March 2, 2005

Agencies create 95-acre reserve

Garfield Township Nature Education Reserve protects green areas in Boardman River Valley

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       Stitching together a quilt of cooperation, creativity and conservation, Garfield Township and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy have created a nearly 95-acre nature reserve.
      Situated along the Boardman River between the county's Nature Education Reserve to the south and South Airport Road to the north, this parcel of land - called the Garfield Township Nature Education Reserve - represents years of work.
      The idea for protecting green areas in the Boardman River Valley dates back decades, said Gerry Harsch, planning director for Garfield Township. With the conservancy owning a 12-acre parcel just north of the Grand Traverse County Nature Education Reserve, the idea began gathering steam in late 2001 after a call from the YMCA. That organization wanted to sell their nearly 45-acre site as they planned and raised money for a new, larger facility.
      Township officials, the conservancy and the YMCA agreed to a generous timeframe to work out a win-win solution.
      Next, private landowners Eagle-Picher Automotive and Butch Broad agreed to sell their pieces to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. These parcels, combined with 12 acres already owned by the conservancy, comprised 49 acres.
      The conservancy planned to donate all three pieces to the township to satisfy Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund requirements. This gave the township access to matching money to purchase the YMCA property. Trust Fund dollars, which come from revenues of oil and gas development, are disbursed to land conservation projects around the state.
      "The dance began and because we had acquired these other upstream pieces: the conservancy had one, and we got one from Eagle-Picher and then the Broad piece," Harsch said. "We were able to deed those to the conservancy and that gave us matching money to go after an acquisition grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for more."
      A wrinkle ensued because the Natural Resources Trust Fund does not usually consider land with buildings. So the YMCA parcel was divided into three pieces: the first was nearly 32 acres of undeveloped land, the second was the building and the third had the tennis courts.
      Trust fund money was approved to allow the township to purchase the undeveloped parcel. Conservancy and township officials were determined to include the other two pieces in the reserve.
      "Lo and behold, along came the angels of the Oleson family," said Matt McDonough, land protection specialist with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
      In 2003 the Oleson family purchased the seven-acre YMCA building site and donated it to the township in the summer of 2004. Terms allow the YMCA to remain open as needed while they fund and build their new location.
      The township purchased the approximately five-acre tennis court piece, bringing together all the components of what is now the Garfield Township Nature Education Reserve.
      At closing on all the pieces this fall, everyone was happy with the result.
      "This provides such a great link, a great linear trail all along the lower Boardman and the Sabin Pond," said McDonough. "It allows people to park and walk for three and a half miles."
      McDonough, who has been with the conservancy for five years, credits Garfield Township officials including Harsch and supervisor Lee Wilson, with the vision and perseverance to make this happen.
      "Without the township's leadership, this wouldn't have come together," he noted.
      Wally Chappel will administer the Garfield Township Nature Education Reserve. The parkland coordinator for the Grand Traverse County Conservation District, Chappel is thrilled with the new reserve, which he terms both a recreational corridor and a wildlife corridor.
      "I will be putting together a management plan for them," said Chappel of the reserve. "What I'm going to do next is form another advisory committee because I want input from user groups and people who use the trails already. That will help determine how the trails should be installed and where and what types."