celery pond

In reviewing information from the Parks Commission involvement with the Dunkley project, it seems that they were re-writing their mission statement in late 2004 and into 2005. At first, their mission statement with dual purpose was not accepted by Council. Rejected was their statement:”The Parks Commission creates, develops and preserves the Parks and open spaces providing safe, diverse recreational experiences that enhance the quality of life in the community today and for future generations. The Parks Commission oversees the caretaking and expansion of Lakeview Cemetery.”

After this, George Saas, hired by the City to help numerous commissions to create such a statement, came to the Parks Commission to assist their rewrite. In the midst of these discussions, came the important February 8, 2005 Parks Commission Regular Meeting, where an article from the Tribune regarding the Black River development area, was on the agenda.

Robin Abshire stated that she had asked the City Council to do a ten year study on the Harbor. The Parks Commissioners stated that they too felt a ten year study on the parks should be done in connection with development. They held to they position that public lands should stay in public hands in connection with the Black River riverfront properties owned by the City, ie. the People.

The Parks Commission even made a motion, and carried it, to request the City Council approve the Parks Commission to conduct a ten year study in conjunction with the propsed Harbor Commission study for a recreational land use plan for the community of South Haven. (from Minutes).

The Parks Commission, like all commissions in the City, stand in advisory roles in relation to Council. To be recognized by the Council and the community at large, is a real “weakness” for the commission, as George Saas identified in his analysis, yet with all the development and the lack of awareness by the community of the “real costs” of development, the Parks Commission is vital to keep the information channels open, beyond a Council that consistently votes for development.

The revised mission statement which resulted from this sequence of events was this: “The Parks Commission has a dual mission. It identifies, develops and preserves the parks system and open spaces, providing safe, diverse recreational experiences that enhance the quality of life in the community today, and for future generations; and it oversees the caretaking and expansion needs of Lakeview Cemetery.” Noticeably absent from their original mission statement was the word “creates” Parks (see first paragraph of this post).

At the next Council meeting the request for a ten year study in conjunction with the Harbor Commission to explore recreational land use and a plan for the community, went into a vote. After much discussion it was evident that there was a lack of support so no further steps could be taken.

The Parks Commission has meticulously researched and discussed the 2004 Municipal Plan, identifying many sections as important to their task. Chapter 4 (introduction, page 57, Natural Resource Trends and Conditions), p. 66 (Wetlands), p.70 (Floodplains), p.92 (Small Town Character), p.96, Quality of Life,p.135 (Area 16, Policy 27), p.136 (policy 29). Key points in Chapter Seven Future Land Use are p. 140-41 (Planning and Design Principles), p. 141 (Protection of Public Health and Safety), (Conservationtion of Sensitive Natural Resources), p. 147 (Conservation Areas), p.148 (Waterfront and Related Commercial/Recreation), p. 153 (Planning Area 4 and Area 5).

As an reviewer of this recall of events, I would add that a major study on the benefits of ecotourism needs to be done by the Commission and the City. This information would clearly stand on its own, with huge sums of monies shown to be made from it in relation to the persistent tax dollar benefit given by those who want more density of development by residential and commercial efforts. I refer you to the blog entry on August 21, where the EPA figure states that ecotourism generates $59 billion a year. I would also like to ask that if the Parks Commission cannot “create” Parks as their amended Mission Statement said, who does create them or even have the possibility of doing so. I welcome comments and answers.

The group of CPA members who met last night under the pavilion at Stanley Johnston Park came up with more ideas to promote public awareness. We also decided that the next CPA meeting, scheduled for Monday, September 11th at 6:00pm, will be conducted indoors in the Public Library. We think this central location and the indoor facility will bring in more interested citizens.

Another public walk is being scheduled for Sunday, September 17th at 4pm. The whole community will be encouraged to come, meeting at Black River Park and the Public Boat Launch off of Dunkley Avenue. Everyone in town should know about it, so spread the word to your friends, families, and even second home residents who occupy 53% of the population/tax-payers according to one CPA member. The CPA members are organizing their talents and efforts to promote this Second Community Walk of public lands, so stay tuned.

The CPA feels that the public lands should remain in public hands. The public land includes the parcel of the Celery Pond which the City owns, along with the 14 acres of land bordered by Dunkley Avenue and Black River. As the Council approved a design plan made by Abonmarche, this concept, once applied will gradually seek to sell parcels of these public lands to outside bidders, ie.residential and commerical developers.

Come and see the waterfront property that you presently own. Walk with us, and come and talk with us to re-evaluate this decision. As a taxpayer, everyone has part ownership of this valuable property, and any potential sale of this requires many sessions of thoughtful and informed discussion, with the possible re-assessment of what has been approved as a concept for operation.

The CPA group also discussed the non-profit application of the 501 C-3 and, another alternative to investigate, the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The CPA considered the draft of a mission statement which will appear in a later posting. Along with the public lands issue, the CPA wants to secure Celery Pond lands, with the hope of turning it into a nature sanctuary so many generations of citizens and visitors can appreciate this ecosystem. The eco-tourism is a booming business and this wetland, could be part of that phenomena.

And in reviewing the outcome of last Monday’s Council approval of the Abonmarche conceptual design, and the City Manager’s outline of future steps, the blog author gave a report of a meeting which she had last week with the environmental lawyer who the CPA has hired. Options and strategies were discussed. If you want to know more details and get involved at this grass roots level, please attend the next meeting. We will also be glad to accept any donations that you care to make to cover on-going expenses. More information on a PO Box address will be given, as soon as paperwork is approved.

So please make your calendars: CPA Meeting on September 11th, 6:00pm, Public Library, and the Second Community Walk, September 17th, 4pm meeting at Black River Park/Public Boat Launch on Dunkley Avenue (north).

A reminder to all readers that tonight there will be another CPA meeting at 6:30pm in Stanley Johnston Park, gathering at the hilltop pavilion. Please join us.

We will be looking at the many courses of action that the CPA can consider since the Council’s recent approval of the design created for the City by the Abonmarche Group. Approval of this plan means that certain parcels of public land adjacent to Black River Park will gradually be bid on and sold to potential residential and commercial developers. The marina/channel cut development in Celery Pond could also be resubmitted as an idea. It is believed that this plan will be a ten year project.

And for those readers that haven’t seen the map of the Watershed, and the importance of South Haven in relation to it, the aerial picture below will give some idea. All the 287 miles of the Watershed flow out through our Black River channel between the two piers.

Celery Pond, pictured in the lower left of the picture, is literally the last wetland on this passage. It means that the Black River Park and city lands also meet this grand finale of the River’s meandering course. Let’s look at ways we can preserve this. (The Park, the boat loading area and public lands are the triangle on the right, with the River bending around it. Dunkley Aveune is the long strip of road on the left that runs by these public held lands.)

The signage of benefactors in Reed City’s Rambadt Park is as environmentally harmonious as are the stone-lined pathways and wetland walkways. In spending a good 2 hours walking around the park, probably even more acreage than the public lands owned by the City in the area of Black River and Celery Pond, the deep sense of beauty and appreciation for the community service and honoring its citizens was tangible. It was tranquil but also very moving. More pictures tell the story of the possibilites of public spaces, which don’t have to use heavy structures or increase density.

A reminder: The next Celery Pond Advocates Meeting is Tuesday, August 29, 6:30pm, Stanley Johnston Park. Meet us at the covered pavilion to discuss the implications of Council’s Monday night meeting and our next steps.

Today we continue a tour around Reed City’s Rambadt Park, which as noted in yesterday’s post, has trees, benches, gardens, trellises, and swings given by individuals and groups to honor members of the greater community. On the left is the garden which the Telephone Company created in memory of their loyal employers and their service.

This swing-trellis sits on the riverbank, given by a family in memory of a loved one.

The simple hand-crafted benches sit near the water or under the shade of trees, giving more time for contemplating life. What a perfect way to relax and also think about what we can give back to others, back to nature. How do we improve the quality of life for the greater whole?

Reminder: Celery Pond Advocates will be meeting at 6:30pm, on Tuesday night, August 29th, in the covered pavilion of Stanley Johnston Park. Please join us as we review the Council meeting from last Monday. Also come with ideas to determine our next steps of action.

Coming back from a visit up north, I stopped Reed City’s Rambadt Park, which includes a wetland connected to a twisting river. The park covers many acres of land. A unique footbridge, called “Little Mac,” takes the visitor from the land, across the water and into the wetland boardwalks.

The park demonstrates how a community got involved in the setting up a park. Given in recognition of Maynard Rambadt for his 19 years of service to the city, much of the landscape and gardens are dedicated to honor him and other community groups.

Today the post comes from Sleeping Bear Dunes. A kindred spirit, the late Pierce Stocking had an idea of preservation which he saw come to fulfilment. He not only had the vision to protect and preserve a most beautiful landscape, he was able to eventually turn the property into a national park.

The following text was taken from signage in the Park, right before entering the lovely Cottonwood Trail that meanders through the dunes and its delicate typography. The markers remind the viewer that the glaciers sculpted each pond, each bluff and each dune. Lake Michigan, it is noted, finally assumed its current shoreline approximately 2,000 years ago.

“Pierce Stocking, a native of northern lower Michigan, worked as a lumberman and spent much of his leisure time in the woods. He wanted to share his love of nature with others and conceived of an idea of constructing a scenic drive onto the Sleeping Bear Dunes. He envisoned people of all ages and degress of physical fitness experiencing the sand dunes and bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. At the same time, he hoped to protect the fragile dunes and woods from excessive human use…..In 1967, Pierce Stocking fulfilled his dream with the opening of the scenic drive to the public. The drive was operated privately until 1977 when it became part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.”

Pierce Stocking would undoubtedly be a Celery Pond Advocate, hoping to preserve the wetlands and adjacent floodplain lands. You can imagine that he surely would want this property to stay in public hands for all to enjoy into the future. Do you really think he would have ever accepted and approved such a conceptual plan as what Abonmarche designed, and which the Council approved? Stocking’s vision became a manifestation which millions of people have enjoyed from memories of yesterday, today and far into the future. I’m sure Pierce Stocking would have suggested that the public themselves vote on the usuage of the land.

Last night was a glorious evening to walk around Black River Park with Sharon Mack, new director at the South Haven Center for the Arts. I wanted to introduce her to the small riverside park which is next to the 14 acres of public land surrounding it. (This area was subject of discussion in Monday night’s Council meeting under the agenda item of “Dunkley Avenue Redevelopment Plan,” which is shown on the City’s cable station for those interested.) Sharon started at the Art Center in June, and being new to the area, didn’t know about this part of the city. On behalf of the Celery Pond Advocates group, I welcomed her.

I shared with her the vision of the Celery Pond Community Park, an alternative idea presented to the Council as to possible use of these public lands. I reminded her of the recent Council vote that had accepted and approved a conceptual design plan given by Abonmarche. (This will involve a gradual selling of the public lands for potential future residential and commercial use.)

Since Sharon had come from Grand Rapids, she mentioned GR’s notable Meijer Gardens which has become a destination spot. Meijer Gardens has spectacular botanical gardens as well as exciting sculpture in outdoor areas, a generous gift from Frederik Meijer (www.meijergarden.org). Both of us could see sculpture and landscape design, such as a labyrinth, as being part of South Haven’s CPCP dream park. We also began to see how it might be linked with an educational/art center showing more information on the size and importance of the Watershed.**

(I mentioned the amendment for the Linear Park which had been accepted and approved by Council on Monday night. Her input, and mine, coming from pooled ideas of the CPA, can be shared with the Parks Commissioners as they move ahead. Suzie Fitzgibbon or any of the Parks people would welcome more ideas. The City website will direct you to their email addresses.)

Our walk was much the same as the Community walk that took place last Tuesday evening. Forty one people had gathered together to make the Celery Pond Avocates’ second meeting a wonderful event.
(See the blog post for August 16, 2006.)

(Heading straight north on Dunkley Avenue from the bridge, we entered Black River Park and went towards the river bend. By then following the sidewalk as it turns east, we came to the city-owned ditch, the spot of the proposed channel cut, if ever a channel cut/marina might be approved by the MDEQ. From there, we headed for the Celery Pond, catching the road of Dunkley-Wells, the long-time emergency access road that connects the police-fire to the bridge and north side of town. This road will be redirected, and possibly will be dead-ended, if a marina/channel is ever approved.)

Because Sharon is so new to town, she didn’t know about Celery Pond, the last Black River wetland in the Watershed before it reaches Lake Michigan. Curious as to how Celery Pond gots its name, I told her how celery had been grown here about 100 years ago. As Sharon is a walker, like many of the locals and people who come to the area, she was very happy to discover the possibility of a new walk.

We even took a slight detour into the beautiful Lakeview Cemetery. The tall pines which were once planted on the sandy bluff of this property, are now very old. They give wonderful shelter, along with filtered light, to all the carved headstones and occupants resting there. Taking pictures of the various headstones (which date back to residents who were born in the 1880s), gave me more material which I hope to post over the weekend. The names are like a roll-call list of the community’s founding families.

