Chikaming Open Lands has acquired another 87 acres of property to be preserved for the public’s benefit.

COL Director Ryan Postema tells us a fundraising effort started in the spring, raising $1.2 million to acquire and steward the Founders Preserve on Three Oaks Road in Chikaming Township. He describes the site as a mix of forest, wetlands, and former agricultural fields. More than 200 individual donors contributed to make the acquisition possible, with the sale closing last week.

Postema says Chikaming Open Lands will now work to make the new preserve available to the public.

“Over the winter, we’ll put together the plans for a new parking area, a trail system,” Postema said. “If things go according to plan, we’ll be working on those next summer. And with a goal of trying to have everything completed by the end of the year.”

Postema says the preserve is actually two parcels along Three Oaks Road, just north of East Road. Its acquisition means the property won’t be spoiled by development.

“This property is desirable. It’s a high-profile location along Three Oaks Road between Sawyer and Three Oaks. And so it’ll be a really great asset to the community.”

Postema added the new preserve is being created to honor COL’s four founders — Steve Smith, Jean Smith, Jeanie Van Nice, and the late Peter Van Nice — whose early vision helped shape the future of land protection in the area. Since its founding in 1999, COL has protected nearly 2,500 acres across Berrien County.

Chikaming Open Lands says it looks forward to welcoming the community to Founders Preserve through guided hikes, volunteer stewardship days, and educational programs next year.