Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
The Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News is the newsletter of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund, published five times per year. The News is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin.
Volume 15, Number 4 • Winter 2007
Grassroots Profile
Efforts To Save Coastal Parkland
Are Paying Off
In 1917, John Nellis Klock and his wife
Carrie deeded a stellar 90-acre parcel of
Lake Michigan frontage property to the
City of Benton Harbor, Michigan and
surrounding communities. There was one
primary restriction: the property was to
be used explicitly and forever as a public
park and bathing beach. Still, with little
opportunity for public input, the City of
Benton Harbor recently signed a lease
agreement with Harbor Shores for three
holes of a privately owned Jack Nicklaus
Signature golf course on this publicly
owned Lake Michigan Park.
Friends of Jean Klock Park and supporters
have beenworking diligently for over four
years to protect the park and ensure the
Klock family’s wishes are honored.
In mid-October, the City of Benton Harbor
learned that its proposal to perpetually
lease Jean Klock Park to private interests
was rejected by the National Park Service
(NPS). Since restricted federal funds have
been used at the park, NPS approval is
required.
The City of Benton Harbor received $1.74
million in federal and state grants for the
park over the years, including a grant
from the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund (administered by the
National Park Service) with strict guidelines
against taking public parkland away
from the public. Jean Klock Park also was
developed using grants from the
Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund,
the Clean Michigan Initiative and other
public programs.
This National Park Service’s rejection of
the development proposal is a major
victory. Hard work has finally paid off
with a step in the right direction.
Congratulations,
Friends of Jean Klock Park!
Although this is a major accomplishment,
there is more work to do. Governor
Granholm and the developer of Harbor
Shores plan to appeal the decision.
You can help!
Keep Jean Klock
Park Public!
Go to www.savejeanklockpark.org
and sign the petition to request
that Governor Jennifer Granholm
withdraw the State of Michigan’s
support for the Harbor Plan
to convert public land to a
privately-owned golf course.
Contact Carol Drake, Friends of
Jean Klock Park, for more info:
(269) 925-4880 or
info@savejeanklockpark.org
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