On 2/12/26, the WMU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow negotiations with the County toward a formal transfer agreement. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a formal but non-binding agreement between parties that outlines their shared intentions, roles, and objectives as a framework for working together, often in advance of a binding contract. It is expected that the County Board of Commissioners will also vote to enter the MOU during their 2/17/26 meeting.
The Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council also met on 2/12/26, where the County Parks Director and WMU vice president for Government Relations addressed ALPA's questions. ALPA has now engaged with Kalamazoo County Parks, WMU, and the Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council (ALPMC) regarding this proposed transfer. The following summary reflects ALPA’s current understanding of the terms outlined in the MOU, including details from public conversations, between Kalamazoo County and WMU.
DENIED: Commercial rezone request for 4301 Stadium Dr.
ALPA Board Member, Wendy Denning giving public comment. Other board members in background, wearing green ALPA t-shirts (from left to right: Tom Howes, Dok Stevens, Judy Huxmann). ALPA volunteers and community members in line and crowd.
Thank you so much for an amazing turnout Monday night at the City Commission.
The Commissioners voted unanimously to deny the proposed commercial rezoning request for the corner of Stadium and Drake adjacent to the Preserve.
(MLive coverage) (WMUK coverage) (City Commission meeting on youtube).
We're so grateful to all who submitted well-researched statements and stood up to give personal and organizational testimonies against the proposed change.
ALPA continues work to stop rezoning of 4301 Stadium Dr.
January 2026 The result of an intense information campaign by ALPA, with the help of many community members and organizations, was that the City Planning Commission voted in November, to not recommend the zoning change request for the property at 4301 Stadium Dr. The City Commission will ultimately decide the request at its January 26th meeting. ALPA has continued working tirelessly with neighborhood and relevant organizations, news sources and social media to remind the community to continue to voice their opposition to this rezoning by contacting City Commisioners and/or attending the meeting on January 26th in person or by zoom and phone.
ALPA Hosts Informational Meeting Regarding Rezoning Request
October 23, 2025
Around 50 interested community members attended the meeting hosted by ALPA to inform the public and help direct efforts regarding the proposed rezoning of the corner of Stadium & Drake roads. ALPA board members Dok Stevens, Josh Kieser and John Kreuzer each presented detailed facts about the history of the efforts to establish and protect the Preserve, the environmental and safety threats to nature and the general population, and finally specific ways to oppose the rezoning request from residential to commercial. Questions, comments and refreshments rounded out the successful gathering and a copy of the presentation is posted under Current Issues.
Volunteers continue important work in Preserve
September 27, 2025 Thank you so much to the volunteers who showed up for our Fall Volunteer Day. It was a beautiful morning and we got a lot accomplished. We wrapped young trees to help protect them from deer, prepared areas within the Preserve where Oak trees will be planted and collected trash. It was great to see everyone! We hope you'll join us for our next volunteer morning
Summer work day volunteers tag trees for future proection
August 23, 2025 A dedicated and energetic group of about 12 volunteers enjoyed the late summer morning helping to tag trees and learn about which trees will need protection from the weather, beavers and deer. On Septepmber 27, volunteer crews will go back and either wrap these same trees with protective devices or wider fencing. The oaks and hickory trees are flagged for special attention. ALPA hopes to keep these native hardwoods thriving in the preserve for many years to come.
History Walk attracts over 70 participants
May 24, 2025 Mark Hoffman, the knowledgeable historian of the preserve who has first hand experience and is one of the driving forces in achieving the protected status for the land, offered to a crowd of over 70 people, a history talk/tour of Asylum Lake Preserve from 1880s to early 1970s. He had photos and maps from back then and also photos of the cottages and residences that were built during the Hospital days which have just a few remnants left on the ground. It was interesting to be standing in the preserve and imagining what it may have looked like. The morning weather was pleasant and walkers of all ages enjoyed the info, the exercise and the delicious snacks. More historical information can be found here
Although this tour focused on the white people time of this land, it is hoped that in the future to have a discussion of the land and its people prior to 1880.
It is important to know that ALPA is working hard to build a community of like-minded and supportive people who love the preserve. As the preserve is safe for now we will still have challenges ahead concerning the corner of Drake and Stadium. For now things are quiet on the surface with no publicly known plans. But please stay alert to calls to show up at City Hall, or write letters if it becomes necessary. For now, Enjoy the preserve, leave nothing behind.
Lake levels continue to fluctuate
May 2025 While the lake levels continue to fluctuate, volunteers have been trying to stay ahead of the beavers and other floating debris at the area where the lake drains into the creek and Little Asylum Lake. More volunteers are always welcome as this seems to be a never-ending job.
WMU targets areas for new growth in prescribed burn
May 2025 After having to reschedule due to poor weather conditions, the prescribed burn in areas F3 and F8 happened a couple weeks ago and it was a pretty thorough burn, here are a few smoke and fire images. We all highly respect the power of fire, and how quickly the plants come back up to seek sun. In many areas you can hardly see evidence of the burn at all just a few weeks later.
Vounteers tackled garlic mustard
April 25 The garlic mustard pull on Saturday, April 26 was a success! We had two good crews of about 16 in both morning and afternoon. It was a mix of ages but mostly high schoolers getting their community service credits for graduation. They were all great and hung in there until we filled about 32 big trash bags with the invasive plant. Thanks to all who joined in.
There were a couple of "flash mob" pulls later as the plants matured quickly. These were announced on Facebook and Instagram. s.
As the blossoms fade and the seed pods appear, we are ending the GM pull for the season. Many lessons were learned.
Besides the fact that this has been a good spring for everything growing, blossoming and becoming full - garlic mustard came in as a healthy, abundant and overwhelming crop. There were many willing participants in this year's harvest of the escaped "culinary" herb, who pulled hundreds of pounds of the plant, but we couldn't get it all.
Many thanks to the anonymous volunteers who continued to pull at Parkview and Winchell the second weekend. It felt like another 100 lbs of plant mass removed.