Save Jean Klock Park | Friends of Jean Klock Park | Petoskey Prize

Save Jean Klock Park | Friends of Jean Klock Park | Petoskey Prize
Michigan Supreme Court
February 4, 2011 - Court Denies Plaintiff's Leave to Appeal

On Friday, February 4th the Michigan Supreme Court issued a shocking 6 to1 decision that there would be no further review of our leave to appeal and ordered our application be denied. The sole reason given in the Court Order was, “… because we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.” The news wasn’t released until Saturday, February 5, 2011.

We are enormously displeased with the court’s decision and feel that aside from Justice Stephen Markman, the court got it tragically wrong. Obviously Justice Markman agrees with our arguments as in the Court Order he made direct statements in his dissenting opinion in reference to our arguments:

“… I believe that the City’s use of Jean Klock Park, by leasing portions of it for 105 years to a private commercial entity, the Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment, Inc., for its use as a golf course, constitutes a breach of faith … Although the City prevails today, it, and other communities throughout our state, may well come out losers tomorrow as later generations of philanthropists look at the legacy of J. N. and Carrie Klock and come to question the faithfulness of government in upholding their intentions after they too have passed. I respectfully dissent.” – Justice Stephen Markman – For more information | Save Jean Klock Park | website

PROTECT | JEAN KLOCK PARK

Protect Jean Klock Park | Map Gallery

"Bit by bit the city has allowed this priceless acreage to be co-opted or sold for little or nothing, a clear breach of the city’s covenant with the donors."

"Benton Harbor is located in southwestern lower Michigan, less than 60 miles across Lake Michigan from Chicago. The gift of Jean Klock Park in 1917 to the City extended the city’s reach to include Lake Michigan shoreline. The land was formally annexed to the City in 1949, and a contiguous parcel, acquired for the park by the city itself, was annexed in 1953. Bit by bit the city has allowed this priceless acreage to be co-opted or sold for little or nothing, a clear breach of the city’s covenant with the donors." Read and View More Here

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WPIN link to official Save Jean Klock Park website

JEAN KLOCK PARK | Economic Justice Petition: Stop Corporate Takeover of Jean Klock Park! | Change.org

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Economic Justice Petition:
Stop Corporate Takeover of Jean Klock Park! | Change.org
PETITION LETTER | PLEASE SIGN HERE AND SHARE THIS

Greetings,

Please do not approve the sale and development of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor, Michigan.Let it remain as it was intended to be, a place of pristine beauty for all to enjoy.

In a city where the citizens have been through so much and are left with so little, it is unconscionable to allow an Emergency Manager appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to come in and take one of the last things of value and pride in Benton Harbor, and sell it off to developers. In addition, the land has been severely underpriced to the benefit of the wealthy developers trying to obtain it; the land consists of globally rare ecosystems and threatened species; and the land was deeded under the intention that it remain undeveloped and for all to enjoy, forever.

As John Klock said when deeding the land to the citizens of Benton Harbor:
"In taking an inventory of life, we all take stock of the circumstances surrounding the happiest moments. The giving of this park to the city of Benton Harbor has been to Mrs. Klock and myself, the happiest moment of our lives. The deed of this park in the courthouse of St. Joseph will live forever. Perhaps some of you do not own a foot of ground, remember then, that this is your park, it belongs to you. Perhaps some of you have no piano or phonograph, the roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is your music, your piano and music box. The beach is yours, the drive is yours, the dunes are yours, all yours. It is not so much a gift from my wife and myself, it’s a gift from a little child. See to it that the park is the children's.”

Please make sure that his intention is honored and the treasure that is Jean Klock Park remains protected forever.

Thank you.
[Your name]

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for the children and citizens of Benton Harbor.

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Stealing Beachfront Parklands from the Children of Benton Harbor

"In 1917, John and Carrie Klock deeded a half mile of lake Michigan frontage to the City of Benton Harbor Michigan in memory of their deceased daughter Jean. Their gift consisted of 90 acres of globally rare natural resources that included Great Lakes Dunes, a Great Lakes Marsh and interdunal wetlands.
The donated land, named Jean Klock Park and was dedicated

"FOR THE CHILDREN" - "in perpetuity" - "FOREVER.""
www.savejeanklockpark.org



"Through the years the park has been threatened with development proposals and survived but in 2003 came the beginning of a new, and at the time, unforeseen threat. The city announced an interest in selling a portion of the park’s property for a lake front residential development. A lawsuit took place that was settled out of court allowing the development in exchange for permanent protections of the remaining 73 acres of the park. Within a matter of months it was discovered that there was a secret and far bigger interest in developing the park. That interest and ultimate threat to the park was of the Whirlpool Corporation’s desire for a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and a glitzy second home community that would become the “Harbor Shores Golf and Beach Club."" www.savejeanklockpark.org | Jean Klock Park | Benton Harbor | Harbor Shores | Jack Nicklaus

"NEW UPDATED" INFO | BENTON HARBOR AND RALLY
rachel-maddow-benton-harbor-is-ground-zero

earlier coverage by :Rachel Maddow's Coverage of Benton Harbor

Please help us by sharing this information with others. You can email, facebook, or tweet from this site or directly from the link. Every time you Share, you help get the word out… and it is making a difference.

YouTube - Benton Harbor, MI Story On The Rachel Maddow Show 4/18/2011

YouTube - Benton Harbor, MI Story On The Rachel Maddow Show 4/18/2011

Posted on Michigan Stands Up for Democracy Facebook page by | Richard T. Rapscallion Jr.



Benton Harbor, MI Story On The Rachel Maddow Show 4/18/2011
www.youtube.com
Rachel Maddow covers a story about the injustice that is going on in Michigan's Southwest. From Emergency Financial Mangers dismantling Benton Harbor City government to the takeover of Benton Harbor's gift "PUBLIC" beach Jean Klock Park (the legal situation now), which is now home to Harbor Shores Golf Course & Resort.
YouTube - Benton Harbor, MI Story On The Rachel Maddow Show 4/18/2011
(303 views | time of post)

Read More | Stealing Parklands from the children of Benton Harbor

CONTACT | Governor Rick Snyder
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
PHONE: (517) 373-3400
PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services
FAX:(517) 335-6863
E-MAIL: Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov

ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION | MICHIGAN GOVERNOR RICK SYNDER