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April 9, 2026

Update on the sale of HCNC property

First a brief recap:
On March 16, 2026, the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) school board voted
to approve the sale of HCNC property to the Land Conservancy of West MIchigan
(LCWM). A stipulation of that agreement is that KISD will demolish all or some of the
buildings on the property.
Lily’s Frog Pad, the nonprofit organization that has been running HCNC for the past
15 years, was not included in the decision to sell the property or any of the negotiations
leading up to this decision. The KISD superintendent has told us that we should return
all keys to buildings on the property by June 30, 2026.
Update:
Representatives from Lily’s Frog Pad board of directors have met with the executive
director of LCWM. LCWM has asked Lily’s Frog Pad to submit a sustainable business
plan by April 17, 2026. This plan will detail how all 5 buildings could be saved for future
use by being financially supported through donations, sponsorships, memberships and
rental of the buildings. This request by LCWM to Lily’s Frog Pad is an exciting and
positive turn of events. Lily’s Frog Pad board of directors is on track to develop this
business plan as soon as is practical. We are hoping to save all 5 buildings and our
nature center programs. While the future of HCNC is still uncertain, we are grateful to
LCWM for this opportunity.
Please email any questions or helpful comments to john.kozal93@gmail.com.
Sincerely Lily’s Frog Pad Board of Directors:
Cindy Patin, Donna Mourer, Glenna Tollon, Kim Gillow, John Kozal, Vickie Finkler

Learn More

Welcome to the Howard Christensen Nature Center! We are located in Northern Kent County and nestled upon 135 acres of natural ecosystems, HCNC has become a refuge to a multitude of plants and wildlife. The Nature Center boasts a great diversity of habitats, a variety of trails to entice hikers and campers, and is home to a variety of community-based programs. Each year our facilities serve thousands of visitors with our children and adult programs, and our miles of walkable trails.

Our mission is to inspire appreciation and respect for the natural world, to increase awareness of environmental concerns, and encourage individuals to maintain Earth’s ecology.

Donate today to help us preserve 135 acres of Michigan forest, maintain our trail systems, and provide important community programming. We never turn anyone based on their ability to pay. Your continued support enables us to provide free access to our facility for those who can’t afford it.

Chrishaven Lake Visiting us is good for you!

Did you know Chrishaven Lake is slowly becoming a bog? About 20,000 years ago, the state of Michigan was covered in ice sheets, and about 3,000 years ago the ice retreated north. The retreating glacier left a chunk behind forming Chrishaven Lake at Howard Christensen Nature Center. The lake has been evolving ever since. Help us chart the progress of our beloved lake with this Citizen Science Project.

Simply stop by our Chronolog station on the south dock. Take a landscape photo, as directed by the Chronolog sign, and email it to upload@chronolog.io with the subject line HCN-101 and we will be able to chart the lake’s progress through a time lapse video.