Traverse City’s efforts to expand Brown Bridge Quiet Area just got a big boost.
The city-owned nature preserve is roughly 1,300 acres of forest and land, with six miles of trails straddling the Boardman River.
A new purchase will expand that by 40 percent, for a total of 1,838 acres of quiet area land southeast of Traverse City.
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund put more than $2.3 million dollars into the project this week.
That state grant money — coupled with funds approved by voters in November — makes it possible for Traverse City to make the purchase.
The new acquisition includes Spring Lake and hundreds of acres of undisturbed forest.
The city worked with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to secure the property and apply for the grant.
