SAUGATUCK, Mich. — Pine Trail Camp, a privately-owned Christian summer camp and retreat center, has sat vacant under the serene cloak of trees in Saugatuck Township for three years. Leaders want to change that.
Located at 3525 Dugout Road, the camp is tucked away from any heavily trafficked area by a veil of greenery and a dirt road. Its plot, with neighbors nearby blotted out by branches and the sound of boats gurgling past, is a rare quiet sliver of waterfront property minutes from downtown.
Saugatuck Township announced they hope voters will help them share its beauty by approving a $3.6 million bond proposal in the general election this November.
The property was listed for sale in July. Before ceasing operations in 2021, it operated as an overnight summer camp, complete with 20 acres of land and 350 feet of waterfront access.
The community park would include public water access, preservation of the natural shoreline and space for diverse recreational activities.
If approved, it could be Saugatuck Township's first dedicated water access point.
When the township's board of trustees learned of the listing, they hoped to preserve the land from future development, leaders said.
“Securing this site would provide our community with public water front access, which we are currently lacking,” said Daniel DeFranco, Saugatuck Township Manager. “Neither Saugatuck City, Douglas or the Township has public water access to launch a kayak or canoe in the historic river mouth area of the Kalamazoo. Acquiring the property would, for the first time, give the public an opportunity to launch a non-motorized boat and access areas of the river such as the Ox-Bow Lagoon and the popular cove.”
The $3.6 million would be raised over 11 years. If passed, the cost to property owners would be about $78 per $100,000 of a property’s taxable value.
Residents are asked to share their thoughts on the plan. An open house is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Saugatuck Township Hall.
