Neighbors Unite to Save Lakeside Woods’ Wetlands, Home of the Endangered Indiana Bat, from Developer
Contact for background: Mary Rose Roberts, Media Relations Volunteer- 312 342 2023
Contact for Interview: Peter Britt, Secretary, Lakeside Neighbors Against Development. pbbritt@me.com
Website: www.SaveLakesideWoods.com
Photo Credit: Julian Lopez
PRESS RELEASE: Lakeside, Mich. -
Lakeside Neighbors Against Development go under contract to stop development on fragile Lakeside Woods wetlands
After almost a year-long lobbying effort against development of Lakeside Woods - a 16-acre parcel home to 12-acres of wetlands, thousands of species and the endangered Indiana bat - a developer has agreed to sell the land for conservation.
Lakeside and Chikaming Township residents joined forces to save Lakeside Woods and stop development of 18 tiny homes by opening up discussions with the developer, Curtis McDonald, about purchasing the land for conservation versus continuing his development plan.
“Curtis has graciously agreed to sell the land to Lakeside Neighbors Against Development - giving us 6 months to raise the funds,” said Barry Friedland, Board Member and Lakeside resident. “We are so grateful to Curtis and his team for sharing our conservation vision.”
Once the land has been purchased, the goal is to gift it to a local, respected conservation organization preserving Southwest Michigan green spaces from beaches to farmland, he said.
About the Land
Located in Lakeside, Michigan on Lakeside Rd. and Warren Woods Rd. near the Edward and Elizabeth Leonard Preserves Chikaming Open Lands trail, Lakeside Woods is a 16-acre parcel home to thousands of native Michigan species and 12-acres of fragile wetlands.
Native species depend on insect-based food webs like wetlands. This includes waterfowl, non-game birds and a variety of reptiles and amphibians like spotted turtles, eastern Massasauga and other snakes, tree frogs, toads and more.
“Lakeside Woods is a water source for the Great Blue Heron and migrating Sandhill Cranes - majestic creatures - and home to nesting Indiana bats, an endangered species,” said Donna DePaolo, founding member, vice-president of the Lakeside Neighbors Against Development board and Lakeside resident.
Indiana bats are insectivores - the bat eats both terrestrial and aquatic flying insects, such as mosquitoes. They are listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and have experienced a serious population decline, estimated to be more than 50 percent decline over the past 10 years.
“A 50 percent decline is staggering - making protecting and saving Lakeside Woods, its wetlands and the species that depend on them even more urgent,” DePaolo said.
Wetlands also are valuable for water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, and home to 40 percent of the world's species.
In addition to conservation, slowing development on open lands in Lakeside eliminates future congestion and density - such as multiple homes built on traditionally one-home lots - and protects the spirit of Lakeside and the broader area from such urbanization, which changes the character of rural communities interminably.
“Saving Lakeside Woods is not only about protecting endangered species,” said Tom Gold, founding member, president of the Lakeside Neighbors Against Development board, and Lakeside resident. “It’s also a fight against the urbanization of our rural communities due to over development of our green spaces.”
How can the community help? Gold asked the community to donate or get involved.
“Our fundraising goal is $1.3 million,” he added. “We’ve received pledges for $300,000, which already puts us at nearly a quarter of our goal!”
To be a part of this effort, follow www.SaveLakesideWoods.com
To make an anonymous tax-deductible donation (by cash or appreciated stock), contact Donna
DePaolo directly at 630 222 4700.
About Lakeside Neighbors Against Development
Neighbors in Lakeside, Chikaming Township and Harbor Country who care deeply for preservation of green spaces have united to stave off development next to fragile wetlands that are home to the endangered Indiana bat.
Protecting wetlands and stopping over-development in our lakeside communities that lead to congestion, density and the urbanization of rural communities are key goals.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was created to oversee the effort, purchase the land and fundraise for preservation with the goal of donating it to a local, respected conservation.