On March 16, 2026, the Kent ISD School Board voted 4-1 to approve the sale of the 135-acre property to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan for a nominal fee of $1,000. While the transfer guarantees that the land itself will legally remain a protected nature preserve open to the public for hiking and recreation, the purchase agreement contains a highly contested clause: Kent ISD has officially approved and budgeted $160,000 of public taxpayer money to completely demolish all five educational buildings on the site.
The lone dissenting vote came from board member Laura Featherston.
Video courtesy of PositivelyMichigan.net
Well-Maintained Infrastructure Slated for Destruction
The structures slated for demolition include the site's landmark Interpretive Center—which houses irreplaceable life-size habitat dioramas, an extensive taxidermy bird collection, and an interactive mammal fur touch room—alongside the Welcome Center, an open-air pavilion, and Camp Lily's retreat facilities.
As highlighted in the accompanying video report, these buildings are far from derelict or abandoned. The volunteer board stresses that the structures are well-kept, clean, structurally sound, and completely functional. They have been actively utilized and meticulously maintained, serving as a turnkey educational campus that requires no immediate public rescue or structural remediation.
Kent ISD completely cut its own operational funding for the nature center back in 2005 due to budget constraints. Following a brief operational stint by the Kent Conservation District that ended in 2010, a dedicated group of local volunteers stepped forward in 2011 to form the independent non-profit Lily's Frog Pad, Inc.
For the last 15 years, this volunteer board has independently managed day-to-day operations, maintained the trail systems, and kept the buildings in excellent repair without direct financial assistance from the school district. Because of the impending sale and the forced removal of the buildings, the board of Lily's Frog Pad, Inc. has officially announced it will be forced to cease all operations this June.
The Stance of the Decision Makers
According to Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman, the decision to divest from the property came after consultation with local district superintendents, who indicated that schools were no longer utilizing the facility for programming in the way they historically had.
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan has stated that long-term building maintenance, capital repairs, and operational liabilities do not align with its core mission of land stewardship and habitat protection. They maintain that removing the structures is necessary for long-term safety and financial responsibility.
However, the volunteer board of HCNC argues that flattening these perfectly viable, taxpayer-funded structures entirely eliminates the possibility of future hands-on workshops, school field trip staging, and cold-weather nature programs. The non-profit board has publicly requested that Kent ISD and the Land Conservancy pause the demolition to consider a compromise: allowing the Land Conservancy to purchase and protect the 135 acres of land, while allowing a community entity to preserve the immediate footprint of the well-kept buildings for ongoing education.
With the sale finalized and the $160,000 demolition budget allocated, time is running out for Kent County taxpayers and families to voice their perspective on the removal of this public infrastructure.
How Kent County Viewers Can Take Action
If you want to intervene before the demolition crews are deployed this summer, use the official contacts and digital platforms below to make your voice heard directly:
Urge the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to Pause: Contact the conservancy leadership directly to request a "pause and assess" period. Advocate for third-party structural management or an adaptive reuse partnership that keeps the classrooms standing.
- Phone: 616-451-9476
- General Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Official Website: Land Conservancy of West Michigan (naturenearby.org)
Hold the Kent ISD Administration Accountable: Write to the school board trustees and administrative leadership to challenge spending $160,000 in public educational funds on structural destruction. Demand an open public forum.
- Board Email Address:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Official Website: Kent ISD Board of Education
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