July 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 31

By James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

Law review

Golf Lease Consistent
with Public Purpose Gift?

I

n the case of Drake v. City of Benton Harbor, No. 287502, (Mich. App. 1/21/2010),

plaintiffs challenged a state trial court order in favor of the City which had found " a
golf course falls within the definition of a " park purpose " and/or 'public purpose'
" within the context of a private gift of land to the City. In so doing, the trial court had
determined " the unambiguous language in the property deed and consent judgment
does not preclude the City of Benton Harbor from leasing a portion of Jean Klock Park to
Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment Corp. for use of the same as a golf course
open to the general public. "

In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Klock gifted a 90-acre parcel of land with one-half mile of Lake Michigan frontage, known as Jean Klock Park, to the City of Benton
Harbor ( " Benton Harbor " ). The deed to Benton Harbor specified that the property was conveyed upon:
the express condition, and with the express covenant
that said lands and premises shall forever be used by
said City of Benton Harbor for bathing beach, park
purposes, or other public purpose; and at all times
shall be open for the use and benefit of the public,
subject only to such rules and regulations as the said
City of Benton Harbor may make and adopt.

Until 2003, Benton Harbor had used and maintained Jean Klock Park consistent with the deed, i.e.,
as a public park and beach. In 2003, Benton Harbor
announced its plan to sell part of the park to a private housing developer. Plaintiffs, along with a group
of other Benton Harbor citizens, initiated a lawsuit
against Benton Harbor challenging its right to convey the property under the assertion that such sale
violated the covenants and restrictions in its deed.
This prior lawsuit was settled between the parties and resulted in the entry of a consent judgment
on January 27, 2004. The consent judgment allowed

photo courtesy of SaveJeanKlockPark.org

Jean Klock Park

	

www.NRPA .ORG

J U LY 2 0 1 1

Parks & Recreation	 29



July 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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