Jean Klock Park

Origin

Historic Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor Michigan is known for its diverse beauty as much as for its origin. The park was a gift from the Klock family in memory of their infant daughter who did not live. In 1917, John Nellis Klock and his wife Carrie purchased, then gifted, the 90 acre parcel of Lake Michigan frontage property, [of which only 73 acres remains] to the City of Benton Harbor Michigan and surrounding communities to be used explicitly and forever as a public park and bathing beach. The property was dedicated for the children of the City and named Jean Klock Park in memory of the Klock's deceased daughter Jean who died in infancy.

When asked why he and his wife gifted this park 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. " ~ John Klock

At the dedication ceremony Mr. Klock additionally 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 Mr. 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.” [1]

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.

Benton Harbor Residents

Local residents resist this development and have cited environmental injustice as the reasons for that resistance. [2]

View Benton Harbor Residents talk about Jean Klock Park.