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100 more acres for a state park

Flickr User - shutterbug816 | https://flic.kr/p/erw4v9

The Ludington State Park recently acquired 100 acres of new land including sand dunes, wetlands and forests.

Some of it has been mined, but state officials said 60 acres of the area are untouched pristine sand.

Ron Olson is the chief of parks and recreation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He said the addition to the park is important to the environment.

“It preserves the beauty and the landscape of this dune. Plus, environmentally, it does help protect the rest of the dunescape by keeping the vegetative cover and some of the things that are already on there, preserve that, for a multitude of environmental reasons.”

Olson said the DNR will be holding public meetings in the spring to gauge how the new land will be used.

The state paid 17-million dollars for the land. The acquisition was funded by multiple organizations.

“It’s coming from the Michigan Natural Resources trust fund. There is some philanthropic giving, coming from outside sources. Plus, the Mott Foundation, have committed a million dollars towards this.”

Olson said the purchase will have a lasting impact for the future.

“And it’ll definitely set a legacy in the future because it’ll be preserved forever.”

Olson said the land was purchased from a local mining company for 17-million dollars.

The DNR will be holding public meetings in the spring to gauge how the new land will be used.