The intersection of Castle Rock Road and Lant Road shows an unplowed Castle Rock Road weaving back into the woods. The St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority hopes to place a sign at this intersection, directing snowmobilers to head back to St. Ignace to park at Little Bear East Arena instead of parking along Lant Road. A directional sign aimed at drawing snowmobilers into downtown St. Ignace to park will be placed near access to the snowmobile trail at Lant and Castle Rock roads, following a decision by the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to pay up to $200 to purchase the sign.

"I think this is an awesome idea," DDA director Deb Evashevski said at the authority's Friday, December 11, meeting. "We would like to become a part of directing people back into town to park at Little Bear."

The Chamber of Commerce and St. Ignace Welcome Center both direct snowmobilers to Little Bear East Arena for parking, Mrs. Evashevski said, but some head out toward Castle Rock Road, since in years past the road was plowed and snowmobilers could easily access the snowmobile trail there.

The entrance to Castle Rock Road off Lant Road in St. Ignace Township has a sign posted signaling the road is open to off-road vehicles. Castle Rock Road is no longer plowed in the winter, but snowmobiles are welcome on the road, which connects with the trails leading to both Brevort and Trout Lake.

The idea was first brought to the Chamber of Commerce by Straits Snowmobile Club members, who have noticed other riders parking along Lant Road instead of jumping on the trail in town.

The DDA approved spending money on at least a three-foot-bythree foot sign, and likely will buy a four-foot-by-four-foot sign. The authority has received permission from the Mackinac County Road Commission, on whose property they hope to place the sign. The snowmobile club has offered to install the sign free of charge.

"It helps us by bringing people back into our downtown district," Mrs. Evashevski said of the directional sign. "If they park at Little Bear, a lot of times they will come down the railroad grade to get gas and maybe go to the restaurants. It exposes them to our downtown area."

Neil Hill of the Straits Snowmobile Club said he sees no problem with putting a sign there, especially because the area where the trail crosses Castle Rock Road has been essentially eliminated as a trailhead since the road is no longer plowed in the winter.

"There is not really enough room for people to park out there," Mr. Hill said. "It never hurts to bring people into town."

The DDA would also like to see no-parking signs along Lant Road to force snowmobilers to park elsewhere.

Mackinac County Road Commission Manager Dirk Heckman said nobody has yet approached him requesting that no-parking signs be placed on the road, nor has the commission received any complaints about cars parked in the area. There are no current plans to make the road a no-parking area, Mr. Heckman said.