Why Large Parks or The Fever of Protected Places.

As I walk the campaign trail, I bring the message of what huge new parks can do for the U.P. They can create what I call the Fever of Protected Places.

Studies show that large parks--very large ones--attract city people… including those with money. People want to experience the outdoors close to its original condition. The best examples of this unspoiled nature are found in places that are considered protected. Such places are known by reputation.

Reputation is a key word. It is a marketing concept, too. The reputation of a Protected Place is of a quieter place, a remarkable, wild, big, undisturbed place, a place of clean water and clear air, uncontaminated soils, even bugs that bite, and in our case, deep drifts of snow. My plan called Four Parks would assemble such places here in the U.P.

Because Protected Places enhance quality of life, businesses as well as tourists are attracted to them. Whenever possible, many business owners would locate near our huge parks. They would raise their children here, live in towns and enjoy the outdoors. Career and job opportunities would open up for U.P. residents.

A fever of success takes hold: money begets money—the fever of Protected Places. This, my fellow U.P. residents, is what we need for jobs. You don’t just say, “Give me a job.”You have to earn the job, show why you deserve the job. Four Parks is why.

It is growth, I acknowledge, but most of the people I talk with want growth and job opportunities--to an extent. So let’s choose to enhance our long-term quality of life through Protected Places, rather than leave the growth decisions solely to factory farm operators, the sulfide mining industry, and others that don’t understand our camp and wilderness traditions.

On my web site is a collection of information I’ve put together that testifies to the economic strength and vitality of Protected Places.

Further proof of the economic worth of Protected Places comes from www.umt.edu/econ/papers.htm…..
www.umt.edu/econ/papers.htm The author's name is Tom Powers, an economics professor at the University of Montana. This web site is full of articles containing studies and research about wilderness preservation, parks, monuments, etc.

Let’s think beyond the empty houses in Negaunee and Ishpeming. I firmly believe that Four Parks is worthy of consideration—please don’t let my message pass away into the night. Upgrading tourism is a choice whose time has come. All I ask is that you consider what I’m saying: study it, then make a decision. Laugh and look and think, maybe not for yourself, but for the kids.