Less than 10 weeks ago, we told you about a major initiative underway to preserve a glorious stretch of Lake Michigan beachfront property in Chikaming Township of Michigan’s Great Southwest. Not only did the public respond to the fundraising effort, they have put the project on the brink of overwhelming success in that very short period of time, but there’s still a bit of work left to get there.
In fact, organizers of the Cherry Beach Park Project say that supporters have now supplied enough in pledges to match both a $250,000 Carls Foundation challenge grant in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and a $50,000 challenge grant from The Upton Foundation.
Hundreds of individuals and several not-for-profit organizations have joined Chikaming Township’s drive to acquire and preserve that approximately 3 acre parcel of old hardwood trees and 400 feet of beachfront adjacent to Cherry Beach Park in Harbert, Michigan.
Word is that $825,000 has now been pledged, including $175,000 by Chikaming Township itself, putting the Township close to making a critical hurdle for a State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant which would supply 75-percent of the roughly $4.3 million project costs. Chikaming Township’s 25-percent share of costs must be fully pledged by October 1 to qualify for the State funding.
David Bunte is Supervisor of Chikaming Township. He says, “I am delighted by the community’s overwhelming support for the acquisition of the property next to Cherry Beach.” He adds, “When we started in February, we needed to raise more than $1 million. Now we need less than $250,000, but we must secure those pledges by October 1. The acquisition of the adjacent property has been a dream of this community for decades. The Cherry Beach project has the Township’s full support. If you want to pitch in and contribute to this community effort, please go to cherrybeachproject.com and pledge now.”
Cherry Beach is a Lake Michigan beach park open year-round to the general public. That beach has been owned and managed by Chikaming Township from the time the Warren Foundation deeded the land to the Township back in 1922. An immediately- adjacent parcel of pristine woodlands and 400 feet of beachfront is now for sale. The site carries a DEQ permit for development of a large residential compound.
The Cherry Beach Project is a public-private initiative, led by Chikaming Township, to acquire the parcel of land immediately adjacent to Cherry Beach. The Cherry Beach Committee, a group of concerned Township property owners, has recruited the active support of other volunteers, local businesses and local not-for-profit organizations including The Deer Creek Open Space Association.
The Berrien Community Foundation, approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is acting as fiscal agent for the Project, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Other major Project partners include The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund and The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission. More information is available by clicking the link below, which also affords you the opportunity to join the fundraising effort as well:
