Economic, Social, and Resource Development in Kalamazoo County
Abstract
During the summer of 1998 from June 18th through September 3rd I was employed
part-time as an intern with the Forum for Kalamazoo County and the River Partners
Program. While at the Forum I worked on a variety of projects. However, the majority
of my work was on the Kalamazoo River Valley .I railway, a proposed non-motorized
trailway linking the Kal-Haven Trail with Battle Creek's Linear Parkway.
My duties as "Trail way Coordinator" were broad and dealt with handling of mail,
creation of documents, information transfers, attending meetings, taking minutes,
organizing, some trail clearing, and participating in discussions with trailway groups and
then reporting back to my boss Patricia Adams. In addition to my involvement with the
KR VT I also participated in other programs that the "Forum" was involved in such as
their annual community Fun Fest, Citywide non-motorized transportation meetings, local
government meetings, and the Kindleberger Summer Festival.
During this time, I was fortunate in several areas. Foremost, I learned a great deal
about the economic and social benefits of sound, sustainable, urban and community
development. Specifically through materials I have read and meetings I have attended I
learned a great deal about the economic benefits of Green ways and
conservation/recreation projects. For example, the American Rails-to-Trails conservancy
is an excellent example of how economic, environmental, and social benefits can be
incorporated with each other through sound urban and rural development projects. I also
became informed on much of the state and national laws, by-laws, and funding that has
been developed to promote such projects.
Likewise, I also acquired a better understanding of my own community of
Kalamazoo and some of its satellite community's such as Parchment, Comstock, and
Augusta. I was fortunate to be able to meet many people from these communities, with
many different backgrounds. I met local government officials, people involved with
conservation agencies, farmers, homemakers, consultants, business owners ... etc. These
contacts and this sort of grass roots involvement was very important to me, and was
something I have not experienced since I left high-school and the community I grew up
in. These two complimentary areas were very key in helping me gain a better perspective
on the direction I want to take in my future career.