Jean Klock Park facts for kids
Jean Klock Park is an old park in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It sits right next to Lake Michigan. In 1917, a kind couple named John and Carrie Klock bought this land. They gave it to the city of Benton Harbor. They named the park after their young daughter, Jean, who had passed away. The Klocks wanted the land to always be a public beach and park for everyone. John Klock even said it was "the children's" park.
He told everyone at the park's opening, "This is your park, it belongs to you." He also said, "The roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is your music." He wanted everyone to know the park was for them. Today, part of the park has become a golf course. It's called The Golf Club at Harbor Shores. Playing golf there usually costs $150. But people who live in Benton Harbor or Berrien County can play for about $40.
Park History and Growth
Jean Klock Park is one of the oldest public parks in Michigan. It was created even before Michigan had its official state parks in the 1920s. In 1952, the city of Benton Harbor bought more land next to the park. This added about 300 feet (91 meters) of beach shoreline. John Klock had wanted to buy this land himself. But he passed away in 1938, and then World War II happened. So, the city bought it later to make the park bigger.
In 1990, the city made a plan for Jean Klock Park. This plan said that the sand dunes and wet areas in the park were very important. It said they needed protection from too much human activity. The plan stressed that these natural areas were extremely valuable.
Park Use: Golf Course Debate
The idea of building a golf course in Jean Klock Park has caused a lot of discussion. Some people believe the golf course has harmed the park's natural beauty. They say it has damaged the important natural areas.
On the other side, some people support the golf course. They see it as part of a bigger plan to improve the Benton Harbor area. This plan includes new homes and an 18-hole golf course designed by famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. They believe it will bring good changes to the community.
For many years, Jean Klock Park was seen as a place that could not be used for businesses. In 1986, the city tried to include part of the park in a business development area. But people in the city were very upset. They felt the city was ignoring the Klock family's original wishes for the park. The Michigan Attorney General then said that the park land could not be used this way.
In 2003, the city said it would sell a part of the park. This was because the city was having money problems. A company wanted to build homes there. But the people of Benton Harbor sued the city. They said selling the land went against the park's original deed. The lawsuit ended with an agreement. The city could sell a small part of the park. But it was agreed that the rest of the park would always be used for public purposes. This meant no RV parks or other private uses.
In 2005, the city and a group called Harbor Shores announced a new plan. They wanted to use 22 acres of the park for three holes of the new golf course. The city would rent this land to Harbor Shores for a very long time, up to 105 years.
Legal Challenges to the Golf Course
In 2008, some people who were part of the 2003 lawsuit filed another one. They argued that a private golf course went against the earlier agreement. They said the park should only be used for quiet activities, as it had been since 1917. Harbor Shores and the city argued that golf courses are a type of park use. A judge agreed, saying a golf course is a "park purpose." The judge also said that if the city could use the land for a golf course, it could also rent it to someone else to do the same.
The people who filed the lawsuit appealed this decision. But the Appeals Court said the lower court's ruling was correct. They then asked the Michigan Supreme Court to hear their case. But the Supreme Court chose not to.
Even after this, other people filed a federal lawsuit. They sued the City of Benton Harbor and several U.S. government groups. Building the golf course needed special permits. This was because the golf course was being built near important wetlands, rivers, and Lake Michigan. These are all protected waters in the United States.
In 2012, a federal court looked at an appeal from citizens trying to stop the project. The court found that most of their arguments were worth discussing.
