Accounts of the news, current events and history of Asylum Lake in Kalamazoo, MI.
Photo credits: Sharon Koole
Sept 2023 A group of river otters have recently taken up residence at Asylum Lake. They have been spotted near the beaver lodge and elsewhere. They usually get along fine with beavers and often share their sheltered areas. A muskrat, white egret, green and blue herons have also been visitors. Early morning and early evening are good times to see these amazing creatures.
June/July2023 WMU’s Tom Sauber and ALPA’s Tom Holmes have been working tirelessly to keep the water flowing from Asylum Lake into Little Asylum Lake. Ever since the beavers arrived a few years ago these hard-working animals have been trying to dam up the lake where it meets the creek. A fence-like “beaver deceiver” was installed and worked well for a time. This spring, however, everytime it was cleared the beavers worked diligently to dam it up. Due to concerns that the lake level was getting too high, WMU called in help to clear out and lower the connecting pipe. Once again the beavers attempted to dam the pipe, but current plans will have the company lower the pipe even more so it will be harder to block. We shall see!!!
(May 25, 2023) Close to a hundred people gathered Saturday May 20, at the Drake Rd. entrance, to celebrate and enjoy The Asylum Lake Preserve at an event sponsored by ALPA with the help of WMU. Visitors enjoyed refreshments and live music as they viewed and enjoyed informational and educational displays and presentations by these community groups: Citizen’s Climate Lobby and Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, ALPA, Western Michigan University, Stewards of Kleinstuck, Kalamazoo Wild Ones, Ardea and National Youth Coalition for the Environment, and the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Tours by local experts were very popular and engaged many new and returning visitors. Tyler Bassett led a group of walkers through the preserve discussing the varied plant life, including both native and non-native species. Donna Keller’s tour gave many bird lovers chances to spot and learn about birds and our current waterfowl visitors. Mark Hoffman walked a group of life-long learners through part of the preserve where the old asylum buidlings were located, and provided both an interesting chronology and a fascinating history.
The ALPA board would like to thank all those who attended or participated for their continued support that gives our community the opportunity to share and learn more about our amazing and precious world of nature near and afar.
May 24, 2023 Although the recent zoning request for the property at Stadium and Drake has been removed for the time being, ALPA and community members still have many concerns regarding the proposals before the Planning Commission. We will monitor the situation closely by attending all relevant meetings throughout the summer and encourage you to do so as well. Current contacts are Pete Eldridge eldridgep@kalamazoocity.org Dates for the meetings can be viewed on https://www.asylumlakepreservationassociation.org/calendar ALPA has sent a letter to the City explaining our continued opposition to these specific changes:
Changing parcels 06-30-159-001 and 06-30-156-001 from RM15/RSS to CC. These were proposed in 2020 and were dismissed by the Planning Commission.
Removing the Special Use Permit requirement/process for car washes within Community Commercial Zoning. This removal will permit ANY property zoned for CC in the entire city to be vulnerable to the uncontrolled establishment of a car wash.
Changing the intent of the NFP Overly as shown/deltailed on page 88 -50-6.2 within chapter
Zoning proposals can be viewed here: http://www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/zoningupdates/
Please feel free to direct additional questions to ALPA through our contact page.
April 3 2023 There have been many proposed changes to the city zoning ordinances and natural features protection overlay ordinance, several of which will have an effect on how the property at the corner of Drake and Stadium is developed. We encourage all community members to express their support of our natural areas and contribute to the public input (in person if possible) the city says it wants from the citizens. The report on the update will be presented to the City Planning Commission on Thurs. April 6 at 7 pm. at City Hall.
To contact the Planning Commission or attend one of the informational meetings:
Pete Eldridge eldridgep@kalamazoocity.org
Meetings: Wed. Apr. 19 5 pm @ Van Deusen R., Central Library, 315 S. Rose St.
Thur. Apr. 27 7 pm @ Hornet Suite KCollege Athletic Comples 1600 W. Michigan Ave.
Wed. May 3 6 pm @ Edison Neighborhood Assoc. 816 Washington Ave
April 2023 ALPA is honored to be hosting a Community Gathering at Asylum Lake Preserve. This event will be held on May 20th from 12:00 noon to 4pm at the Drake Road Entrance.
Join us for some music, light refreshments, displays and conversations with local environmental and nature groups, and an assortment of tours of the Preserve with our local experts. We look forward to you helping us celebrate Asylum Lake Preserve, increasing community awareness and providing support for this Community Treasure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates regarding the Asylum Lake Preserve and to volunteer for ALPA events in support of Asylum Lake Preserve.
