Land

Preserving the lands of the wealthy

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A stretch of New York’s Hudson Valley is known for its old wealth, stately mansions–and encroaching new wealth and development.

In the words of the National Park Service, “For nearly two centuries, this place has been home to socially prominent New Yorkers.

It still is, and increasingly so. Median household income of $71,508 in 2008-12 is up by 34.70 percent since 2000.

Those pressures make it imperative to preserve what can be preserved of the land and the culture.

Land

Welcome to Milliken State Park

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(MI) Detroit Free Press – This park is the perfect way to honor the former governor, who was devoted to protecting Michigan’s natural resources and to ensuring public access to them — at the same time championing the state’s cities, especially Detroit; hence his “odd couple” relationship, as he called it, with Coleman Young. Milliken said he was far happier to have a park named after him than a building somewhere in Lansing. But he was at his best discussing how bad various kinds of divisiveness have been for Michigan and for metro Detroit. More

Echo

Stop Hinsdale’s land grab

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(IL) Chicago Tribune – Cook County officials are discussing an indefensible land deal that would permit the village of Hinsdale to clear forest preserve land for its own use. The proposed agreement would violate the law that protects preserves for future generations. If board members cut this deal with Hinsdale, expect many municipalities to attempt similar land grabs of their own. More

Echo

End of the road for public beach?

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(MI) The Holland Sentinel – Lower courts have issued conflicting resolutions about the beach at the end of 121st Avenue, resulting in two sets of signs with two sets of directions. Now, the Michigan Court of Appeals might give the final direction after it hears testimony Wednesday about the issue of beach use along Lake Michigan. More

Wildlife

Elk Hunting in the Badlands

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(NY) The New York Times –  In 1985, 47 elk were released in the southern section of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. Today, that herd numbers some 900 animals, far more than the park can sustain. The herd needs to be reduced to about 300 in order to bring it into balance with its ecosystem. What to do? More

Recreation

DNR planning significant expansion of Pike Lake area

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(WI) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – The Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – a popular hiking and camping destination just 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee – would be expanded nearly fivefold in the future to protect the headwaters of the Ashippun River and possibly provide hunting opportunities, under a draft master plan for the unit. The developing plan also recommends construction of a ramp for launching boats with motors – the first access for motorboats on the property since it opened as a state park in 1971, said Therese Gripentrog, a landscape architect with the state Department of Natural Resources in Milwaukee. The park was designated as a unit of the state forest in 1997. More

Recreation

Leaves, leaks and lots of signs

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(MI) Detroit Free Press – What does it take to get Michigan’s state parks up and running for summer visitors each year? Although the parks generally stay open all year, many buildings are closed and staff is reduced over the winter. Here’s a look behind the scenes at some of the springtime work.We not only have the usual campground/day use area building openings, hiring or rehiring of about 40 employees, train/update staff on recent policy/law changes, and the numerous grounds maintenance tasks left from the residue of winter, but there also are a couple unique areas as well. More