54 Acres of Varying Habitat

(North of Parkview, south of Stadium Drive, between Drake and US131)

Description: 54 acres of varying habitat – on the northern end is a wetland area – it includes part of the springs and watershed for Asylum lake – The apple orchard has been utilized by MSU since the early 1970’s for fruit pest research after the Kalamazoo State Hospital deemed the area surplus. The land is home to various types of wildlife recently reported in the Kalamazoo Nature Center report. Also recognized by the Nature Center id the value of this parcel as a buffer to encroachment occurring to the west, enhanced further with the heavy use of US 131. The nature Center researchers felt this parcel should be put to better use as a buffer to the Asylum Lake Preserve. The site presents itself as a prime location for biological/ecological/water research by WMU – yet is underutilized from this aspect.

Why it should be preserved: the 1977 PA158 conveys the land to WMU from the dept. of Mental Health. It grants the property may be used solely for public park, recreation, or open space purposes, except that the legislature may authorize WMU to utilize the property for some other public purpose. The legislation also grants MSU to continue to use the property for fruit-pest research. MSU reported to a colleague in 2001 that they very much appreciate utilizing the property for fruit pest research because of its remote location. They can perform experiments on the apple trees here without affecting a whole commercial orchard. With the Drake Road reconstruction project, WMU re-drew property lines to the colony farm orchard, having lost some of its frontage. The university then revised its agreement with MSU based on the new property boundaries. Finally, in the endeavor to update Oshtemo Township’s land use plan, Oshtemo Township planners, in September 1996, designated the 54-acre Colony Farm Orchard for recreational purposes, in accord with the provisions in the 1977 legislative conveyance.

Type of Property: Agricultural, Buffer, Other, Recreational, Scenic Viewpoint