Development of the Eagle Lake public access site near Edwardsburg continues to move at a snail’s pace, but Michigan DNR officials said this week they are still “in the process of securing the site.”

The state-owned property is on the east side of Eagle Lake Road, just north of the former Dock property. The land designated as a future parking area for a DNR boating access site has sat idle since the state purchased it last August. Future plans call for a new boat ramp on Eagle across the road.

The DNR’s Jordan Byelich said his agency is ready to present boat launch access plans to the Cass County Road Commission sometime next month. The DNR has met with commission staffers to discuss preliminary plans, he added, and “is working on changes per the staff changes.”

In addition, the DNR also must apply to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for development approval.

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Byelich said, the DNR hopes the access will be completed sometime in 2015.

The project was slowed when the Eagle Lake Improvement Association filed suit against Ontwa Township and the DNR last summer, claiming it didn’t meet zoning qualifications as a park. The court ruled in favor of the township and DNR in November.

Byelich says he was uncertain as to when the parking area would be “secured.” The state still needs to erect a fence on the north boundary, add appropriate signage, and prepare the land for parking.

In the meantime, can ice fishermen use it? Byelich said the land is specifically designated as a boating access site for Eagle Lake and not a general public access site.

However, it is public land for public use. If you choose to park there prior to the DNR’s improvements, do so at your own risk.