DNR Decision:
"STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
LANSING
September 5, 2025
VIA EMAIL
Mr. Dylan Harrington
Dear Mr. Harrington:
Thank you for your e-mail of July 24 and 31, regarding the petition and the memorial. We appreciate your interest in drawing attention to victims of child sexual abuse.
The DNR does not allow private memorials on DNR lands administered by the Wildlife Division, but maybe there's an opportunity to work with a local service provider to place a memorial on the mainland where more people will have the opportunity to see it. We would be happy to provide you with contact information for the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCEDSV) or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of Victim Services if you are interested in working with either of those entities to place a memorial on the mainland.
Feel free to contact me through my secretary, Linda Miers at miersl@michigan.gov, if you have additional questions or would like further information.
Sincerely,
Sara M. Thompson, Chief
Wildlife Division"
My response:
"Dear Sara M. Thompson,
Thank you for your response regarding the proposed memorial on North Fox Island. I am writing to respectfully appeal the department's decision and to clarify the purpose of this project, which we believe represents a unique opportunity for the DNR to lead on a matter of historical and social significance.
Your letter designated the proposed memorial as "private," but it is, in fact, intended to be a public memorial. While the petition was initiated by a private citizen, the memorial bench would be a public tribute, sanctioned by the state, to acknowledge and honor survivors of the abuse that occurred on the island. The department has already set a clear precedent for this kind of collaboration, such as the recent partnership with Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County to install benches at Portage Marsh. This is precisely the kind of sanctioned project I have proposed.
The DNR's policy to prevent clutter on state land is understandable, but we believe its application here is a misunderstanding of the project's nature. This memorial would not be a distraction but a vital place of reflection. The publicly owned and maintained airstrip demonstrates that not all man-made structures are prohibited; a memorial bench would serve its own distinct public purpose by encouraging healing and raising awareness.
This is a matter of profound public importance, as reflected by the widespread support for the petition I submitted. I am speaking on behalf of [name redacted to respect privacy], a confirmed survivor of the abuse on North Fox Island, who has given me explicit permission to identify him. He believes this memorial is essential for public acknowledgment and can tell you firsthand that the island’s past is not a historical footnote; it is a lived trauma.
We urge you to reconsider this decision and allow us to partner with you to make this a reality. A sanctioned public memorial would not only honor those affected but would also stand as a powerful statement that the state of Michigan recognizes and acknowledges this tragic history. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you or a member of your team directly to discuss a path forward.
Sincerely,
Dylan Harrington"
Furthermore, I do not agree with their decisions for the following reasons:
- They designated my proposal as a private memorial, when it would be public.
- The airstrip on North Fox Island is publically owned, maintained, and poses far more of an environmental hazard than a memorial bench.
- The DNR Wildlife Division recently partnered (in 2025, actually) with Wildlife Unlimited in Delta County to install public benches at Portage Marsh.
- They specified my proposal as a general memorial, disregarding the "bench" aspect of it. This is important because the DNR does allow sanctioned memorial benches for parks and trails.
I urge supporters to raise awareness for this petition now more than ever, and appreciate all the support getting this far.