1973 07-27-1973 Kalamazoo Gazette article, "Planners discuss future of Asylum Lake area" 1990 04- -1990 Hammer, Siler, George Associates publish report, "Market Analysis and Development Concept WMU Research and Business Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan" and "Administrative and Financing Issues WMU Research and Business Park" 06-18-1990 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "Legislature dedicated WMU land for open space uses" from Mark A. Hoffman 1991 01-22-1991 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "WMU 'park' not best for city" from Dr. Montford F. Piercey 02-04-1991 "Report to the Faculty Senate Executive Board on the Proposed Research and Business Park" completed by University Park Study Committee 04-26-1991 WMU Board of Trustees vote 6-1 in favor of developing a master plan for a research and business park 01- -1992 "Western Michigan University Research and Business Park Composite Site Analysis Interim Report" completed by O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates, Inc. and Larry L. Harris, ASLA 04-12-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that WMU officials believe Asylum Lake Preservation Association (ALPA) call to referendum would be a bad idea 04-27-1992 ALPA presents their plan for the park and call for neighborhood referendum to the Kalamazoo City Commission; rejected by 5-0 06-21-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that two of the three preliminary research and business park design plans require development of the Asylum Lake parcel; WMU officials state that the topography caused the change from their original plan 07-29-1992 WMU presents research and business park design plan to public forum at Fetzer Center 09-24-1992 The plan receives endorsement from the Technical Committee of the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS) group 09-30-1992 KATS Policy Committee expresses support for the project 11-23-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the Colony Farm Orchard is scheduled for initial phase development 1993 01-09-1993 WMU officials announce the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) will assume responsibility for the Asylum Lake property, and will be an industrial park tenant 01-21-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the MDNR is considering relocation their Plainwell district office 02-09-1993 State Representative Dale Shugars (R-Portage) introduces the legislation in the House that adds a research and business park to the permitted uses of the Colony Farm Orchard property 02-10-1993 Western Herald, "Friction between WMU, SSE hindering academic progress opinion article by Dok Tael Stevens describing threats of budget cuts for Students for a Sustainable Earth and the Environmental Science program if SSE opposes the research and business park according to SSE president Eric Adler and SSE member Mark Lee 02-11-1993 At the House Committee on Economic Development meeting in Lansing, MI, the City of Kalamazoo's deputy city manager Marc Ott endorsed the research and business park 02-12-1993 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research-business park bill deserves passage" 02-16-1993 Western Herald, opinion column, "Concern for environment often little more than PR" by Dok Tael Stevens pointed out how WMU was claiming to be environmentally conscious when actually the responsible thing to do would be to build their industrial park somewhere else 02-18-1993 Letters to the Editor, The Western Herald, from WMU president Diether Haenicke, disavowing any threats or intimidation to the environmental sciences department or SSE Also, Letters to the Editor, The Western Herald, from WMU professor David Hargreave, stating the allegations are untrue but distancing the environmental sciences department from SSE and condemning professor Roger Ulrich (SSE's new academic sponsor) 02-19-1993 Western Herald Editor-in-Chief Cameron Tinsler instructs opinion columnist Dok Tael Stevens to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park 02-21-1993 Western Herald Editor-in-Chief Cameron Tinsler provides Dok Tael Stevens with a letter instructing her to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park. 02-22-1993 Kalamazoo City Comission states that deputy city manager Marc Ott's endorsement of the research and business park at the House Committee meeting reflects the City Commission's support of the concept of a research and business park in general (not necessarily at Asylum Lake) Also, Letter to the Editor, The Western Herald, "Sometimes healing requires painful procedures" by WMU Research Professor Roger Ulrich, adviser to SSE, supporting the quotes in the 02-10-1993 Western Herald articles 02-23-1993 Letters to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Alternative to WMU research park" from Mark Hoffman, and "Gazette not listening" from Julius Schaefer 02-25-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research park outdated" from Mark Powers 03-01-1993 Letters to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Gazette biased on 'park'" from Eli Segal 03-02-1993 The House approves Shugars' bill on the research and business park if manufacturing is banned 03-03-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Disagrees with editorial" from Stephen Keto concerning the 02-12-1993 editorial identifying Mark Hoffman and ALPA as "an uncompromising blockade to the best intersts of West Michigan." 