Officials from the Land Conservancy of West Michigan say White River Township in Muskegon County has closed two acres of Lake Michigan sand dunes after raising $970,000 to purchase the land. MLive reports that the announcement Wednesday comes after a year of fundraising and a decades-long fight to protect the area from development, including a drive that would’ve run through the middle of the dunes. The Land Conservancy and White River Township began a campaign in July 2015 to raise the funds to purchase the property from its current owner, Bro G Land Company, and expand the White River Township Barrier Dunes Sanctuary. The property will be added to the sanctuary, which is just north of White Lake. A dedication will be held Aug. 15 to celebrate the protection of the property.