Saugatuck to build trails, preserve greenspace at former airport property

SAUGATUCK, Mich. (WOOD) — Saugatuck is moving forward with a plan to preserve a large area of greenspace and build trails for the public to enjoy.

The 170-acre property is near 134th Avenue and 63rd Street in Saugatuck Township. It’s located east of I-196 and is in the Kalamazoo River corridor.

The city purchased the property decades ago and planned to turn it into an airport. When that fell through, ideas of a golf course, park or even sports complex were floated. But now, the city wants to keep the space’s natural beauty intact and make it accessible to the public.

The city intends to team up with the local conservation nonprofit Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC Network) in placing a permanent conservation area over the eastern part of the property.

“(It) has a very steep grade, floodplains and wetlands which would be likely prohibit development anyway,” City Manager Ryan Cummins told News 8 on Tuesday.

The majority of the space would include many trails for people to walk through.

Crews would also construct a parking area with signage. The project is estimated to cost $130,000. If the city opts to include a scenic overlook area and a security gate, the cost would rise to $175,000.

“The site offers a diverse range of habitats including mature expanses of Mesic Southern Forest, Floodplain Forest, a biodiverse river corridor, and several vernal pools,” ODC Network wrote in city planning documents . “Habitats such as these face substantial challenges including development pressures and invasive species growth.”

The city council approved the proposal in May after an anonymous donor provided $160,000 to make the project possible.

But two months later, at a city council meeting on July 8, a petition signed by 121 people asked the city to pause taking action on the property until the community could be surveyed on its views. A resident who circulated the petition felt the community wasn’t involved in the decision-making process.

“I took a petition around,” she said during public comment. “I talked with 28 different people, almost all of them from Saugatuck or work here, nobody knew anything about it. I know sometimes having been on the council before, you think you’re doing it and everybody knows about it. They don’t.”

“I just wanted to know some answers,” the resident said.

Cummins told News 8 the public had opportunities to take part in the process, including a public open house last October.

“The airport property was evaluated by our Parks and Public Works Committee for most of last year,” Cummins said. “Each meeting was open to the public and recorded.”

The city manager added that the city’s parks and public works committee analyzed the project through various means, including an environmental assessment and ecological and sustainability evaluations.

During the July 8 meeting, other residents accused the petitioners of spreading misinformation by indicating the city is selling the property when it is not. Those speakers felt the city did its due diligence on the project.

“It would be highly fiscally irresponsible to pay more money for a survey when a plethora of data has already been collected, including a robust process for citizen input,” one public commenter noted.

Although a donor is covering the cost of the project, another resident worried that taxpayers will foot the bills if maintenance needs to be done down the road.

“All these things about the nature preserve and that, they’re all worthy,” the resident said. “I would like clarifications as to why we’re gonna open this up to the whole area when nobody’s paying taxes but the people here. That’s what I find objectionable. The park, whatever you want to do is fine. I don’t think it’s fair to the citizens to be on the hook to pay for all of this.”

In response, Cummins told News 8 the trails will require “minimal maintenance.”

“There may be times a tree blocks a trail and needs to be cut,” he said. “Depending on the parking lot material, there may be a need for some ongoing maintenance. DPW is developing plans to better manage brush/leaf material so invasives won’t be as prevalent in the future.”

ODC Network is currently preparing a draft of the conservation easement, which the city council will have to approve. If everything goes according to plan, the ODC will start laying out the trails this fall. The installation of the parking lot, signage and the possible overlook would happen next year. The entire project is expected to be finished by spring 2025.

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