03-05-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Relocating WMU's park" from Brian T. Moore 03-15-1993 Final summary report released entitled, "A Concept for a Research and Business Park: Kalamazoo, Michigan" by William J. Johnson Associates Inc., O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates Inc. and Larry L. Harris Also, Kalamazoo City Commission supports decision to send assistant and Commissioner Curtis Haan to the Senate Committe meeting and WMU Board of Trustees meeting with a message of research and business park concept support Also, ALPA submitts their letter to the WMU Board of Trustees asking that they recognize the truth about the park's potential success and focus instead on revitalizing Kalamazoo's north side 03-19-1993 WMU Board of Trustees unanimously approve final summary report at their meeting held in Detroit, MI, insisting the location of their meeting didn't influence the presence of opposition 03-22-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Questions wisdom of 'park'" from Ellen Sofio and "Look me in the eye" from T.J. Roellchen 03-23-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research park a detriment" from Olive Apter Also, Kalamazoo Gazette prints "Local units to have input on WMU park proposal" Also, Western Herald, "R&B park fight not over, protest planned" describes a student protest scheduled for 03-25-1993 because WMU president Diether Haenicke stated at the WMU Board of Trustees meeting that students and citizens were not in opposition to the park 03-24-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette prints, "Oshtemo attorney: WMU park ruled exempt" Also, Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Close checkbooks to WMU" from Ralph Shaoub, citing the university's "cavalier attitude" toward public opposition to the research and business park 03-25-1993 WMU student protect organized on short notice in front of Seibert Administration Building, noon until 4:00 pm, by Dok Tael Stevens; gained 636 petition signatures and 35-40 students participating Also, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Student says business park columns censored" describes how Dok Tael Stevens was instructed to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park and Cameron Tinsler insisted he was trying to provide variety in the newspaper and wasn't influenced by a telephone call from university president Diether Haenicke about Stevens' columns 03-27-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette printed, "WMU park will need rezoning for private tenants" reports that WMU Assistant Vice President for Regional Education and Economic Development James Visser insists that the first 15 acres of and developed in Phase I is exempt from zoning 03-29-1993 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting; addition to concept support statement to the WMU Board of Trustees and state legislature to include local zoning ordinance requirement of the project site and requiring submittal of a master plan prior to construction Also, Western Herald, "R&B park opponents march for cause" describes protest organized by Dok Tael Stevens 04-22-1993 Opposition voiced at the state senate committee meeting by members of ALPA and SSE including Patricia Klein; Dok Tael Stevens; Renay and Montford Piercey, Mark Hoffman, and Harriett Waskowsky. Stevens gave the senators advance copies of the book, Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake 04-25-1993 Dok Tael Stevens releases the book, Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake at the Earth Day celebration in downtown Kalamazoo; she sells about 50 copies Also, ALPA's Earth Day table gathers another 300 signatures on the petition against the research and business park 04-26-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette, "Welborns rip WMU park plan" describes Barbara Welborn's assertion to lawmakers that her late father Representative Robert Welborn would be "astonished and disgusted" by WMU's proposed industrial park. 05-05-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette, "New book is another chapter for local lake;" details the release of Haven: A Treatise on Aslyum Lake; available at Bookbinders, Eighth Day