More than $1.17 million has been raised by the Cherry Beach Project for the purchase of three acres of land in Chikaming Township, meaning the project’s goal has been met. Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte tells WSJM News the group has raised enough to match a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. As for what’s next…
“The trust fund grant that we applied for will be determined in December,” Bunte said. “We hope to get notification that we were approved for the grant, and we will proceed from there.”
Bunte tells us the three acres the project is seeking is right next to the public Cherry Beach, and will be added to the park if acquired. It took 100 days for more than 900 donors to pledge enough.
“There was a groundswell of grassroots effort of people who just thought it was very important to have this as a legacy not only for our children and grandchildren, but for generations to come,” Bunte said.
After December, there will still be some grants to secure. Bunte says if all goes well, that extra three acres of beachfront property will be in the township’s hands late next year to be kept pristine for the public for good. The effort to buy the land began when it was privately put up for sale.
