Save Jean Klock Park
Our legal challenge is continuing - our fight is not over!
A Strand of Beach
                       ADDITIONAL CONVERSION OF PARK LAND

    The following illustrations and overlays show that far more park land has been taken
    than the original 22.11 acres of parkland indicated in the Conversion Proposal.

                                                                   CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE
    To the right is one of Harbor
    Shores' conceptual renderings of
    the 22.11 acre conversion area
    within Jean Klock Park and
    mitigation parcels in exchange for
    that land. The proposal was
    approved by the Michigan Natural
    Resources Trust Fund Board in
    2006. The areas within and outside
    of the conversion area were
    required to be accessible public
    recreational areas.   

    The side-by-side comparison of
    what was proposed and what was
    actually converted tells a different
    story. Ten areas were identified
    that have been converted in
    addition to the approved 22.11
    acres. The only real public area left
    is the strand of beach, which is now
    being referred to as "Jean Klock
    Beach", not Jean Klock Park, as
    intended by the Klock family.
    Click on the side-by-side images above to see an enlargement of the comparison and
    to read the descriptions of the 10 areas identified as an additional land conversion. In
    addition, there was an area on the original conversion map above the side-by-side
    comparison that suspiciously was not depicted as public parkland. That area is
    faintly outlined in a dotted line at the north end of the park near the beach. In our
    illustrations it is depicted in aqua and is between the shoreline and the privately
    owned Grand Boulevard residential lots that do not own lake frontage. However,
    because there is no signage as to where the public beach ends, that area of beach has
    been artificially privatized and has become isolated from the public.

    The "UPROPOSED DRAINAGE DITCH" for the golf course run-off that was
    highlighted in green in Illustration #2 of the above side-by-side, runs north and south
    between the new picnic area and the public wetland area. In the first place, that ditch
    is for the golf course and should not be within the conversion area or any other area
    of the park.  But if it has to exist it definitely does not belong in one of two of the
    only remaining public areas of the park.

    The wetland substrate is exposed and walkable. The endangered Rose Pink and a
    variety of other wildflowers and wildlife within it that once could be observed and
    enjoyed but the ditch has blocked access to that area. The only way to access it is
    would be to trespass on the golf course.

    And last, but not at all least, is the tragic fact that Jean Klock Park has never been
    treated with chemicals before. Now we have a drainage ditch that appeared
    overnight that's surfaced with scummy and highly toxic algae blooms from golf
    course run-off; a substance human beings should not be anywhere near. This ditch
    was never presented on any of the plans that were shown to the public.












    To make matters worse, this ditch of chemical laced run-off tends to swell after a
    heavy rain to where it floods a good portion of the "new and improved picnic area."
    When the pictures below were taken the water had receded from the day before.

Friends of Jean Klock Park | PO Box 8988 | Benton Harbor, MI 49023
info@savejeanklockpark.org | www.savejeanklockpark.org
© 2009 Friends of Jean Klock Park. All Rights Reserved.