October 2022-April 2023 An independent group of Winchell area residents have been continuing effort to have parking restored at the Winchell entrance. They have been working with both the ODWNA and the City (both who are opposed) to forward their efforts, but no changes have yet been made. The Asylum Lake Preserve Management Council (WMU) has also voted in favor of having that parking restored.
Support is still needed to oppose parking ban
June 27, 2022
Update on Winchell Parking
Thank you for the tremendous support provided towards the reinstatement of limited parking at the Winchell entrance. Members of the Community and ALPA expressed strong support for this important issue during the City of Kalamazoo Commission meeting on June 21st. There was widespread support within the audience and those that spoke or wrote, provided a strong case on why the City Traffic Engineer’s proposal must be implemented. While we anticipate positive action from the City, ALPA will be taking proactive steps to ensure your voice is heard.
THIS IS NOT “ WHO IS RIGHT” OR JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUE, BUT A SOCIETAL ISSUE. OUR GREEN SPACES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STILLNESS, CONTEMPLATION, EXERCISE OF BOTH OUR MIND AND BODY, A PLACE WHERE THE FIELD IS LEVEL- RICH OR POOR. A PLACE OF GREAT DIVERSITY, CONNECTION AND A PLACE TO GAIN MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, CIVILITY AND COOPERATION.
Asylum Lake Preserve is an invaluable treasure for our community and the reinstatement of parking at the Winchell Ave entrance is vital to our community and exhibits strong Commission leadership towards the City’s commitment to the Community Sustainability Plan, its citizens and the benefits our Green Spaces play in all of our lives.
We encourage all of you to write to your City Commissioners and request immediate implementation for the reinstatement of limited parking at the Winchell Ave entrance to the AsylumLake Preserve.
mayor@kalamazoocity.org cooneyd@kalamazoocity.org hessj@kalamazoocity.org
pradelc@kalamazoocity.org deckerq@kalamazoocity.org hoffmans@kalamazoocity.org
juareze@kalamazoocity.org
Thank you
Asylum Lake Preservation Association.
Parking on Winchell is now banned; Asylum Lake needs your help.
June 15, 2022 Anyone concerned about the ban on parking at the Winchell entrance to the Preserve needs to attend the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Jun 21st at 7:00 p.m. If possible share or like the post on our Facebook page to spread the word. Here’s why:
ALPA has been negotiating with ODWNA (Oakland Drive Winchell Avenue Neighborhood Association) and the City since February to try to get parking restored there. ALPA feels that the ban on parking there, made to accommodate a bicycle lane on Winchell, basically shuts off the entrance to all residents who live north and east of the Winchell neighborhood as well as residents of the Winchell neighborhood who are not living within walking distance of the entrance.
As a result of the meetings, Dennis Randolph, the City traffic engineer, met on April 1st with Pete Kushner of ODWNA and Mark Hoffman of ALPA at the Winchell entrance. On April 8th, Mr. Randolph provided a proposal for a workable solution to restore twelve spaces for parking on Winchell Ave's south side, which ALPA then approved. The proposal would leave the bicycle lane for the rest of Winchell and the north side of the street. This plan was also supported by the residents of the nearby private drives Shelter Point and Highpointe Owners' Associations.
This past week, Christina Anderson, City Planner, sent a letter which states that the City "will not be pursuing the addition of on-street parking at the Winchell Ave. entrance for Asylum Lake." This opinion by Ms. Anderson was partly based on the incorrect assumption that the entrance was primarily a pedestrian entrance, quote, "geared toward those living in close proximity...to the Preserve."
Because this is more than a neighborhood "park" but a community green space that is for the benefit and wellness of the entire community, we are asking you to attend the Commission meeting on Tuesday, June 21st to support the testimony that Mark, John and Lauri will give asking the Commission to restore the parking per the proposal of Dennis Randolph of April 8th.
If you want more information you can email lauriholmes@gmail.com with any questions you have.
ALPA Hosting Garlic Mustard Pull as Annual Gathering
A gathering—
To beat back Garlic Mustard, the “evil weed” that threatens the native plants in our Preserve,
Giving us a chance to get outside-
To give back to that special place that gives us so much.
