Closing on sale for the '45th Parallel Park' is likely soon

Officials of Suttons Bay Township and the Michigan Department of Transportation are close to finalizing a deal to create a four-acre "45th Parallel Park" on M-22 south of Setterbo Road that will include an adjacent 43-acre parcel for use as a natural area.

A closing on the sale could occur before the end of the month and would be followed by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the new park sometime early next month, according to township officials.

It has taken township officials more than three years to sort out details of the complicated purchase proposal. For many years, the public has been using a tiny waterfront turnout on private property along M-22 as an unofficial “45th Parallel Park.”

Township and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials alike were confused about its ownership for many years, with each unit of government assuming the other owned it.

The confusion persisted until surveys revealed that much of the 2-acre “park” property was privately owned by the family of Suttons Bay Township supervisor Rich Bahle.

Meanwhile, the Pearson-McClure family of Tennessee – which owns an adjacent 45 acre parcel including a tiny strip of waterfront abutting the Bahle property – put its property on the market.

A breakthrough came in May 2006 when MDOT officials announced their support for the park project along with a $419,000 infusion of federal and state grant funding. MDOT officials hope to establish a state-owned four-acre waterfront roadside park on the former Bahle property plus two acres of the Pearson-McClure property.

The adjacent 43-acre Pearson-McClure property would be acquired by the township for “passive recreation” uses. These could include hiking trails, picnic areas, scenic overlooks and interpretive signage.

In addition to gaining support from MDOT, Suttons Bay Township has the backing of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Suttons Bay Public Schools, the Leelanau Conservancy, and the M-22 Heritage Route Committee for the project.

Tom Nixon of the township’s parks and recreation committee said the timing of the closing would depend on the availability of state and local officials to sign documents.

The ribbon-cutting would be scheduled shortly after the closing, he said.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Suttons Bay Township Board last week, officials also noted that delays in receiving funding through a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant for another park acquisition project could affect acquisition of 120-plus acres for the “Herman Park” project.

Located at the corner of Herman Road and County Road 633 just south of Suttons Bay Public Schools, the park would include a number of “active” recreational facilities such as athletic fields. The majority of the acreage, however, would encompass a natural area including much of the sensitive Leo Creek watershed.

Township officials have been working with the family of the late Ralph Herman for more than two years to acquire their property.

“The Hermans are trying to be patient, and we will continue to work with them,” Nixon said.

In other business at its April 11 meeting, the Suttons Bay Township Board:

• Adopted a resolution to apply for a grant through the Coastal Zone Management program for a mapping project to support the creation of a new joint Master Plan with the Village of Suttons Bay.

• Learned that the township and village “cleanup” or “free dump day” will likely be held on Saturday, May 19, pending some final arrangements.

• Learned that a joint committee of village and township officials have continued to meet to discuss the possible co-location of township and village offices in a new building to be constructed somewhere in the township, but that the committee is not yet ready to make any formal recommendations.