Bookstore, Petals and Postings, Michigan News Agency and People's Food Co-Op 05-09-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette front page, "WMU halts park plan: project 'suspended' for now" describes WMU officials' citing a "climate of resistance and hostility" toward the planned industrial park 05-10-1993 Western Herald, "Decision to postpone park plan recieves mixed reviews" 05-17-1993 Viewpoint, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Caring workers turn tragedy into victory" by John VanderPloeg, citing how many jobs have been lost in Kalamazoo Fall 1993 Dok Tael Stevens releases "A Concept Plan to Recycle Contaminated 1999 1999 $1.5 million Asylum Lake endowed fund established and held by the Kalamazoo Coummunity Foundation. Contributions are welcome and are eligible for federal and state tax deductions. 1999 Kalamazoo Nature Center Study performed at Asylum Lake. 2004 04-16-2004 WMU's Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council was created by the Declaration of Conservation Restrictions, adopted by WMU's Board of Trustees. Minutes at www.wmich.edu/asylumlake.index.html. 10-??-2004 WMU's Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council started meeting with three Conservation Purposes: (1) to promote ecosystem integrity and natural aesthetics (2) to ensure passive recreation (3) to support research and education The council is comprised of 14 voting members representing environmental, academic and community interests; 8 from WMU departments; 6 from neighborhood and environmental groups. They meet the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Parkview Hills Clubhouse. 2007 March 2007 On behalf of the Policy and Management Council, Mark Hoffman (ALPA) and Cari DeLong (WMU) gave a tour of the Asylum Lake Preserve to members of the Midwest Land Trust Alliance during a conference. Experts from the organization shared numerous recommendations on how to preserve the woodlands, prairie and oak woodlands from invasive species. March 2007 Policy & Management Council approves a spring burn of 3.7 acres on the north side of the old State Hospital dirt road, known as "Cherry Lane," and 17.5 acres between Cherry Lane and Parkview Avenue. The burn is authorized to control invasive species in the southwest part of the preserve (the prairie). This timeline is still being updated. More information to be posted soon! |
Timeline of Events RELATED TO THE WMU INDUSTRIAL PARK |
Asylum Lake History Kalamazoo County, MI |
1973 07-27-1973 Kalamazoo Gazette article, "Planners discuss future of Asylum Lake area" 1990 04- -1990 Hammer, Siler, George Associates publish report, "Market Analysis and Development Concept WMU Research and Business Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan" and "Administrative and Financing Issues WMU Research and Business Park" 06-18-1990 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "Legislature dedicated WMU land for open space uses" from Mark A. Hoffman 1991 01-22-1991 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "WMU 'park' not best for city" from Dr. Montford F. Piercey 02-04-1991 "Report to the Faculty Senate Executive Board on the Proposed Research and Business Park" completed by University Park Study Committee 04-26-1991 WMU Board of Trustees vote 6-1 in favor of developing a master plan for a research and business park 01- -1992 "Western Michigan University Research and Business Park Composite Site Analysis Interim Report" completed by O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates, Inc. and Larry L. Harris, ASLA 04-12-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that WMU officials believe Asylum Lake Preservation Association (ALPA) call to referendum would be a bad idea 04-27-1992 ALPA presents their plan for the park and call for neighborhood referendum to the Kalamazoo City Commission; rejected by 5-0 06-21-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that two of the three preliminary research and business park design plans require development of the Asylum Lake parcel; WMU officials state that the topography caused the change from their original plan 07-29-1992 WMU presents research and business park design plan to public forum at Fetzer Center 09-24-1992 The plan receives endorsement from the Technical Committee of the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study (KATS) group 09-30-1992 KATS Policy Committee expresses support for the project 11-23-1992 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the Colony Farm Orchard is scheduled for initial phase development 1993 01-09-1993 WMU officials announce the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) will assume responsibility for the Asylum Lake property, and will be an industrial park tenant 01-21-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the MDNR is considering relocation