Map Proposals
Save Jean Klock Park
    Click on Photos

                                                         































    We felt it was important to make the map proposals for the Harbor Shores
    development available so the public can see for themselves that this
    development will not use a small portion (22 acres) of JKP for the golf course
    as claimed but more like 75% of the park. As you will see the tees, fairways
    and golf holes will encompass the entire park from the top of the dunes east to
    M-63.

    Proposed Site Plan

    Visitors will not be welcomed to the entrance to Jean Klock Park but to the
    "Harbor Shores Experience Center." The new park entrance will be located in
    the City of St. Joseph, not the City of Benton Harbor, who owns JKP. This
    new entrance would run along the north side of the water treatment plant
    requiring a huge portion of the south end of the dune to be removed for the
    new road.

    Claims have been made that there will be little impact to the dunes which are
    blatantly false as you have read above. Not only will they be grading the 7th
    fairway up to the top of the north dune, but also
    the tees for the 8th fairway will be located along the ridge of the north dune.
    Almost every tree along that ridge will have to be removed. Some are currently
    banded, marked for removal.

    The area between the north and south dune which is now the entrance to JKP
    will be filled to connect the north and South Dunes in order to accommodate
    the 8th fairway; its hole and tees for the 9th fairway are located on top of the
    South Dune. This is lost access as the public trail and the birdwatch tower will
    be removed.

    There has been a lot of criticism of the parking lot and there are no arguments
    from us that it leaves a lot to be desired, however it could be dramatically
    improved. The proposal to replace the parking lot behind the dunes with a new
    one on the beach would be aesthetically far less desirable than the existing
    parking lot.

    Do not believe for one minute that this natural beach and dune area will not be
    negatively impacted because the truth is, the natural aesthetic value of the
    entire park will be sacrificed. But you can see for yourself by clicking on the
    link below.

    Harbor Shores Map

    The following map shows an overlay of various wetland conditions through out
    the development indicating the sensitive nature of these supposedly protected
    areas. This is where the question of whether or not Harbor Shores can back up
    their claims that boardwalks and foot paths as there is a strong probability they
    will not be able to obtain the permits required to construct these amenities.

    Another important issue is the fact that the proposed parking lot on the beach
    is located in what is called an intermittently flooded wetland area which means
    that a rise in the lake level, combined with strong winds and wave action would
    cause erosion from beneath the parking lot causing it to be washed out. One of
    the many seriously flawed components of the plan to use JKP as part of the
    golf course

    We have provided the "Wetland Category Definition"s below for your
    reference after viewing the Wetland Descriptions map at the following link:

    Wetland Descriptions

    Wetland Category Definitions
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wet;lands Inventory 1979-1994

  • Intermittently Exposed: Surface water is present throughout the year except in
    years of extreme drought.

  • Semipermanently Flooded: Surface water persists througout the growing
    season in most years. When surface water is absent, the water table is usually
    at or very near the land's surface.

  • Seasonally Flooded: Surface water is present for extended periods of especially
    early in the growing season, but is absent by the end of the growing season in
    most years. The water table after flooding ceases is variable, extended from
    saturated to the surface to a water table well below the ground surface.

  • Temporarily Flooded: Surface water is present for brief periods during growing
    season, but the water table usually lies well below the soil surface. Plants that
    grow both in uplands and wetlands may be characteristic of this water regime.

  • Intermittently Flooded: Substrate is usually exposed, but surface water is
    present for variable periods without detectable seasonal  periodicity. Weeks or
    months or even years may intervene between periods of inundation. The
    dominant plant communities under this regime may change as soil moisture
    conditions change. Some areas exhibiting this regime do not fall within our
    definition of wetland because they do not have hydric soils or support
    hydrophytes. In areas mapped as intermittently flooded, refer to regional
    guidelines for specific applications.
Misleading Representation!
In the "Existing Conditions"aerial
photo above, the lakeside of the
south dune appears to barren of
any growth. That's  because this
photo was taken in mid summer of
2007 after a huge fire that took
place in the park in early May. We
ask that you notice the still lush
and healthy forested areas above.  
Also, should we ask why Harbor
Shores chose to use the fire to
their photo-op advantage and
further their subterfuge? You be
the judge: Read about the fire
Privately Owned Development!
The "Proposed Renovation" is
proof that this is not a "Park
Improvement", "Renovation" or
"Restoration." This is a "Golf
Course Development" which will
destroy the dunes by removing
their natural forest growth as
depicted above. With the support
of Michigan's Governor Granholm,
this is an attempted takeover to
place deeded public land into the
hands of  privately owned hands
of corporate interests.  Please
read: Saving a Public Park