David and Eleanor Bailey envisioned a beautiful natural space for the public to enjoy when they donated their land for the Metcalf Lake Natural Area & Park over 20 years ago. Now, with the support of the Bailey’s children, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and Barry County Parks & Recreation Commission are exploring future designs that will enhance the natural area while providing safe public access.

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is pleased to be working with the City of Battle Creek and the Barry County Parks & Recreation Commission to permanently conserve the 160-acre Metcalf Lake property, located in Assyria Township in Barry County, just 7 miles north of downtown Battle Creek. The land includes 35-acre Metcalf Lake and was donated by David and Eleanor Bailey in November of 1999 to the City of Battle Creek to serve the community as a public nature preserve.

The property is beautiful. Its wooded ridges and wide ravines lend themselves well to potential future trails systems. Groves of white cedar, eastern hemlock, and tamarack edge Metcalf Lake, giving parts of the property that lovely “Up North” feel. The property is also a vital headwater source for Waubascon Creek and a whole chain of downstream lakes (that include Waubascon and Foster Lakes), all the way down to the Kalamazoo River.

In order to ensure that the Metcalf Lake property will continue to function and be cared for as a nature preserve over the long term, the City of Battle Creek has decided to transfer ownership of the property to Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. In the future, we expect that Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will manage and maintain the natural areas and partner with the Barry County Parks Commission, who will provide management and oversight of the public access infrastructure at the Metcalf Lake Nature Preserve.

And now with the assistance of David and Eleanor Bailey’s children, this beautiful 160-acre property, originally gifted for outdoor recreation and as a natural space for people to study and enjoy nature, will undergo new improvements and management, thus ensuring that the Bailey’s vision will be realized.