Little Traverse Conservancy makes final fundraising push toward Boyne City land acquisition
The group is looking to acquire what's locally known as "White Mountain" — 654 acres of land in Charlevoix County overlooking Boyne City and Lake Charlevoix.
According to Emily Hughes, Chief Development Officer for the Little Traverse Conservancy, the $3 million includes the purchase price of the land and the funds necessary to care for the land — both immediately and in the future.
"We need to have a certain amount of money ready to go to be able to protect this property forever," Hughes said. "We also want to have funds to care for the property as soon as we acquire it, and also 100, 200 years down the road."
A portion of the $3 million will go towards a long-term endowment that the conservancy uses for operations and long-term care for all the properties the group owns.
The conservancy already has $2.4 million raised for the project.
If the conservancy is able to acquire the land, the anonymous lead donor group asked that the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians name the property, so the final name of the land will be in both Anishinaabemowin and English.
The additional money raised will help the group in their mission of permanently protecting the 654 acres of land, preserving the wildlife habitat and forest ecosystems, and open the land for future public enjoyment.
Hughes said if the conservancy is able to acquire the land, the group will be able to spend some time getting to know the land with the stewardship team and determining the best care and management plan for the area.
She added that once the conservancy owns the property, people are able to use it. Signage and mapping won't be up immediately, but could come in time.
More: Little Traverse Conservancy plans mix of outdoor events: See what's scheduled this spring
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Hughes said the community's interest and wants will lead their decisions, so a thorough trail system could be on the property in five or 10 years, or the land could be kept as a wild property if that's what the public wants more.
What they know about the property now is that there is a lot of diversity within the wooded areas of the land, and there are a lot of two-track trails already on the property.
To learn more or to donate to the cause, visit landtrust.org or call the conservancy at (231) 347-0991.
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Little Traverse Conservancy works toward White Mountain property buy in Boyne City
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