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Western Michigan University’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday, Oct. 29, to approve an interlocal agreement transferring stewardship of Asylum Lake Preserve to Kalamazoo County. WOOD TV 8 reports that WMU has worked on the transfer for about a year, citing the county’s expertise in managing parks and natural areas and annual costs of at least $150,000 not covered by the preserve’s endowment. Under the agreement, the preserve must stay free and open to the public. Existing protections remain in place, including state law limiting the property to passive recreation and government ownership, and an amended declaration of conservation. The Asylum Lake Preservation Fund would also be redirected to the county for operations, maintenance, and preservation. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on the agreement at its Wednesday, Nov. 4 meeting. If approved, the next step is working with state lawmakers to transfer the deed. Read the full article at WOOD TV 8 →
Local independent journalist Aya Miller of Know Your Neighbor has published a new article on ALPA’s proposal to create green space and conservation zoning districts in Kalamazoo. Right now, Asylum Lake Preserve, Milham Park, and many other city parks are zoned for single-family housing. Miller interviewed ALPA board member Tom Howes and reports on how the proposal has been received by the Planning Commission and city commissioners. The article also quotes public comments made at city meetings by fellow board member Dok Stevens. The first several paragraphs are free to read, and the full article is available to paid subscribers. Read the article →
Following a positive recommendation on Oct 1 from the Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council, the WMU Board of Trustees and Kalamazoo County will each vote on two measures: approving the final Interlocal Agreement, and adopting the Amended and Restated Declaration of Conservation Restrictions. Find each document here.
Together, these would officially transfer management of Asylum Lake Preserve to Kalamazoo County Parks and Recreation. This will be the Public’s opportunity to witness these final decisions by WMU and Kalamazoo County. The community is encouraged to attend, listen, and participate by sharing your comments during these two meetings.
Final Approval Vote Details:
WMU Board of Trustees Vote
Thursday October 29, 2026 @ 12 PM
WMU Student Center Ballroom
Student Center, 1070 Loop Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(Listed on Google at 1070 Student Ctr Lp Rd)
There is a parking ramp close by.
Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners (Regular Meeting)
Wednesday November 4, 2026 @ 6:30pm
County Administration Building
201 W. Kalamazoo Ave
Meeting will be in the Board Chambers, 2nd floor
Meeting is also available virtually at: kalcounty.gov/board-meetings
Parking is suggested in the Arcadia Parking Ramp
The ALPA board of directors welcomes six new members, temporarily growing the board to thirteen. The six newest members of the ALPA board bring a range of skills and a shared commitment to the Preserve.
Our six new members, appointed in October 2026: (Top row) Olivia Craig, Daariyon Gardner, Nicole Holmes (Bottom row) Paul MacNellis, Terra Mickolatcher, Matthew Schuld
Click here to read about their backgrounds and what they hope to bring to ALPA.
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, ALPA board members Dok Stevens and Jimmy Lane delivered public comments at a City of Kalamazoo Planning Commission meeting. In their comments, the board members summarized a two-page letter ALPA sent (read it here) to the Commission before the meeting. The letter responded in four points to questions and concerns the Planning Commission raised about the green zoning proposal at its 9/3 meeting.
After public comment, commissioners discussed the proposal at length. They thanked ALPA for the follow-up letter and expressed interest in moving the issue forward at the city level.
Notable quotes from the Planning Commission:
”I remember talking about green space zoning designations ages ago, when we had our joint meeting…we had a joint meeting with the Natural Features Protection Board and another zoning board as well. I asked the same question – why are green spaces zoned residential? That doesn’t make sense, because that’s not what they are…so I’m very glad to see where this goes forward.” - Commissioner Bissonnette
”IK2035 is kind of the perfect time to be talking about these things.” - Commissioner Curtiss
“I would be greatly looking forward to something that would be conducive toward the green space zoning being included in the next version of the Master Plan that we see.” - Commissioner Curtiss
”I would maybe ask [city] staff or city attorney’s office…at some future meeting, we could learn a little bit more about what it would take to see that zoning district adopted.” - Commissioner Audette-Bauman
ALPA board member Dok Stevens delivers a public comment, summarizing ALPA’s letter to the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission’s discussion regarding ALPA’s green zoning proposal: 4min
On Thursday, October 1, 2026, WMU's Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council (ALPMC) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution recommending the transfer of the Preserve's management from WMU to Kalamazoo County. The resolution recommends that the WMU Board of Trustees adopt the Amended and Restated Declaration of Conservation Restrictions and approve the Interlocal Agreement between WMU and the County.
The vote followed a 7 p.m. public hearing at the WMU Business, Technology and Research Park, 3300 Research Way. Before the vote, the Council heard a report from its Control Transition Subcommittee (CTS), led by member Chris Bovid, along with public comments and questions. About two dozen members of the public attended, as did WWMT News and independent journalist Aya Miller.
Final approval rests with the WMU Board of Trustees and the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.
News Coverage:
Arc West Michigan | Community forum on Asylum Lake Preserve ownership transfer from WMU to the county
WWMT | WMU board backs shifting Asylum Lake Preserve management to Kalamazoo County parks
On 9/16/26, ALPA board member Tom Howes delivered a public comment to the Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC) on ALPA’s proposal for conservation and green-space zoning districts. In ALPA’s comment, Howes responded to concerns the Planning Commission had raised just a few weeks earlier. Among the concerns was a claim that one of ALPA’s environmental ordinance examples (yet to be identified by city staff) from another city had actually been repealed. An ECC member responded after public comments, identifying the repealed ordinance for ALPA. Howes returned later in the meeting to clarify that the repealed ordinance, though similar in name, was actually different than the still-active example in ALPA’s proposal letter.
The conversation on the proposal for new green zoning districts later continued with a dynamic exchange (see second video) between the ECC board and City Planner Christina Anderson.
On 9/8/26, ALPA board member Tom Howes delivers a public comment on ALPA’s proposed conservation and green space zoning districts to the City Commission. Howes introduced the proposal, ALPA’s goals, and then requested that the City Commission instruct Kalamazoo City Planning to act now.
On 9/3/26, the Kalamazoo City Planning Commission discussed “green” zoning for the first time. Listen to that discussion in the video below. Just two weeks prior, the Environmental Concerns Committee voted unanimously to send ALPA’s five-point proposal (which included a new conservation zoning district and green space zoning district) to the City Planning Commission for consideration. Though the deliberation here was brief, the subject remains active at the city level. More news to come.
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