March 19, 2026 – Revised May 11, 2026

Dear Howard Christensen Nature Center (HCNC) Supporters, and Community Patrons:

History of HCNC – 1975 to 2005 (30 Years) 

The Howard Christensen Nature Center property was gifted to the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) in 1975 by Frank and Rita Christensen in honor of their son, Howard, who passed away from a brain aneurysm at the young age of 17. They wanted all children to enjoy nature and experience it in a very personal way, with the unique plants and habitats not found together anywhere else in the area, just as their son had on the property.

KISD operates with taxpayer funds through voter-approved millages and federal grants.  Through board votes, the Welcome Center, Interpretative Center, and maintenance building were built in the 1970’s to support student learning through field trips, camps, events and teacher training.  (When the Interpretative Center was built in 1978, it was equal to a $1.6M project in today’s financial terms.)

Over the years, thousands of elementary and middle school-aged students were able to experience hands-on learning as part of their school curriculum.  In 1985, over 17,000 students attended field trips at HCNC.  Schools were on waiting lists, at one time, due to the great demand for field trips.  A second, large multi-purpose building was built by KISD in 2002, with an open-air pavilion next door, to handle this demand.  At this time there were 23 full-time teachers working at HCNC, along with a director and various support staff.   

History of HCNC –  2005 to 2025 (20 years) 

In the spring of 2005, the KISD made the decision to prioritize funding in other areas, and removed the funding from HCNC.  All operations ceased.  In 2006, the Kent Conservation District took over the facility, to continue offering field trips and programming at the nature center, until 2011, when the loss of specific funding caused another closure.

Because of its long history, unique flora, and rich legacy, volunteers who cared for HCNC and its mission, formed a non-profit organization in 2011, known as Lily’s Frog Pad, Inc., to carry on the original vision of the Christensen Family.  Lily’s Frog Pad has continually signed a formal lease agreement every year since 2011 with KISD for $1.00 a year to use the property and its buildings.  Currently, there are 6 volunteer community members on Lily’s Board of Directors who are dedicated to continuing the legacy for children of this community, on a limited budget funded by memberships, donations, and fundraisers.  

Please note: KISD has helped with maintaining the buildings with tax payer money over the years with new furnaces, new roof, new septic systems, and a new well in the summer of 2025, etc., while Lily’s Frog Pad, Inc., paid for heat, electricity, plowing, etc., and served as good stewards of the land.

March 2025:

Lily’s Board of Directors made the decision to begin their fundraising campaign with a proposal to KISD’s Superintendent to re-establish a funding partnership with them, to better serve the children of Kent County.  A board member met with Dr. Gorman in April of 2025, and hosted him for a site visit to HCNC in July of 2025, to share the nuances of our programming and the unique attributes of our nature center.  

December 2025: 

With no word from KISD, we made the decision during a budget meeting to create a proposal for financial support to present to the KISD, that would support a full-time director, a part-time maintenance officer, and part-time office staff.  We felt the timing was excellent since the KISD had just successfully passed another millage renewal in November for $30 million a year for the next 10 years.  We initiated contact, again, with the KISD and were asked to meet after the holidays.  

January 16, 2026:

Three of our Board members met in-person with the KISD Superintendent and the assistant superintendent to present our detailed business plan. We were looking for a yes, or a “no, thank you.”  However, we were blindsided to learn that KISD was no longer interested in owning the property and were actively searching for a buyer. We asked KISD to reconsider.  They countered with an offer to take a month to survey the 20 school district superintendents for their interest in continuing school use.  (We shared the fact that school superintendents don’t have direct access to the interests and/or struggles that classroom teachers experience with access to field trips – fees, bussing costs, etc.).  During this time, our board made a conscious decision to keep this information confidential in order to maintain the lines of communication with KISD.  

February 23, 2026:

With initiation from us again, a Zoom meeting was held with three of our board members and KISD.  They shared that the area superintendents had expressed little to no interest in retaining HCNC and that KISD had identified a potential owner, Land Conservancy of West Michigan (LCWM).  It was stated that plans were still in the preliminary stage between KISD and LCWM.  As part of the proposed transfer, $160,000 of taxpayer money was allocated in December of 2025 for demolition of all 5 tax-payer paid buildings, since LCWM’s business model does not allow for any structures. Although good stewards of the land for almost 15 years, we had no input into any of these discussions between KISD and LCWM, as we were not invited into the process at any point.   [Please note that KISD did allow Lily’s trustees to meet in person with LCWM, which we appreciated, in an attempt to encourage LCWM to reconsider keeping all of the buildings for field trips and programming.]

March 13, 2026:

Two of our Board members met with LCWM’s Executive Director at their office.  We expressed our appreciation for their work, but stressed that it was vital to keep the buildings with the land, in order to serve students through programming.  (KISD knew this because they were the ones who built them in the first place.)  LCWM’s Director reiterated to us that their accreditation does not allow for buildings, and that the transfer was still in the “preliminary stages”.   

March 16, 2026:

Three of our board members attended the KISD board meeting with the goal of persuading the KISD Board to work with us to find a better owner who would keep the buildings, and carry on their mission.  It was a complete shock, and disappointment, that one of the agenda items was to vote to sell the property to LCWM.  We implored them during public comment to reconsider, however, the vote passed 4-1 with Laura Featherston voting “No”.  [On KISD’s website, one can find public paperwork pertaining to the proposed terms and conditions of the sale under the March 16, 2026 Agenda document.]

April 22, 2026:

LCWM Executive Director encouraged us to submit a business proposal with our goals to the LCWM Board.  It included a partnership, similar to other LCWM partnerships, to continue the great legacy of nature-based learning at HCNC, and to preserve all of the buildings. The Director also requested that we wait to solicit funding from outside sources, so that we could work together to secure funding. This was so refreshing to hear!!  The LCWM board, however, denied our proposal.  

May 9, 2026:

Lily’s Board of Directors are NOT Done!  

Do you want your tax dollars to be used to demolish these buildings? Our Board members are continuing daily to connect with others in the community who want to preserve the option for programming for students, and the well-constructed buildings.  Our next step is to reverse the decision of the KISD Board, and gain their support to sell us the buildings – with a bit of property around them – and let the Land Conservancy of West Michigan purchase just the land.  Plus, tax dollars would not be used to demolish the buildings!  It is a win-win for EVERYONE!  

We continue to seek any and all assistance from throughout West Michigan and beyond for supporters and donors who value the Christensen Family’s original vision and mission.  Your help is needed to save the buildings and the land – and preserve programming, by interpretive teachers, with proper shelters in place –  as it was originally intended.   Please contact Lily’s Frog Pad Board member, John Kozal, at john.kozal93@gmail.com, to help us with this endeavor.

Sincerely,
Lilily’s Frog Pad Board of Directors:

Donna Mourer, Glenna Tollin, Kim Gillow, Cindy Patin, John Kozal, Vickie Finkler