The volunteer board for Leelanau County’s New Community Vision (NCV) announced in a press release this week that it had recently won honors from the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC). The award was announced on May 16 at NMEAC’s 36th annual Environmentalist of the Year Celebration event, and NCV was named “Environmentalist of the Year” in the “Grass Roots” category. 

NCV is the nonprofit that launched in 2023 with a goal of acquiring and preserving a 200-plus-acre piece of land between Omena and Northport that had previously been earmarked for the proposed Timber Shores RV park. In partnership with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB), NCV officially closed on the purchase of property at the end of last year.

According to the NCV press release, NMEAC praised the nonprofit “for its partnership with the GTB and the broader community of Leelanau to ensure the acquisition and preservation of a critical 187-acres portion of the former Timber Shores campground property through grassroots fundraising and organizing efforts.”

“Our beginning was five people in Northport mobilizing together to forge a positive future for about 200 acres that had been through contentious development threats for decades,” said Beth Verhey, NCV’s board vice president. “We came together to find a way to stop the cycle of contention about this property and forge a positive future.”

In addition to NCV’s award, the NMEAC also honored GTB directly with two separate accolades, including recognition for GTB Chairwoman Sandra Witherspoon as Environmentalist of the Year in the “Public Service or Public Office” category.

Pictured, left to right: Madeline Baroli of NMEAC; Barbara Stamiris of NMEAC; Beth Verhey of NCV; John Nelson of NMEAC; and Andy Thomas of NCV