The revitalized Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw City received the Quest for Excellence Institutional Achievement Award by the Michigan Museum Association.

The award was accepted by Steve Brisson, curator of Mackinac State Historic Parks, at a special awards ceremony during the association's annual conference in Traverse City September 25.

The Discovery Park addition to the site opened in May and includes a 50-foot-high forest canopy bridge, an aerial cable line ride over Mill Creek, and a 40-foot-high climbing wall mounted to a tree-top lookout platform that offers a view of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Island, and the Mackinac Bridge.

The Discovery Park also includes an 18th century water wheel Water Power Station replica and a Forest Friends Play Area for children, with a playground of fiberglass animals.

The Quest for Excellence program recognizes exceptional programs, graphic projects, and professional activities, and strives to inspire excellence in others. Projects are evaluated on relevancy, significance to the organization's mission, visual quality, and unique or innovative character.

Since the opening of Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park attendance at the site has increased 31% from last year.

"This dramatic increase in attendance demonstrates that these types of engaging, interactive experiences truly appeal to our visitors," said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP), which oversees the historic site.

Historic Mill Creek is the site of northern Michigan's first industrial complex, according to MSHP, and dates to as early as 1790 when, owing to demand for sawn lumber on Mackinac Island, an entrepreneur obtained use of 640 acres along Mill Creek to build a sawmill. Its operation ceased in 1839 and it was rediscovered by Cheboygan residents in 1972. The area was officially opened as a historical site in June 1984.

Over the years, improvements at the 625-acre site have included the reconstruction of the British Workshops and American Millwright's House, the creation of an audio-visual program, and the construction of a 3.5-mile nature trail system.