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 →
Green Zoning in the News
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 →
ALPMC Votes to Recommend Management Transition from WMU to Kalamazoo County
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
Public Comment on Conservation and Green Space Zoning at Environmental Concerns Committee Meeting
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.
Denied: Commercial Rezone Request for 4301 Stadium Dr.
Dozen’s of public comments in opposition to rezoning resulted in the City Commission voting unanimously to deny the proposed commercial rezoning request for the intersection of Stadium and Drake, adjacent to the Preserve. In the video below, ALPA delivers a five-part public comment in opposition to rezoning. Just before ALPA begins their comment, several other current and past ALPA members speak on the issue as well.
(MLive coverage) (WMUK coverage) (City Commission meeting on youtube).
We're so grateful to all who submitted well-researched statements and stood up to give personal and organizational testimonies against the proposed change.
ALPA Board Member, Wendy Denning giving public comment. Other board members in background, wearing green ALPA t-shirts (from left to right: Tom Howes, Dok Stevens, Judy Huxmann). ALPA volunteers and community members in line and crowd.
