Jean Klock Park: Difference between revisions
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“In taking an inventory of life, we all take stock of the circumstances surrounding the happiest moments. The giving of this park to the city of Benton Harbor has been to Mrs. Klock and myself, the happiest moment of our lives. The deed of this park in the courthouse of St. Joseph will live forever. Perhaps some of you do not own a foot of ground, remember then, that this is your park, it belongs to you. Perhaps some of you have no piano or phonograph, the roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is your music, your piano and music box.” In closing Klock stated, “The beach is yours, the drive is yours, the dunes are yours, all yours. It is not so much a gift from my wife and myself, it’s a gift from a little child. See to it, that the park is the children's.” |
“In taking an inventory of life, we all take stock of the circumstances surrounding the happiest moments. The giving of this park to the city of Benton Harbor has been to Mrs. Klock and myself, the happiest moment of our lives. The deed of this park in the courthouse of St. Joseph will live forever. Perhaps some of you do not own a foot of ground, remember then, that this is your park, it belongs to you. Perhaps some of you have no piano or phonograph, the roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is your music, your piano and music box.” In closing Klock stated, “The beach is yours, the drive is yours, the dunes are yours, all yours. It is not so much a gift from my wife and myself, it’s a gift from a little child. See to it, that the park is the children's.” |
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[http://www.savejeanklockpark.org/files/John_Klock_Autobiography.pdf] |
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==History and ecology== |
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| ⚫ | Jean Klock Park is one of the oldest parks in the state of Michigan and predates Michigan's state parks. |
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== |
== '''History''' == |
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| ⚫ | 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. |
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Currently, Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment, Inc. plans to make significant improvements to the underutilized and rundown park. The plans include a [[Jack Nicklaus]] Signature golf course, an extensive walking and biking trail system, boat launches, and observation decks for nature lovers. The proposed golf course, designed to improve, preserve and protect the park’s low-lying marsh and coastal wetland areas, would travel behind and along the ridge of the park's unique and fragile dune structure. |
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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 Judgment that allowed a small portion of property to be developed in exchange for preserving the |
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Most residents of Benton Harbor believe that using a underutilized portion of Jean Klock Park, currently a parking lot, for the planned improvements will be a positive use of the park. They hope that the Harbor Shores improvements will help improve the city's waning economic prospects by creating jobs and stimulating tourism within the area, and that the beach at Jean Klock Park will be cleaned up, improved and maintained with money generated from the rest of the development. New walking and biking trails that are part of the proposal will further augment the recreation opportunities in the park. |
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remaining park property forever'''. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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'''. |
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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 |
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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. |
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== Future == |
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[http://www.savejeanklockpark.org/ Friends of Jean Klock Park] would like to see the entire park preserved and used as an outdoor classroom for area school children and the community. Such a use would draw tourists to a growing list of eco-tourism locations throughout the state'''. |
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[http://www.savejeanklockpark.org/ Friends of Jean Klock Park] are joined by the Alliance for the Great Lakes and local citizens and organizations in their effort to preserve the natural heritage of the park. |
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However, there is also local opposition to the proposal. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 18:59, 9 September 2008
Jean Klock Park is a historic city park along Lake Michigan in Benton Harbor, Michigan. In 1917, John Nellis Klock and his wife Carrie purchased a 90-acre parcel of Lake Michigan frontage property, and then conveyed it to the City of Benton Harbor to be used explicitly and forever as a public park and bathing beach for the people of the city and surrounding communities. The property was dedicated to the children of the City and was named Jean Klock Park in memory of the Klocks' daughter, Jean, who had died in infancy.
When asked why he and his wife gave the park to the city, John Nellis Klock stated:
"There is little joy in piling up money that you do not need....Our first major gift was Jean Klock Park, ..which was given to the city of Benton Harbor. ..My wife was very anxious to give this park to the city in memory of our little child. Her untimely death made possible the giving to other children the share of our earnings which belonged to her, but which she could not use."
At the dedication ceremony Klock also stated:
“In taking an inventory of life, we all take stock of the circumstances surrounding the happiest moments. The giving of this park to the city of Benton Harbor has been to Mrs. Klock and myself, the happiest moment of our lives. The deed of this park in the courthouse of St. Joseph will live forever. Perhaps some of you do not own a foot of ground, remember then, that this is your park, it belongs to you. Perhaps some of you have no piano or phonograph, the roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is your music, your piano and music box.” In closing Klock stated, “The beach is yours, the drive is yours, the dunes are yours, all yours. It is not so much a gift from my wife and myself, it’s a gift from a little child. See to it, that the park is the children's.”
History
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 Judgment 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.
Future
Friends of Jean Klock Park would like to see the entire park preserved and used as an outdoor classroom for area school children and the community. Such a use would draw tourists to a growing list of eco-tourism locations throughout the state.
Friends of Jean Klock Park are joined by the Alliance for the Great Lakes and local citizens and organizations in their effort to preserve the natural heritage of the park.