KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees has agreed in principle to transfer stewardship of the Asylum Lake Preserve to Kalamazoo County, to be maintained by the Kalamazoo County Parks Department.
It comes as something of a surprise, as there has been no public discussion of the idea.
Former Asylum Lake board president Lori Holmes objected to wording in the memorandum of understanding that referred to the property as a “park.”
For them, “park” is a four-letter word.
She says parks are for humans, preserves are for plants and animals.
The exact language reads of the memorandum of understanding reads “The Preserve must be used solely for public park, recreation, and open space purposes, consistent with state law and existing Declaration of Conservation Restrictions which is recorded with the Kalamazoo County Register of Deeds.”
WMU vice president Jeff Breneman says their intent it to maintain the current status, and that the interlocal agreement has yet to be finalized.
Holmes says she is also concerned that the lack of public discussion about the transfer may be an issue, given the intense dedication to the preserve expressed at last month’s city rezoning hearing.
She calls it a trust issue and says right now there is not a lot of trust in government institutions.
The Kalamazoo County board has held all its discussions about the proposal in closed session and has yet to take up the matter in public.
The Kalamazoo County Parks Department is now operating The Arthur & Mildred Woollam Nature Preserve in Texas Township, which opened this past year, but it is a different operation that allows boating and recreation.
WMU staff horticulturalist Jeff Steinman, who has been working at the 278-acre Asylum Lake property, has expressed concern that they may not have the expertise required.
WMU will have to first ask the state Legislature to grant the university a deed to the property, so it can be officially transferred.
It could be a few months before it is finalized.
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