LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Michigan residents are gearing up to decide the state’s top park in a month-long competition called State Park Madness.

Starting January 1, 2025, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a bracket-style tournament featuring 32 state parks from across the state. The parks will compete for the State Park Madness trophy, with weekly voting rounds narrowing the field to one champion.

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Residents can vote online by reacting to matchups posted on the Michigan State Parks, Trails and Waterways Facebook page or cast their ballots in person at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit.

The schedule is as follows:

  • Round One: Jan. 1-4
  • Round Two: Jan. 5-11
  • Round Three: Jan. 12-18
  • Round Four: Jan. 19-25
  • Championship Round: Jan. 26-31

The competing parks represent all corners of Michigan, including Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula, Belle Isle Park in Detroit, and Ludington State Park on Lake Michigan.

Bracket updates will be posted every Saturday in January, with the winner announced on February 1.