The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has closed on a $19.5 million purchase of 35 acres of land in Elberta.
GTRLC said that the project represented a “Herculean effort,” as it was the largest funding amount required for a single property in the Conservancy’s 33-year history. The nonprofit raised nearly $20 million in just under six months.
The Conservancy plans to eventually transfer 16 acres near the Elberta Pier at the mouth of Betsie Bay, including 578 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, to the Village of Elberta for use as a public park. The acquisition will allow the Betsie Valley Trail to extend through the property, connecting Frankfort and Elberta’s Lake Michigan beaches and linking to 22 miles of trails in Benzie County.
The Conservancy will “retain 10 acres of the highest conservation importance, which contain critical dune habitat, and manage that land as a nature sanctuary,” according to the release.
The Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail were proud to provide our financial support and are looking forward to partnering with GTRLC in designing and developing the BVT Elberta Beach trail link.