Public land needs to be protected in the interest of public enjoyment, and South Fox Island is no exception.
The island’s territory is split between the State of Michigan and David Johnson, a land developer and 1971 MSU graduate.
Johnson’s land, which is interspersed with state land, forms a checkerboard pattern across the Lake Michigan island. Johnson has proposed a deal with the state to consolidate all of his land to the south side of the island.
The trade would give Johnson 2,167 acres on the south side and give the state 1,264 on the north side. The length of public shoreline would decrease by 5,585 feet.
Johnson is also responsible for creating MSU’s Victor Institute for Responsible Land Development and Use with a $1 million-dollar gift in the mid-1990s.
The island is popular with a few die-hard tourists and hunters, but is not heavily visited because of the three-hour boat ride it takes to get there.
It is also the home of Native American burial grounds that are currently off-limits because the land is owned by Johnson.
The trade has created a fuss among the people who enjoy the island’s natural beauty. If the proposed land trade takes place, visitors will lose public beach areas and many attractive parts of the island.
It is the state’s responsibility to maintain the island as an attractive tourist destination. They should do their best to avoid the land swap and keep South Fox Island public.
If Johnson is able to take over the south part of the island, it would be very tempting to develop that land.
Although Johnson says he has no plans for development, he won’t be around forever. Someday, when the land changes hands, development may be seen as a very lucrative option.
With all the urban sprawl and development going on in today’s world, it is easy to understand why Johnson would want a secluded spot on the planet just for himself and those close to him - quiet, serene and untouched.
We’d all like that but Johnson doesn’t have to be the only one who can enjoy the pleasures of the southern part of the island. The best use of land on South Fox is to make it open for public enjoyment.
In fact, the state has had several opportunities in the past to make the island more accessible to the public. Before Johnson, private land on the island went through multiple owners.
Each time that land was up for sale, the state neglected to take advantage of the opportunity and purchase the rest of the island.
It is surprising the state is even considering this land trade. There is no good reason for the deal and the public has little to gain.
In the end, the decision will be made by the National Park Service and the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service.
When Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources makes its recommendation to those federal departments, hopefully it will suggest the sensible move, which is to keep South Fox Island the way it is.
