The Cherry Beach Project in Chikaming Township has suffered a blow. It was not included in this week’s announced Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants. Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte tells WSJM News the effort to raise about $4 million to purchase three acres of private property adjacent to the public Cherry Beach partially depended on a Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. The Cherry Beach Project raised around $1 million in pledges from individuals and combined that with several other grants. With state support not happening this year, Bunte says it’s back to the drawing board.
“We would have to go back to not only the owner of the parcel, but also the other grants that were associated with this project, and of course nearly 1,000 pledge donors on the project to pull it all together if we were to proceed with re-applying for next year,” Bunte said.
Bunte says there was a limited amount of money for the Natural Resources Trust Fund to give out this year. Chikaming Township has been invited to re-apply for a state grant next year. Bunte says they may do that. In the meantime, he thanks everyone who pledged their support to make the property purchase.
