For the last 25 years, the Clark Lake Lions have owned and maintained a multi-purpose park near the clubhouse at the west end of Clark Lake. The Lions Club is considering selling all or part of the land. They invite you to offer input through a survey. But first, here are some facts about the property.
The 32-acre park includes two ballfields, a 10-acre forest, a storage unit for maintenance equipment, and the clubhouse. The ballfields have been venues for soccer practice or tournaments. Other activities include the annual Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. The last two summers, professional technicians unloaded and assembled the Freedom Fireworks explosives in the Park – the Park offered an ideal safe location away from dwellings and other buildings. The Spirit Trail runs through the Lions Park. Because of this, families sometimes park in in the lot to use the Trail for a ride, walk or letting their dogs enjoy the open space. The forested area serves as a preserve.
In the past two years, no league or team has requested use of the fields for practice or tournaments. Some Lions Club members believe selling is the property is the correct path; others, are in favor of keeping it. To encourage more use, Club members and others have explored ideas to take full advantage of the land for the benefit Clark Lake. For example, pickle ball has become very popular, and/or should some of the space be devoted to tennis or basketball courts?
Space at Clark Lake is limited for large community events. What large community events could take place would be open to creativity, and the nature of the event would determine the scale. Some brainstorming ideas are a rodeo, carnival with rides, or youth bicycle competition.
If the land passes out of non-profit control, the question arises what happens to the land? The property is currently zoned “agricultural-vacant.” Could it be rezoned residential and become a housing or condo development? Or could it be rezoned industrial? One part of the land abuts the property where a country-music venue was proposed (1/4 mile from the Clark Lake shoreline).
The Lions Club motto is “We Serve,” which means selfless service to those in need in the community. Selling all or part of the property would generate one-time revenue for the Club. Depending on the proceeds, the Lions Club might refrain from all or some of the service fundraisers such as the White-Cane Sale or Cash Bash, enabling it to become more of a social organization. Proceeds could also be used beneficially in line with the Lions Club’s missions.
The intent of the article is to present both sides – 1) keep the property and explore greater usage or 2) sell some or all of the property, realize the financial gains, and no longer have concerns about the land. The Lions Club welcomes community input through this survey. In doing so, they urge you to think about the long-term benefits or detriments of either selling or keeping it, and how that affects the future of the Lions Club and the Clark Lake community.
The survey period has concluded. Thanks for stopping by.
Would you like to join the Lions Club – or do have an interest in purchasing all or part of the land? Here’s the contact info:
Louis Ambs (517) 740-3589
Mike Bullinger (517) 960-6006
Walt Reed (517) 529-4979
Click here for the Clark Lake Lions Club page on this website.
Please don’t sell the land! If sold, some of the areas could then be rezoned for development that would not be in the best interest of the Clark Lake community.
Your very luck to have the large parcel get more membership and make it a family vacation spot! Rustic camping mini golf outdoor movie night dusk golf corse public baseball soccer and basketball leagues and rent out the club house for events! Hold classes to sign up for crafts fishing club fir kids all kinds of things!!
You people dont live down the road on vinING ! what sound great to you is miserable for residents!!
I would love to see the Lions club use the property for Clarklake artfair, community wide garage sales, food truck rallies, pickleball & tennis courts. Keep greenspace for picnics and family musical outings. Add trails to the wooded area for safe hiking. Get the boy &girl scout troops involved. Perhaps they need an organizer to plan these events for them specifially for the space.
All of the events listed (rodeo, pickleball, tennis, bicycle …) would require some building and planning of the property, Who would fund this?
I would not encourage more residential or industrial development. Another possible option would be donating the land to a land conservancy non-profit, so Clarklake keeps it’s desperatly shrinking greenspace.
Suzanne Walz
do you want that in your baCK YARD??I dont think so .
Sell the land to someone who can afford to put it into conservancy. Lions could keep the buildings and parking lot for events and meetings. They could work with MSU or U of M on conservation idea’s. No development. This property is located on an alley with limited access, is very close to the water table, and on heavy/dense soil. It’s not conducive to large slabs of asphalt or concrete for tennis courts or pickleball due to winter freezing/heaving.
Thank you for executing a survey. I hope the Lions keep the property and continue to work through how it can remain a useful public space for the community.
Please don’t sell any of the property, this way you keep some of the control of any future development.
Fond memories of our kid’s ball games here. I support keeping the property, even adding a dog park would be another nice idea. Love seeing the beauty of nature.
If money is the issue, I hope the Lions club keeps the property and explores greater (occasional) usage to make it cost-neutral (without development). It would be a great venue for a weekend car show or other type show to bring in a little revenue to pay for taxes & mowing. Winter boat storage could also bring in revenue without much bother to the neighbors. Of course, if it is sold, it will certainly be developed, and I am sure the people who live nearby would not prefer that.
Occasional weekend daytime usage would not really bother or effect those who live nearby nearly as much as development, or pickle/tennis/basketball courts which are extremely annoying to those who live nearby…boink…boink…boink…. They also just cost more money to build and maintain.
I think most would prefer the area to remain quiet & peaceful without adding alot more daily traffic.
Don’t sell.
Condo owner will take over dock rental space and change the lake, do to the the number of residents. Cottage and home owners, will lose there influence on local issues to condo residents
Don’t sell this property to strangers who will not appreciate & treasure it’s beauty. Too many new developments & mega mansions destory this beauty & tarnish the lakes history. Advertise & find ways to make use of the property for current Clark Lake residents & the local community. This is a wonderful spot for our children, to explore & enjoy nature at its finest.