Acme Shoreline Park

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This is such an exciting project! Not just important land protection, but protecting previously developed land for the purposes of creating a mile-long Lake Michigan shoreline park which provides great conservation value and promises to be a great regional asset.

Acme Township boasts nearly 10 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. Unfortunately, little of it is open and accessible to the public.

However, the Township has developed a vision for a more open, accessible shoreline for present and future generations to enjoy. The community’s goal is to open the waterfront to the public by creating scenic viewscapes and public access to the shoreline from the MDOT park near Five Mile Road, on the southern end, up to Acme’s existing Bayside Park near the intersection of US31 North and M72 East, to the north.

Download a map of the Acme Shoreline Initiative

Our work to help Acme realize their vision for the Shoreline is being completed in phases. Thanks to willing landowners we have been able to work with the township to help them acquire several aging commercial properties and vacant lots.

The first phase of the project is complete and buildings located on the properties adjacent to the existing Bayside Park have been removed, opening up 540 more feet of shoreline park.

Phase two is also complete and encompasses the acquisition of three additional properties including the former Mountain Jack’s restaurant, the Sun & Sands Motel, and a vacant parcel. Acquiring these properties added an additional 900 feet of shoreline to the project.

Phase three is underway and includes deconstruction of the Sun N Sands Hotel and more land acquisition including the Beach Club property.

Both private and public funds have been utilized to make this project happen. To date GTRLC has helped Acme Township secure over 6 million dollars in competitive grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and worked with many private donors and the following key foundations to secure private funding:

Biederman Foundation
The Carls Foundation
Consumers Energy Foundation
Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation
J. A. Woollam Foundation
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
Oleson Foundation
Rotary Charities of Traverse City

Download a project newsletter from the Conservancy and Acme Township

Realizing a vision of this magnitude requires steadfast commitments from municipalities, organizations and individuals on all levels. We would especially like to thank Acme Township for partnering with us in this endeavor and who’s leadership and intrepid pursuit of their vision keeps this project moving forward in all phases.

The Acme Shoreline Park is going to be more than a great park, its going to be a great place. Opening up this gateway to our region creates the kind of place where people want to live, work and play. The kind of place that attracts new businesses to a community and region. The progressive vision for this mile-long shoreline park will have lasting impacts, not only for Acme, but for people in the region and across the state. Recently, Doug Luciani, President and CEO of Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce had this to say:

“The Chamber and the Conservancy both realize that economic development in the New Economy is about protecting our best assets – like our natural resources – and making a great place and great community that attracts people and jobs. The Acme Shoreline Park is a project that does just that.”

Join us at Shoreline events this summer!