KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has passed a new measure that will help better protect county parks and national resources.
During a board meeting Tuesday night, commissioners discussed the new measure, which was created after the county was asked about natural resource extraction last year.
“Our county parks are our crown jewels, and they’re absolutely beautiful,” Vice Chair Hall said. “I think it’s our duty to help protect and preserve these natural resources, especially in 2019.”
The new policy creates prohibitions from using Kalamazoo County parks for commercial purposes, among others.
The new policy was written by a subcommittee in collaboration with Parks Director David Rachowicz.
As written, the new policy prohibits the following practices:
- Use of County Park Property for non-park related commercial purposes.
- Exploration, production, or extraction of oil, minerals, soil, sand, gravel or other surface or subsurface natural resources.
- Cell phone towers or telecommunications sites.
- Timber harvest or commercial firewood harvest excluding resource management practices or storm damage removal.
- Solar panes, windmills, or other electrical generation facilities for non-park purposes.
- Overhead electric lines.
- Sale of County Park property.
- Diversion of County Park property for non-park purposes.
- Non park use of surface or sub-surface water resources.
- Encroachments.
- Removal or destruction of historical artifacts or features
“I think it’s a big step in the right direction in protecting our natural resources and areas where people play, get wed, fish, have all kinds of things happen that are positive,” Board Chair Julie Rogers said.
Ultimately, the Board voted unanimously in favor of the policy.
