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Sunset over the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, seen from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in 2007. On Friday, May 30, 2014, nearly 32,500 acres of the park in Michigan's northwest Lower Peninsula was dedication as federally-protected wilderness.

(Garret Ellison | MLive)

EMPIRE, MI — Some 32,500 acres of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was formally dedicated as protected wilderness this weekend.

The ceremony on Friday, May 30 at the No. 3 dune overlook on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive followed legislation signed into law this spring that designates nearly half of the 71,199-acre National Lakeshore as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Designation follows a 13-year process of updating the park's general management plan. The Park Service says wilderness designation protects wildlife habitat from development while continuing public access to wooded areas and beaches.

Roads, highways, boat launches and other structures are excluded from the wilderness designation. Park visitors will continue to be able to hunt, fish, hike and camp in designated areas.

It was the first wilderness protection bill to pass both chambers since 2009. The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin and Republican Rep. Dan Benishek, and signed by the president in March.

The noon dedication program featured local residents, U.S. National Park Service officials and members of Congress.

The park spans 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in Benzie and Leelanau counties in northwest lower Michigan. It was named the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by "Good Morning America" in 2011, and visitation grew nearly 14 percent to a record 1.5 million in 2012.

Visitation fell 12.5 percent in 2013, due in part to the federal government shutdown.

Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram