celery pond

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.