their Plainwell district office 02-09-1993 State Representative Dale Shugars (R-Portage) introduces the legislation in the House that adds a research and business park to the permitted uses of the Colony Farm Orchard property 02-10-1993 Western Herald, "Friction between WMU, SSE hindering academic progress opinion article by Dok Tael Stevens describing threats of budget cuts for Students for a Sustainable Earth and the Environmental Science program if SSE opposes the research and business park according to SSE president Eric Adler and SSE member Mark Lee 02-11-1993 At the House Committee on Economic Development meeting in Lansing, MI, the City of Kalamazoo's deputy city manager Marc Ott endorsed the research and business park 02-12-1993 Viewpoint printed in Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research-business park bill deserves passage" 02-16-1993 Western Herald, opinion column, "Concern for environment often little more than PR" by Dok Tael Stevens pointed out how WMU was claiming to be environmentally conscious when actually the responsible thing to do would be to build their industrial park somewhere else 02-18-1993 Letters to the Editor, The Western Herald, from WMU president Diether Haenicke, disavowing any threats or intimidation to the environmental sciences department or SSE Also, Letters to the Editor, The Western Herald, from WMU professor David Hargreave, stating the allegations are untrue but distancing the environmental sciences department from SSE and condemning professor Roger Ulrich (SSE's new academic sponsor) 02-19-1993 Western Herald Editor-in-Chief Cameron Tinsler instructs opinion columnist Dok Tael Stevens to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park 02-21-1993 Western Herald Editor-in-Chief Cameron Tinsler provides Dok Tael Stevens with a letter instructing her to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park. 02-22-1993 Kalamazoo City Comission states that deputy city manager Marc Ott's endorsement of the research and business park at the House Committee meeting reflects the City Commission's support of the concept of a research and business park in general (not necessarily at Asylum Lake) Also, Letter to the Editor, The Western Herald, "Sometimes healing requires painful procedures" by WMU Research Professor Roger Ulrich, adviser to SSE, supporting the quotes in the 02-10-1993 Western Herald articles 02-23-1993 Letters to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Alternative to WMU research park" from Mark Hoffman, and "Gazette not listening" from Julius Schaefer 02-25-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research park outdated" from Mark Powers 03-01-1993 Letters to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Gazette biased on 'park'" from Eli Segal 03-02-1993 The House approves Shugars' bill on the research and business park if manufacturing is banned 03-03-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Disagrees with editorial" from Stephen Keto concerning the 02-12-1993 editorial identifying Mark Hoffman and ALPA as "an uncompromising blockade to the best intersts of West Michigan." 03-05-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Relocating WMU's park" from Brian T. Moore 03-15-1993 Final summary report released entitled, "A Concept for a Research and Business Park: Kalamazoo, Michigan" by William J. Johnson Associates Inc., O'Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates Inc. and Larry L. Harris Also, Kalamazoo City Commission supports decision to send assistant and Commissioner Curtis Haan to the Senate Committe meeting and WMU Board of Trustees meeting with a message of research and business park concept support Also, ALPA submitts their letter to the WMU Board of Trustees asking that they recognize the truth about the park's potential success and focus instead on revitalizing Kalamazoo's north side 03-19-1993 WMU Board of Trustees unanimously approve final summary report at their meeting held in Detroit, MI, insisting the location of their meeting didn't influence the presence of opposition 03-22-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Questions wisdom of 'park'" from Ellen Sofio and "Look me in the eye" from T.J. Roellchen 03-23-1993 Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Research park a detriment" from Olive Apter Also, Kalamazoo Gazette prints "Local units to have input on WMU park proposal" Also, Western Herald, "R&B park fight not over, protest planned" describes a student protest scheduled for 03-25-1993 because WMU president Diether Haenicke stated at the WMU Board of Trustees meeting that students and citizens were not in opposition to the park 03-24-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette prints, "Oshtemo attorney: WMU park ruled exempt" Also, Letter to the Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Close