recreation), you turned yourself loose on rivers or ski trails, or hunting grounds and took in nature firsthand. It might or might not be exciting, but it was almost always interesting, and there was always the suggestion of MORE at hand. More places to explore, more grouse covers to stalk, more plants or mayflies to learn about, more blueberry thickets to pick--just as long as you gave the land your attention, let it draw your curiosity out, and followed where it led.
Amusement parks and like establishments serve up the thrills directly, and you know up front what you're getting. You don't need to watch or learn to find satisfaction. Your roller coaster ride has a definite beginning, middle, and end. You know exactly when the park opens and closes , and what to expect if you return. Packaged entertainment like this encourages, or at least accomodates, slackness of the mind and spirit. It's hard to see where that's good for an individual or a broader society.
I'm not against occasional mindless fun. I think some of that is essential from time to time. But do institutions like this need to be so numerous, or to take up so much space (did I mention the park is supposed to cover 1,800 acres?) that still offers rich experiences of nature and solitude? Should so much economic and envrionmental capital (with a good deal of the former coming from the public sector) be devoted to directing attention away from a natural world that has suffered from too much from modern humanity's lack of awareness already?
The sad truth is, small scale DIY outdoor recreation will never pay as well as corporate tourism. So, for the people who stand to profit, economically or politically, from these ventures, the answer to those questions will most often be an unequivocal yes.
I'm headed back out for some smallmouthing tonight. I will try my best to remain vertical.
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