More funds needed for preserve

Convent land eyed as a central park

By Danielle Portteus, The Monroe Evening News, March 30 2010

The Friends of the Academy Preserve remain active in fundraising efforts to acquire land owned by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Friends, a nonprofit organization in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Monroe County, recently secured a $2.2 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

The grant will help acquire about 128 acres of open space in the City of Monroe with a portion of the land in Frenchtown Township. The land is located near the Motherhouse facility and includes Sisters Island and some riverbank on W. Elm Ave.

The acquisition of the land will help protect a variety of ecosystems from destruction, including an oak savannah, oak-hickory forest, farmland, a lowland forest and a forested island in the River Raisin.

In order to receive the grant, the Friends must raise $750,000 in matching funds. The group continues to solicit donations from area businesses and private citizens, said Friends member and Monroe resident Pam Harwood.

"At this point, we are doing research to secure additional monies through grants and foundations," Mrs. Harwood said.

The Friends has raised about $350,000 in cash and pledges. That figure includes a $200,000 challenge grant from the DTE Foundation, said Robert Peven, director of the county planning department.

"We have about a year left to raise about $300,000," Mr. Peven said. "It's really important for the
Friends of the Academy to be successful in its fundraising efforts."

Mr. Peven said the state's Department of Natural Resources knows the group has to negotiate the purchase price of the property.

The next step is to have a formal boundary survey conducted, said Danielle Conroyd, project director for the long-range master plan for the IHM. Ms. Conroyd said a purchase price has not been determined between the two parties.

In addition to the formal survey, two appraisals of the property by state certified appraisers and an environmental survey must take place.

"The big thing now is fundraising," Mrs. Harwood said. "I'm not sure of a timeline, but I’m definitely optimistic we can raise the money."

Calling the project a win-win, Mrs. Harwood said every party will benefit from the preserve.

"It's a very unique opportunity for us to preserve rare and valuable land," she said.

State Rep. Kate Ebli, D-Monroe, said such projects help make sure Michigan remains abundant with "countrysides and great outdoors."

"Preserving our wildlife areas, we are helping drive our tourism industry, support local businesses and create jobs for our works," Rep. Ebli said.

Those who wish to donate to the project should contact the Community Foundation of Monroe at 242-1976.