Continuing back on Bailey Avenue going towards Conger, we spotted a tiny 3-inch baby turtle on the road. He looked so cute but dusty, like an ancient artifact from Celery Pond, yet very much alive. The walk continued by turning right on Conger, until Hubbard Street, where we took another left. I wanted to show her the lovely bridge over the ravine, close to where I’d grown up. (I’m giving all this detail in the hopes that it will inspire you to talk a walk around this area. It’s particularly lovely in the early evening.)

Later, when home, I checked my email box and found a message from a dear friend in New York, where I live during the rest of the year. It was a quote from the late Margaret Mead:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

The citizens group of Celery Pond Advocates is hoping to preserve the wetland and surrounding areas through a non-profit effort. We are having another meeting next week. If you want to learn more, come to the meeting of the Celery Pond Advocate which will be held in Stanley Johnston Park, Tuesday, August 29th at 6:30pm, (gathering in the area of the covered pavilion). Please mark your calendars.

(And, when you have a chance, take your walking shoes and head out to the route described above. From the dead-end part of Hubbard Street, you can cross Phoenix road, following Hubbard again, towards Hartman School, which is now home of South Haven’s Historical Society. Hartman is near and dear to many natives of SH, as we attended classes there and still love the building. It holds memories of our first taste of community.)

**To see the photo image of Black River’s Watershed, please email the blog at celerypond@lykos.com It is stored in a pdf folder and can be sent to you. The map comes from the office of the Black River Watershed Project and I recommend checking out their website for more details. I plan to invite Erin Fuller, Project Coordinator to Tuesday’s meeting.

In a moment of insight, the blog author realized that the Nile River was called the “black river” because of the soil deposits that it annually left on the perimeter of its riverbed, an overflow of the flood plain. This deposit was the soil used for the rich farming of the Egyptians, called alchemy. No condos adorned their shorelines, just simple living with farming, trees and large temples, often on the river banks. All deified this flow of river magic, along with other ideas. Strange habits to us, the Egyptians wrapped their dead in long strips of material, mummifying them and placing them in tombs, also near the waterways. Not unlike our Lakeview Cemetery above the Black River floodplain below, the area of the Dunkley plan.

South Haven now needs another type of alchemy. Understanding what acceptance of the plan means, is number one.

Many people came to speak before this vote, addressing both sides of the issue. The Parks Commission was represented by Jim Olgard, Suzie Fitzgibbon, and Sandi Fenske. Both Barney Pero and Steve Schlack were present as well. Along with some of the Celery Pond Advocates who came to the podium, Carol Niffenegger, blog author and acting in behalf of the group Celery Pond Advocates asked a question that seemed to need clarification. “Is this plan a revision to the master plan, or if not, what is it?” If, for instance, it were part of the Master Plan, it would have to go before the planning commission for approvals.

The City Manager clarified that it was more of a blueprint, “a concept, a working plan for the next 10 years” that would need much more coordination, with the many facets of City approvals which will need to be coordinated in order for any implementations to happen. “Nothing is cast in stone,” Councilman Dave Paull also added.

Also of concern for the CPA members are the environmental impacts of developing this city owned property and Celery Pond which could be significant. “Failure to examine these important impacts is a significat deficiency in Abonmarche’s plan and to any approvals. Failures to consider these impacts is not only a bad idea, but may also violate the Michigan Environmental Protection Act,” stated Niffenegger.

In concluding, “the CPA recommended and requested the City to table any decisions on the proposed uses of the valuable city owned property until both an alternative park plan can be presented and until a thorough review of the environmental impacts of development can be completed.” Saying that the CPA was not in agreement with the Abonmarche plan, it was given that the group “is examining all avenues to challenge the development plan if approved, because we, as a citizens’ group, think it doesn’t address many critical concerns and is not the best use of public property.”

We can all be happy that, at least at this level of conceptual approvals, that the riverfront will be preserved as linear park space.

The next CPA meeting will be held at 6:30pm, August 29th in Stanley Johnson Park, on the crest of the hill under the covered picnic area. If you’re new to the group, please come and bring pens and paper in hand, and anything else that can add to the discussion and review of this meeting.

“The Author of the Greater Master Plan can only create such beauty as a sunset, a tree or a great river with its wetlands and flood plains for absorbing natural overflow. Recall that we are stewards of this planet, here to honor its beauty and preserve it. Remember that we must heal what we have harmed. The biggest benefactor to this higher commission, is man himself.”

Carol Niffenegger, August 22, 2006, from Cafe Julia’s in South Haven