Save Jean Klock Park
Jean Klock Park is one of the oldest parks in the state of Michigan and predates Michigan’s state parks. Its boundaries host a half mile of Lake Michigan shoreline and include, what are considered by the experts to be, the occurrence of three globally threatened natural communities consisting of: Great Lakes Open Dunes, a Great Lakes Marsh, and Interdunal Wetlands.
Through the years unsuccessful attempts by developers were made to take over the land of this deed protected park. Unfortunately, in 2003 Jean Klock Park was threatened again. At that time the citizen group Friends of Jean Klock Park formed to prevent the sale of the park’s property for a housing development. Their efforts resulted in a lawsuit, Settlement Agreement and Consent Judgement that allowed a small portion of property to be developed in exchange for preserving the remaining park property forever.
The portion of the park that was to be preserved under the Settlement Agreement is once again being threatened by the city of Benton Harbor’s interest in a development proposal by Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment, Inc. that includes a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. The proposal would impact the park’s low lying marsh, coastal wetland areas and would travel behind and along the ridge of the park’s unique and fragile dune structure. The cost of a round of golf could be as high as $200. The Friends of Jean Klock Park do not believe that the proposed golf course is consistent with John Klock’s intent for the park land.
In addition to the park area, over 100 acres of neighboring wetlands along the Paw Paw River are slated as part of the development proposal. Due to the enormous value of our wetlands and the increasing awareness and concerns about them and the degradation and loss of plant, fish and wildlife habitat, Friends of Jean Klock Park question the wisdom of placing this delicate ecosystem at risk.
You can visit the official site dedicated to saving Jean Klock Park here: