What's up at Hart's Lake?

Hart's Lake, located next to Fort Custer Military Base in western Calhoun County, is open to the public for passive recreation. No motorized vehicles are allowed. The area is great for birdwatching, hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and enjoying and exploring nature. As of June 17, 2009 Hart's Lake is closed to fishing. We regret this decision but over-fishing, access, and littering issues forced us to close the Lake to fishing. Since the property lies within the City of Battle Creek, hunting is not allowed. We ask that you "take only pictures, leave only footprints."

A Brief History of Hart's Lake

The property known as Hart's Lake is adjacent to the Fort Custer Military Base in Battle Creek, Michigan. The entire Hart's Lake property (445 acres with a 110 acre lake) was deeded from the Military to the City of Battle Creek back in the 1970's. The City of Battle Creek has spent the past 30 plus years attempting to sell the area to industrial developers, with no success.

Due to development pressures, the Military has realized a need for a buffer zone around their training centers. Through the Michigan Army National Guard and the Department of Defense's Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program, a $1 million grant was awarded toward the purchase of the Hart's Lake property.

Realizing the potential open space and natural resources enjoyment that the parcel could provide to their hometown City of Battle Creek, another $1 million was secured from the WK Kellogg Foundation toward the purchase.

The Calhoun Conservation District and their partners made an offer to the City of Battle Creek to purchase the lower two-thirds of the property at $2 million and work out an option agreement to raise the funds for the purchsae of the remaining one-third of the property. The Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF) was instrumental in arranging this agreement.

The Calhoun Conservation District now owns the lower two-thirds (325 acres including the Lake) and has until August 31, 2009 to raise funds to purchase the remaining one-third (120 acres). BCCF has established an endowment fund to assist in raising the funds needed ($1.2 million) to purchase the upper 120 acres.

The Hart's Lake property is a pristine natural resources area. The public now has access to the lower two-thirds of the property, which is a marvelous example of pre-settlement vegetation with a large and untouched lake at the heart of it all. Deed restrictions now in place stipulate passive, non-motorized use by the public and the area will continue to be managed in the interest of biological integrity. The public can enjoy hands-on experiences rarely afforded those in southern Michigan. An Advisory Team, consisting of conservation-minded partners, is active in the overall management of the property, addressing all aspects of natural resources. Watch here for the soon-to-be-published management plan for Hart's Lake. Trails and maps will be published and made available on this website as soon as possible!

To access Hart's Lake(see map below), look for the "Hart's Lake Entrance" sign, near the end of Stanley Drive. Enjoy!