December 21, 1965

Mr. Tom Ferega

President, Lakeshore JayUees
Donna Drive

Stevensville, Michigan

Dear Tom:

At the meeting when we discussed our proposal for a county
park, Bob Stanley asked the pertinent question: "Public
beach for whom?" I replied that when the Grand Mere area
operated as s county park, the county eould control the use
of ite--much as the city of St. Joseph can control the use
of its beaches by non-area residents. |

Mr. Suggitt stated this was not the case. He said if Federal
funds are involved, then the park area must be open to the
general public; in effect we would have the same problems as
Warren Dunes has. This was a most damaging remark to our
presentation. Obviously if the county eannot control the use
of a county park, we might just es well give up the idea.

Too often we accept as gospel what the "expert" tells us, and
Mr. Suggitt poses as the expert.

The day following your meeting I called the regional office
of the Department of the Interior in Ann Arbor. The Director
told me--and has promised to confirm by letter--that local
governmental units participating in the Land and Water Con-
servation Fund program (which is what we purpose) may
discriminate on the basis of residence, but not on the basis
of race, creed or color.

Mr. Suggitt is clearly misinformed. Also I feel he is in the
position of having to defend the plan which he earlier prepared
for the Township and cannot look at the proposal for a county
park from an overall view.

If it were a county park, all county residents could use it.
By a discriminating fee basis, non-county residents could be
limited as was deemed necessary by the County Park Board.

aZe Perega

We plan in January to ask the County Board of Supervisors to
set up a County Park Board.

At. your meeting I suggested that an erent < the tax
structure and school district financing be undertaken by a
committee consisting of a JayCee representative, perhaps
Warren Van Osdal, Township treasurer, and airs sentative’

from the Grand Mere Association.

Tom, I honestly: feel a park in this area’ such as. we purpose
would. be of far greater value -- and use to the township and
county -- than any commercial development. The support of the
Lakeshore JayCees end other JayCee chapters in the eounty would
be of immense help.

I sincerely request your early stceon gens of and participation
in this effort.

Just this past week Manley has selected an phan th the solth onl
of Grand Mere for his next sand mining operation, The trees

from a dune have been felled, stumps pulled and the’ thin ground

cover stripped. Some months ago, in anticipation of just. auch
a move, we requested the Township to enact an ordinance ..
specifieally prohibiting sand mining» ina. residentially-zoned
area, Despite much conversation, we still don't Baye ee

Public outery ean accomplish a great de deat “<= We ant you to
join your volees with ours.

| Sincerely,

Prank Lahr,
Vice-President

PL/ ja :
Encl.¢ Booklet on County Parks
ee: BStanley