Jul 16 2008
Deal Forming to Save Section of Lake Lansing Park North
For years, a portion of the trail system at Ingham County’s Lake Lansing Park North crossed land owned by a private development company. The company was and is gracious in allowing residents to use the property.
Recently, concern developed that the company might develop the land. So, residents raised an impressive sum. The total was so impressive that now a deal appears to be forming to purchase the entire parcel.
WLNS TV excerpts and link:
Curt Munson, trail user: “In my mind it is the nicest piece of natural park land in all of the greater Lansing area, and it is just unbelievable.”
The land is so important to residents in the area that township board members decided to help buy it. They voted to pitch in $675,000. That money will come from a fund designed for situation just like this.
Mary Helmbrecht, Township Clerk: “We can’t fool around with this, this is one we need to preserve, so we just kind of went all out and said let’s go for it.”
And Ingham County is going for it too. The county will apply for a grant that could supply most of the money the services committee voted to supply $25,000 of it’s own money, even during very tight budget times.
Deb Nolan, County Commissioner: “It’s a win win for everyone, when in the worst of economic times, we can be purchasing a wonderful 120 acres that we will enjoy forever.”
It’s not a done deal yet. Next Tuesday the full board of commissioners will vote on the county’s portion of the funding. The grant application is due August 1st, and then it’s a waiting game to see if that grant is awarded.