TRAVERSE CITY -- A bowl-shaped meadow, a climax hemlock forest, varied animal habitat, old orchards and undeveloped East Bay frontage.
Voters in Peninsula Township will balance environmental and preservation interests with economic and tax concerns when they mark yea or nay on the proposed Center Road Park.
In August, the Friends of the Center Road Park Natural Area successfully petitioned the township board to add a ballot proposal to the Nov. 4 election slate. They are determined to stave off certain development of the prime real estate just outside Traverse City.
"It could so easily be another subdivision," said Mary Van Valin, co-chair of the Friends group with Dave Murphy. "It's just such a wonderful opportunity."
Township residents will have a chance to approve or disapprove up to .475 mills on taxable value of their property over 10 years. The money raised will fund the purchase of 62 acres of land for $2 million. The land, situated just south of McKinley Road and east of Center Road, would be a public natural area managed by the township's Park Commission.
The concept of a park at the southern end of the Old Mission Peninsula has long been part of the township's recreation plan, noted township supervisor Rob Manigold.
In the current economic times, Manigold has fielded concerns about more taxes as well as questions about the appraisal (two were completed, one by the seller one by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.)
"In any kind of millage election you always have people who don't want to spend the money because the taxes are too high and I'm sure there will be a percentage of that," he noted.
Geography is also a factor as the long, thin township has a more residential south end and an agricultural-based north end, split about 50-50 among the more than 5,000 residents. The north end has primarily benefited from previous Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) millages, one in 1994 and one in 2002, which passed with support of both ends of the township. This program pays farmers to continue farming or keep their land as open space.
"There does seem to be questions involving, 'We paid for the PDR, which is mostly happening at the north end, and finally we have an opportunity at the south end,'" Manigold said.
Cross-country skiing, hiking, running, snowshoeing and education are just some of the activities possible on the land. For Murphy, who with the owner's permission has hiked it for years, the property is "magical."
"I love the land, there's never a week that I'm on the property and don't see something unusual," he said.
To spread the word about the proposed park, Friends group volunteers have been going door to door and also hosting walks of the property on weekends. These events last Saturday and Sunday afternoons drew a few dozen people to explore the land. This weekend will also feature public guided hikes through the property on both days starting at 1 p.m.
"What we've found is that a lot of folks don't know much about it," said Murphy, of the land that whose road frontage of an old cherry orchard along M-37 belies the depth and rich diversity of the piece.
Ward Johnson, a fifth-generation farmer on the peninsula, walked the land Saturday afternoon with the public hike, having previously walked it 10 years ago with Murphy. A member of the township's Park Commission through next week, when he completes 16 years of service, Johnson was the first farmer to sell development rights under the PDR, which his father, Walter, helped create.
"I'm for the idea as an individual, not speaking for the park commission," said Ward Johnson of the Center Road Park.
Glenn Chown, executive director of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, called preserving the parcel nestled between subdivisions as a natural area "the last best chance" to fulfill the township's vision.
"This property looms very large because there is not other property of this size and uniqueness left on the south of the peninsula," said Chown, a township resident passionate about the project both professionally and personally. "It is an oasis."
In keeping with its mission, the conservancy has provided technical and legal advice and guidance to the Friends of the Center Road Park Natural Area. The nonprofit organization also negotiated a purchase price with the seller and has a purchase option, which would be assigned to Old Mission Peninsula Township if the millage passes.
For details on the proposed park, visit the township Web site at www.peninsulatownship.com. For information on the Friends of the Center Road Park Natural Area, call Dave Murphy at 947-6521.
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