One hundred and twenty acres of mature woodlot and healthy wetlands
have been secured for $2.83 million, thanks to the help of a state
Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) grant and a generous community.
The
Lake Lansing Park North property in Meridian Township was formerly owned by
HDI Builders
of Okemos, but now belongs to Ingham County. Donations to match 30
percent
of the DNRE grant came from 1,000 people in the community,
Meridian Township Land Preservation Advisory Board, Ingham County and the
Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
“The
process has taken a while, but people in the community really are
thrilled,” says Karen Fraser, financial coordinator for the
Ingham County Parks Department.
The
parks department will maintain the land with help from local
non-profits.
Characteristic of this southern border to Lake Lansing Park North are the wetlands, mature hickories and oaks, sandhill
cranes and white horned owls, as well as hiking trails.
And, of course, the
solitude.
“It is really a neat nature park,” Fraser says. “Cars zip down Marsh Road and you can’t hear anything back there.”
She doesn’t anticipate any changes to the 120 acres now that the county owns it.
“This is not a place we would develop,” she says. “It will remain a natural area.”
Source: Karen Fraser, Ingham County Parks Department
Writer: Andy Balaskovitz
Photo: Courtesy of Ingham County Parks Dept
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