LAKE ANN -- Nary a leaf stirred along Maple Street on a hot and muggy afternoon, while beyond -- yet tantalizingly out of reach -- the refreshing waters of Ann Lake gently slapped the shore.
For years the lake has been effectively off-limits to Almira Township's 2,811 residents, save those with boats or lakefront property. But if a grass-roots fundraising effort reaches its goal as expected, they could be swimming at a new lakefront park by late summer.
"It's been a great community project," said George Daisy, president of the Almira Citizens for Preservation, a local group raising funds for the proposed Almira Township Lakefront Park in the village of Lake Ann. "I feel totally confident now that it's going to happen."
Daisy said the group is just $28,000 shy of the $200,000 it needs to complete the purchase of the property, which includes 175 feet of frontage along the lake, from owner Gardner Klassen. A $478,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund was secured in December for the major portion of the purchase, making the one-time pipe dream so close to becoming a reality that many in the area can almost taste it.
The 1.65-acre park studded with willow, locust, walnut, elm and maple trees would create the first public beach on Ann Lake -- or anywhere else in Almira Township, for that matter. Among the township's 36 lakes, some have boat launches but none has a public beach, said Almira Township Supervisor Vance Bates.
"I've lived in the township most of my life and we were never able to swim on that lake unless you knew someone who lived on the lake," Bates said.
The absence of beaches in the area is a puzzlement to many, including summer tourists who flock here to camp at Lake Ann State Forest and surrounding campgrounds, a local store owner said. In fact, "Where's the beach?" is a question asked around town so often that the Citizens group adopted it as a fundraising slogan.
"As a store owner, I've had numerous people come in and say, 'This is such a beautiful area, but you can't get down to the lake,'" said Sandy Nuske, proprietor of the Lake Ann Grocery and a member of the Citizens group. "I have a fundraising can near the cash register and it's always full."
The canister, which nets a whopping $600 a month, is just one of dozens of community events that have been held to benefit the project, ranging from kids' lemonade stands and fishing contests to bake sales, pop can drives and outdoor auctions. Three more are planned for the rest of the summer, including a pancake breakfast and a spaghetti dinner in August and a golf outing in September.
"It has tremendous community backing," said Daisy, of the project's momentum. "That's what I believe has been so wonderful."
It wasn't always that way. An early effort to make the park a village project failed after concerns by some about everything from increased noise and traffic at the park to spending on its maintenance. In a Sept. 11, 2007 election, village officials who supported the park were ousted, nearly killing the project. That's when Almira Township agreed to take it over with help from the Citizens group and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.
The trio teamed up successfully in the past to preserve 251 acres at Pearl Lake and 220 acres now known as Ransom Lake Natural Area. The township also owns the 53-acre Almira Township Park, which features a paved walking trail, pavilion area with indoor plumbing, swings and play areas including baseball diamonds and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.
But while those efforts were generally supported, the lakefront park still rankles some.
"I'm totally against it," said Allen Bluhm, whose property overlooks Ann Lake. "I'm not against beach; beach is great. But put it in the right place. It should have been by the campground. They're putting it in a residential area."
A former zoning administrator and building inspector for the village, Bluhm said the park will mean the removal of a historic building -- the area's first hotel -- to make way for a parking lot. Overflow parking will be on the main village street, causing people to have to cross to the park against traffic.
"Someone's going to get hurt," he said.
Supporters say the park will give equal access to the lake, preserve open space and help keep alive the memory of Addison and Ann Wheelock, early Almira Township settlers whose home once sat on the site. Having a lake nearby without being able to feel its sand between their toes is like thirsting and not being able to drink from a pitcher of water in front of them, they say.
"I tell people the air you breathe is free. The water you swim in is free, too," Nuske said. "It's not right to tell somebody they can't swim in the lake. It's just not right."
Now that the race to raise money for the park is in the homestretch, they may not have much longer to wait. While the park wouldn't be in full use until 2010, improvements like picnic tables and a gazebo could begin as soon as the deal on the property closes, said Daisy. And so could swimming.
"The preservation group keeps it mowed now, so there would be use of the lake right away," Bates said.
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