Four work sessions:
Saturday, May 7, 10:00-12:00 or 1:00-3:00
Saturday, May 14, 10:00-12:00 or 1:00-3:00
Rain Date Sunday, May 15, 1:00-3:00
Pick a session when you and/or your household or friends can participate, We must have prior registration, this will enable us to judge how many team leaders will be needed, along with our group sizes (REGISTER ON OUR HOME PAGE) After we get your registration, we’ll send you specific information about the event.
Guided groups will go out and pull the young mustard plants, and the plants will be collected by the group leaders and put in a pit which will be dug by WMU’s landscape services, then buried so that they will not scatter seeds. This is one important thing we can do that will really make a difference.
Join us! Especially because ALPA did not have annual meetings the last two years, this will be ALPA’s annual gathering.
If you wish to renew your membership (not necessary to participate) in ALPA or join for the first time, choose the Make A Gift tab above.
ALPA meets with Local News Reporter
ALPA helps to save oak trees
ALPA member Tom Holmes, with help from the Mangement Council, has been wrapping some of the designated trees. Not all trees will be wrapped, but ALPA and the Management Council will continue to monitor the situation.
Februrary 2022
The photo shows one of the oak trees on the south shore of the lake that was taken down by beavers last fall. Because an oak tree can provide shelter and food for many creatures over its lifetime of decades, but only food for beavers for a few days, it is the decision of the Management Council and WMU to wrap the oak trees near the lake to protect them when the beavers again become active. There are plenty of softwoods, their usual diet, for them to eat.
There are very few younger oaks in the Preserve and since deer eat seedling oaks, these “middle-aged” oaks are very important, as our mature oak forest gradually dies. Douglas Tallamy’s new book “The Nature of Oaks” explains their value in detail.
Red Trail rerouting completed
January 2022 The red trail, off the Parkview parking lot, was recently rerouted due to the exposure of the tree roots that threatened the health of the trees. The initial phase is complete and the next step will be the reseeding of the native plants that were disturbed during the relocation process. These areas will be roped off and we ask visitors to stay on the traiol to support the effort of restabilizing the area with grasses. This revitalization project has been accomplished through the efforts of ALPA members, citizen volunteers and the Asylum Lake Policy and Management Council, which oversees the preserve.
Volunteers clear debris at beaver deceiver
(October 26, 2021) Volunteers have been working to clear out the blockages on the spillway so the lake will get back to normal level before winter. Paul MacNellis, Robert Allison, Jeff Palmer and Tom Holmes have been out there regularly. We have a "beaver deceiver "that allows the water to flow even when they block the barrier near the pipe, which they do every night if we clear it. That pipe had also been blocked by sediment, probably from the BTR runoff last year now working its way down the lake, but it is now flowing again.
Car wash still possible; ALPA takes new position
(September 2021) Although the NFP ordinance has put restrictions on the corner property, the new owner still desires to develop it commercially, including a car wash. The property remains zoned as residential at this time. ALPA continues to work to preserve the ecological and natural integrity of the adjacent Asylum Lake Preserve and has passed a new position statement regarding this issue: The Board of the Asylum Lake Preservation Association advocates that the former Vermeulen property be included as part of the Asylum Lake Preserve and provided with the same oversight and protections afforded the Preserve.
ALPA encourages the community to stay aware of any changes in the situation and be prepared to support our efforts in preserving this community treasure. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Koole)
NFP PHASE 2 passes City Commision
(August 16, 2021) The Kalamazoo City Commission approved to expand the parcels of land to be protected under the Natural Features Protection Ordinance to neaerly 1500. After numerous public hearings and adjustments this new map will protect many new areas and increase the protected areas around Asylum Lake. The NFP overlay district does not stop development, redevelopment or improvements to existing buildings. It requires things such as new buildings and parking lots to be set back from lakes and rivers. It allows, but puts limits on, land clearing and also prohibits planting problematic invasive plants and protects steep slopes to prevent erosion.