Call it the missing puzzle piece. Through a 1,000 acre land acquisition, the state is creating a more-than 3,000 acre parcel of public land on the AuSable River.
The $2,000,000 land purchase joins together two plots of land that had been purchased separately in the eighties and nineties. Altogether, it will create a 3,500 acre parcel for public use.
Colby Chilcote is the Marketing Director with Huron Pines. The Gaylord nonprofit partnered with the state to purchase the land.
“What they like to put that money towards are pieces of land often that are surrounded by other public land, because that’s a really good investment because it connects a lot of public space.”
The new parcel includes a-mile-and-a-half of riverfront on the AuSable river. Chilcote said the DNR will determine what exactly the land can be used for, but that likely it’ll be made available for public recreation such as fishing, watersports, and hunting.
The DNR is hosting a land-closing ceremony at 3:30 on the site of the new land. Light refreshments will be served, while speakers include officials with the DNR, Huron Pines, and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Directions:
From Grayling: Take M-72 west to South Au Sable Trail, which is about three-tenths of a mile west of the stop light at Ole Dam Road. Turn right (north) onto South Au Sable Trail and take it to Pollak Bridge Road. Turn left. The entrance leading back to the property will be located on the right in approximately 50 yards.
From Traverse City: Take M-72 east to South Au Sable Trail. Turn left (north) onto South Au Sable Trail and take it to Pollak Bridge Road. Turn left. The entrance will be located on the right in approximately 50 yards.