LANSING- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and U.S. Congressman Fred Upton today applauded a decision by the National Park Service (NPS) to approve conversion of Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor to become part of the Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment Plan.

The NPS announced its decision earlier today.

"Harbor Shores is a signature project for Benton Harbor that will revitalize the community and create jobs," said Governor Granholm and Congressman Upton.  "We applaud the NPS for its decision that makes it possible for this project to move forward."

The action by the NPS clears the way for a portion of the park to be converted into three holes of a public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.  Through an extensive coordinated effort with several state agencies, and the city of Benton Harbor and the NPS, the conversion will formalize approval of converting 22 acres of Jean Klock Park.  In return, developers will mitigate 38 acres of new public park land and construct a non-motorized, public-use trail system connecting the park lands with residential and commercial areas.

Governor Granholm noted that in addition to the work completed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist the community in preparing this for NPS review, the state will monitor the progress of Benton Harbor's redevelopment plan to ensure compliance with long-term obligations of the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program.

Harbor Shores Community Redevelopment Inc. is co-owned by Cornerstone Alliance, the Whirlpool Foundation, and the Alliance for World-Class Communities.  The 530-acre, mixed-use development will include 800 residential units around the golf course, 45,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, a marina, and one or two hotels with a conference center and an indoor water park.  Developers have estimated the cost of the project to be $500-$650 million.

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