For the community, for good.
In August, the Land Conservancy joined Pere Marquette Township to celebrate an achievement nearly a decade in the making: the opening of Pere Marquette Conservation Park to the public.
The Land Conservancy has been working alongside the Township to help it acquire nearly 254 acres of land in the Ludington area formerly owned by Dow, Inc. The expansive property features Pere Marquette Lake and Lake Michigan access and holds promise as a destination for outdoor recreation and sport as well as natural habitat restoration.
Partners at Dow were eager to see the land be transferred to the care of the community and committed time, effort and a generous donation of a portion of the land to the Township. The remainder of the acquisition was funded by a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The acquisition was divided into two phases. The first phase is complete and encompasses 254 acres, protecting significant public open space, wildlife habitat and wetland resources adjoining the Pere Marquette State Game Area. This portion of the property is what is now open and available to public exploration.
The second phase covers the remaining 37 acres of the property, which required further environmental remediation to make it suitable for public use. Dow has since completed this remediation, and the final portion of the acquisition is in process.
The Township has put forth a plan for developing the landscape into a multi-use recreational space. The group has also worked with local conservation partners to outline the natural habitat restoration plan. There is yet much work to be done for this landscape, but its future is bright.
To ensure the park is maintained and cared for forever, the Land Conservancy is raising funds to fortify the endowment fund established for the park at the Community Foundation for Mason County. This resource will be essential to ensuring the park and access remain in excellent condition for generations to come.
You can help support the maintenance of Pere Marquette Conservation Park from its early stages of development through the years it takes to bring the master plan comes to fruition. Please make a gift by mail or online today!