 Entrance sign at Pere Marquette Conservation Park (photo by jhy) |
by Joan H. Young
In 2021, Pere Marquette Township (Mason County, MI) unveiled plans to develop 300 acres of property purchased from the former Dow Chemical site, on both sides of the Pere Marquette River.
The ambitious project includes trails, boat launches, picnic and restroom facilities. Interpretation, sports complexes and more are planned. A new boat launch opened in 2024 on the north side of the Pere Marquette River, just west of Oceana Drive (Old 31).
This round of funding will improve a park entry on Lakeshore Drive across from White Pine Village. There will be a new driveway with safer sight lines for exit. A 3/4-mile paved trail will extend from there to the Buttersville Campground. Better parking will be installed, and signs, lighting, etc.
These projects are proposed to be completed in 2026. The township board has recently approved to enter into a grant agreement with the Michigan DNR. The DNR will provide 48% of the funding: $400,000. This will be matched locally by $435,000 or 52%. This is the final step in accepting this grant money. Requests for proposals can now be made on the next phase of construction.
The master plan for the acreage is more on the scale of something a state might undertake rather than a township. In response to this comment, Supervisor Kelly Smith said, "Over time I think a lot of it will happen. We are working on grants-matching programs. I'm still exited about the expansion of the park as a whole. We are making headway on the things that were identified in the plan. We are also chipping away at projects with environmental restoration to native plants."
 accessible walkway at Pere Marquette Conservation Park Community Access (photo by jhy) |
The Community Access site on the north side of the river opened in 2024. It received heavy usage this year, and is an outstanding example of the quality of the plan and its execution that the township is following.
Call PM township 231-845-1277
See the PM Township Park Master Plan
See the Mason County Press article Pere Marquette Conservation Park holds grand opening
See a news article in the Ludington Daily News
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid
Go To www.getoffthecouchnews.blogspot.com for all the news
See Get Off The Couch
No comments:
Post a Comment