KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Western Michigan University board of trustees has approved an interlocal agreement with Kalamazoo County to take over maintenance and operation of Asylum Lake.
Vice president for government affairs Jeff Breneman says it’s taken a year of negotiations to get to this point, with a few major steps yet to go.
“Throughout the process, ensuring that this treasured nature preserve remains protected for future generations, has been the fundamental goal.”
The popular preserve on the west side of Kalamazoo has been the target of developers and a labor of love for the preservationists who have volunteered countless hours to maintain the 274-acre parcel that includes two lakes, an oak savannah and other natural features.
“This agreement is rooted in sustainable long-term stewardship by placing day-to-day management with a public partner whose core mission and expertise align with the preservation and management of similar sized preserves,” says Breneman. “Asylum Lake will continue to be free and accessible to the public and will remain an important resource for environmental preservation, passive recreation, education and research.”
He says the citizen-driven Asylum Lake Preservation Board has been a part of the process and supports the agreement.
The land was granted to the university decades ago, along with the other state-owned properties which now constitute the BTR Park. WMU has taken care of it for decades. They feel the Kalamazoo County Parks Department is better suited to the task of managing the preserve into the future, following the codified maintenance plans now in use.
WMU trustee Jon Hoadley is happy they were able to pull it off.
“I’m really excited as someone who loves Asylum Lake, that we find a solution that’s going to keep it accessible that’s going to keep it as a preserve that’s going to continue the character in nature and make it available to the public.”
As part of the agreement, the community endowment that funds maintenance of the Asylum Lake Preserve will also be transferred to the county.
The county board is expected to take up the interlocal agreement at their evening meeting this coming Tuesday.
After that, the parties will ask the state legislature to act to formally transfer the deed from WMU to Kalamazoo County.
The county currently operates five parks, the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail, the County Expo Center and Fairgrounds and the Woolham Nature Preserve.
It will be the third county owned park property in the city of Kalamazoo.
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