The Michigan landscape abounds with real estate named after former governors.
Among them: buildings, counties and streets after territorial Gov. Lewis Cass and first Gov. Stevens T. Mason; a state park in Huron County after 1917-20 Gov. Albert E. Sleeper; a Lansing golf course, of all things, after 1921-26 Gov. Alexander Groesbeck; the Transportation Building in Lansing after 1941-42 Gov. Murray D. Van Wagoner; a section of I-75 below the bridge and the Law Building in Lansing after 1949-60 Gov. G. Mennen Williams; and a state office building in Lansing after 1963-69 Gov. George Romney.
Most are in general recognition of deceased governors, although Sleeper's is a specific tribute for his enhancement of the park system, Van Wagoner was highway commissioner and Williams was chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
In a particularly fitting tribute to Michigan's 1969-82 and longest-serving governor, Gov. Jennifer Granholm joined last week in dedication of the 31-acre William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, previously called Tri-Centennial State Park, along the Detroit River.
In commentary on the event headlined, "A phenomenal man is honored at a one-of-a-kind urban state park, " Barb Arrigo of the Detroit Free Press said: "As every introductory speaker pointed out, this park is the perfect way to honor the former governor, who was devoted to protecting Michigan's natural resources and to ensuring public access to them -- at the same time championing the state's cities, especially Detroit; hence his 'odd couple' relationship, as he called it, with (Mayor) Coleman Young." (Full disclosure: I was on Milliken's staff during those days.)
They became fast friends, but the Traverse City Republican and the Detroit Democrat used to battle, and on occasion, swear at each other. Young bested him at the latter.
Even before becoming governor in January of 1969, Lt. Gov. Milliken advocated for urban recreation. While not minimizing the importance of expanding and enhancing areas outstate, he stressed the need to sufficiently allocate funds to urban areas from the Recreation Bond Issue narrowly approved by voters in 1968.
For his emphasis on urban recreation, the new governor received considerable outstate criticism. One West Michigan paper called it a "colossal blunder." At the outset of his administration, Milliken sought to encourage public access to the Detroit riverfront. He helped work out an agreement between developer (and major GOP contributor) Max Fisher and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs on a riverfront public access/bottomland issue for an apartment building (where Young ended up living) that initially was opposed by the MUCC.
Young said in 1978 (when he was instrumental in Milliken's re-election by not touting Democrat challenger Bill Fitzgerald):
"Bill Milliken proved that you can appeal to people's best instincts and be a very successful politician in Michigan. His administration understood the importance of Detroit to the rest of Michigan and carried out policies which recognized the interdependence of the city and the state.
"A lot of people argued he was committing political suicide in dealing with Detroit's needs so effectively. Yet, the last time he ran for re-election he piled up his biggest margin of any time ... while being the first Republican to carry Wayne County since 1946."
An extraordinary thing about the park dedication was the fast-track way it was pulled off. Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, and House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin, raised with Director Becky Humphries of the Department of Natural Resources the possibility of an appropriate tribute. (A marsh along US-27 north of Lansing was partially dedicated to Milliken long ago but the sign disappeared.)
Humphries and Natural Resources Commission Chairman Keith Charters, of Traverse City, worked out the Detroit renaming, which was approved Sept. 10 by NRC resolution sponsored by Commissioner Mary Brown, of Kalamazoo, a former Democratic state representative.
It said the Milliken administration "was cited for its conservation commitment and work for passage of the Environmental Protection Act, Wetlands Protection Act, Bottle Bill, Truth in Pollution Laws, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Hazardous Waste Act and others."
Instrumental in orchestrating the dedication was Milliken environmental adviser Bill Rustem, now president of Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants, which has done projects for Granholm.
Granholm said in introducing Milliken: "The fact that we would name and dedicate this park to you, governor, is so perfect because of your history with civil rights and your connection with the city of Detroit and your deep love of our resources."
Nature's heroines
Many women are among Mother Nature's strongest allies in Michigan. Some of them are in current leadership roles and others are still active after playing key roles back when the state was a leader in conservation and environmental protection.
Wildlife biologist Humphries is the first woman to head the DNR. Erin McDonough, a sixth generation native of Beaver Island, recently became executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
Humphries is among 30 conservationists "who worked to preserve Michigan's water, woods and wildlife" featured in an exhibit at the Michigan Women's Historical Center in Lansing.
Among northern Michigan women in the 30 are ex-First Lady Helen Milliken, of Traverse City; former Lt. Gov. Connie Binsfeld, of Maple City and Munising; naturalist Huldah Neal, of Traverse City; artist Gwen Frostic, of Benzonia; and Joan Wolfe, formerly of Grand Rapids and now of Benzie County.
Wolfe is something special on the environmental scene: Michigan's first woman on the Natural Resources Commission, founder of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, and champion of the landmark 1970 Michigan Environmental Protection Act.
George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.
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