Public natural area within reach

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An aerial photo shows the Clay Cliffs property, marked by yellow lines, between Lake Michigan and the north end of North Lake Leelanau in Leland Township. The township has been awarded a $2,933,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Land Trust Fund to help purchase the land and 1,700 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline for a natural area. Special to the Record-Eagle/John Hall

July 20, 2012

Public natural area within reach

By LORAINE ANDERSON landerson@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Fri Jul 20, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

LELAND — The governor's signature and a little more fund raising is all Leland Township needs to purchase the towering Clay Cliffs along 1,700 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline for a public natural area.

The state Senate approved a $35 million Natural Resources Trust Fund spending bill this week that included a $2.9 million grant to help the township purchase the 104.5-acre Leelanau County tract from the late Doug Crary family.

The property lies between Lake Michigan and North Lake Leelanau, offering spectacular views of both lakes as well as North and South Manitou and South Fox islands.

It includes open meadows and a 58-acre mature forest that hasn't been logged in almost a century.

"This is good news, we're very happy," said Leelanau Conservancy Director Brian Price.

The remaining money for the $6.8 million project will come from $2.9 million in matching funds still being raised for the township by the conservancy. The William and Marie Carls Foundation contributed $1 million, and another $250,000 came from the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation. Rachel Crary, the property owner, also agreed to donate 25 percent of the land's value.

Price said the conservancy hopes to raise the remaining $500,000 in private donations needed by the end of the year.

It will take about a year to complete the property transfer and planning before the closing can occur and natural area can open to the public, he said. Initial plans call for a small parking area, loop trails and an observation platform overlooking the Manitou Passage.

Leland Township will own the land and the conservancy will manage it.

"We're so excited," township Clerk Jane Keen said. "It's important to Leland Township and the whole surrounding area. It's a piece of property like no other between Lake Michigan and Lake Leelanau.

"It has steep slopes, wetlands, a meadow and there's still a lot of wildlife there" she added. "I'm personally so thrilled to see that it will stay that way and that my grandchildren will be able to see it."

Another $3,240,100 in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants also are in the bill for several other northwestern Lower Michigan projects including:

n $862,500 for the Acme Waterfront Park Phase III for acquisition of about 337 feet of frontage on East Grand Traverse Bay.

n $300,000 for the Historic Barns Park and Garden in Garfield Township in Grand Traverse County.

n $47,000 to Coldspring Township for Sands Park work including an accessible picnic shelter, rest room, trail to the beach, parking, lighting, beach improvements and nature trail grading in Kalkaska County.

n $280,000 for Manistee's First Street Beach House removal and replacement.

n $240,000 toward Suttons Bay's Front Street pathway development.

n $300,000 for Petoskey-Alanson rail-trail development.

n $300,000 for Petoskey's Downtown Greenway north segment.

n $59,700 for Petoskey's Quarry Harbor nonmotorized trail.

n $300,000 for Boyne City's U.S. 31 Trail.

n $300,000 for Little Manistee River weir development.

n $250,900 toward Tuscarora Township's Marina Park trailhead development in Cheboygan County.