TEXAS TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County may be losing a Boy Scout Camp, but it will be gaining a new lakefront park sometime next year.
During their virtual meeting Tuesday night, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved moving forward with negotiations to purchase Camp Rota-Kiwan, located on Bass Lake in Texas Township.
At the end of last year, the Boy Scouts of America Michigan Crossroads Council decided to close the camp in an effort to reduce operating expenses.
Now, the Kalamazoo Parks Foundation is putting up the $2-million dollars to pay for the land and development of the park.
Kalamazoo County Parks Director David Rachowicz says this has been a long awaited plan.
“As many of you know, we’ve had in our master plan the idea or need of having a county park on the western half of Kalamazoo County for the past 10 years now,” Rachowicz said. “Through that process, we’ve always said it has to be the right piece of property and something that was unique and worth preserving. This property fits that element in many ways.”
Rota-Kiwan features over 200 acres with connections to Bass Lake and the Al Sabo Land Preserve and already has parking lots, bathrooms, and the required facilities for a park.
County Commissioner Christine Morse, who represents the district, says it’s a good deal. During their first discussion of the purchase in April, Morse said, “I’m super excited about this development. People here were very concerned about where that property would end up, so I’m thrilled to hear that we have a plan for the county to be able to purchase it so that we can preserve the property, mostly as it is, and then improve it. People throughout the county can enjoy it.”
In the end, commissioners unanimously approved moving forward with the purchase.
The acquisition will be fully funded through a private partnership with the Parks Foundation of Kalamazoo County and additional county general fund dollars will not be needed. According to the agenda, the purchase price of the property will not exceed $2,000,000.
It is estimated that this may take 3 to 12 months to complete the acquisition.