checkbooks to WMU" from Ralph Shaoub, citing the university's "cavalier attitude" toward public opposition to the research and business park 03-25-1993 WMU student protect organized on short notice in front of Seibert Administration Building, noon until 4:00 pm, by Dok Tael Stevens; gained 636 petition signatures and 35-40 students participating Also, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Student says business park columns censored" describes how Dok Tael Stevens was instructed to stop writing about the Asylum Lake industrial park and Cameron Tinsler insisted he was trying to provide variety in the newspaper and wasn't influenced by a telephone call from university president Diether Haenicke about Stevens' columns 03-27-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette printed, "WMU park will need rezoning for private tenants" reports that WMU Assistant Vice President for Regional Education and Economic Development James Visser insists that the first 15 acres of and developed in Phase I is exempt from zoning 03-29-1993 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting; addition to concept support statement to the WMU Board of Trustees and state legislature to include local zoning ordinance requirement of the project site and requiring submittal of a master plan prior to construction Also, Western Herald, "R&B park opponents march for cause" describes protest organized by Dok Tael Stevens 04-22-1993 Opposition voiced at the state senate committee meeting by members of ALPA and SSE including Patricia Klein; Dok Tael Stevens; Renay and Montford Piercey, Mark Hoffman, and Harriett Waskowsky. Stevens gave the senators advance copies of the book, Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake 04-25-1993 Dok Tael Stevens releases the book, Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake at the Earth Day celebration in downtown Kalamazoo; she sells about 50 copies Also, ALPA's Earth Day table gathers another 300 signatures on the petition against the research and business park 04-26-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette, "Welborns rip WMU park plan" describes Barbara Welborn's assertion to lawmakers that her late father Representative Robert Welborn would be "astonished and disgusted" by WMU's proposed industrial park. 05-05-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette, "New book is another chapter for local lake;" details the release of Haven: A Treatise on Aslyum Lake; available at Bookbinders, Eighth Day Bookstore, Petals and Postings, Michigan News Agency and People's Food Co-Op 05-09-1993 Kalamazoo Gazette front page, "WMU halts park plan: project 'suspended' for now" describes WMU officials' citing a "climate of resistance and hostility" toward the planned industrial park 05-10-1993 Western Herald, "Decision to postpone park plan recieves mixed reviews" 05-17-1993 Viewpoint, Kalamazoo Gazette, "Caring workers turn tragedy into victory" by John VanderPloeg, citing how many jobs have been lost in Kalamazoo Fall 1993 Dok Tael Stevens releases "A Concept Plan to Recycle Contaminated 1999 1999 $1.5 million Asylum Lake endowed fund established and held by the Kalamazoo Coummunity Foundation. Contributions are welcome and are eligible for federal and state tax deductions. 1999 Kalamazoo Nature Center Study performed at Asylum Lake. 2004 04-16-2004 WMU's Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council was created by the Declaration of Conservation Restrictions, adopted by WMU's Board of Trustees. Minutes at www.wmich.edu/asylumlake.index.html. 10-??-2004 WMU's Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council started meeting with three Conservation Purposes: (1) to promote ecosystem integrity and natural aesthetics (2) to ensure passive recreation (3) to support research and education The council is comprised of 14 voting members representing environmental, academic and community interests; 8 from WMU departments; 6 from neighborhood and environmental groups. They meet the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Parkview Hills Clubhouse. 2007 March 2007 On behalf of the Policy and Management Council, Mark Hoffman (ALPA) and Cari DeLong (WMU) gave a tour of the Asylum Lake Preserve to members of the Midwest Land Trust Alliance during a conference. Experts from the organization shared numerous recommendations on how to preserve the woodlands, prairie and oak woodlands from invasive species. March 2007 Policy & Management Council approves a spring burn of 3.7 acres on the north side of the old State Hospital dirt road, known as "Cherry Lane," and 17.5 acres between Cherry Lane and Parkview Avenue. The burn is authorized to control invasive species in the southwest part of the preserve (the prairie). This timeline is still being updated. More information to be posted soon! |
