IDLEWILD - Michigan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2. The Idlewild community and State of Michiganmust approach this project in a strategic manner.The strategic framework must include regionalcollaboration and partnerships. The process mustbe straightforward and objective, managed withdiscipline and public accountability. Initiation ofpiecemeal phases and stop-gap programs beforecompleting a strategic master plan will notgenerate significant long-term results, and willnot attract a tourist audience.7. Creative business formats, such as a small busi‑ness incubator and locally owned food co-op,must be encouraged and evolve with traditionalmature commercial scenarios and formats.3. Invest in a community building process concur‑rent with major program and physical masterplanning. Local trust, organizational develop‑ment, networking relationships, technical knowl‑edge, conceptual mastery and problem solvingcapability require strengthening beyond currentlevels.9. Commit strategic State funding/budget for amajor long-term involvement.4. Preservation of land, and landscape, must become ashigh a priority as preservation of structures. Adetailed and comprehensive “land genealogy”should be created for each property in Idlewild.A local historic land resource plan should be pre‑pared, and used to coordinate State and Federalmanagement and disposal of “tax reverted prop‑erties”. A land trust should be created in Idlewildto manage “tax reverted properties”.The National Resource Team is composed of six interdisciplinary professionals with extensive experienceand credentials in cultural tourism, tourism economics, community organization, community planning, public humanities and arts programming, physical planning,historic preservation, landscape architecture, and architecture. Each team member left Idlewild with strongimpressions and insights. Part III/Individual Voices isincluded to enlighten the State and community to theseuniquely sincere and striking thoughts.5. Place greater local emphasis on environmentalstewardship and historic preservation as integralwith all quality of life issues in Idlewild. Protection andquality enhancement of natural resources mustbecome the top community action item. Theauthenticity, integrity and documentation of theexisting National Register District must be greatlyreinforced. Physical representation of footprintsof all structures built on Williams Island between1920 and 1940 should be one of the first historicpreservation projects. The community must makeevery effort to build a credible track record inhistoric preservation programming and education.6. A legal self-governing structure must be devel‑oped to allow Idlewild to plan and manage inits own behalf. Waiver of population requirementsfor charter township status or creation of a“special” governing district should be considered.8. Develop a “special projects” structure to producemore effective State interdepartmental collabora‑tion on Idlewild, and similar, projects. Full-timestaffing, with assignment of some executiveauthority, will be essential.10. Ensure that all cultural, historic and physicalplanning will be facilitated by competentprofessionals experienced in African Americanhistoric cultural and community planning.Idlewild Cultural Economic DevelopmentInitiative National Resource Team (NRT)Mr. Everett L. Fly, Team LeaderLandscape Architect, FASLAArchitect, NCARB CertifiedMr. Stephen L. Carter,Landscape Architect, ASLADr. Lydia C. CharlesCultural HistorianDr. Gloria HouseHumanities ScholarMr. Perry HowardLandscape Architect, FASLAMrs. N.Y. NathiriCommunity PreservationistAugust, 2006IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMiv

PART ISTRATEGIC FRAMEWORKIDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAM

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKA. APPROACHThe NRT is consciously using a strategic approachin developing its concepts and proposals forIdlewild. Detailed issues and tactics are mentionedfor conceptual continuity and reference. A compre‑hensive approach is essential for the communityto simply survive under current standards of health,safety and welfare for the greater good. The NRTfocus addresses the need to think and plan beyondabstract and generic concepts, toward philosophiesand solutions tailored to Idlewild.The National Resource Team report is organized asa framework for future thought, programming,policy development, funding development, market‑ing, planning and design. The NRT report is notpresented as a traditional master plan.The NRT recommendations are meant to employsustainable processes and produce sustainableresults. The intent is to propose solutions that canbe developed, implemented and maintained by theIdlewild community. The programs are planned tolead to immediate actions with long-range results.Observations and recommendations for content,substance, detail, quality of process and product arebased upon professional and technical standardsof required disciplines.The National Resource Team was consciouslyassembled to generate interdisciplinary thoughtand substance. Each team member was selected forthe individual talents and experiences which com‑plemented her/his principal discipline(s), and wereuniquely appropriate for the Idlewild initiative.Based on these criteria the NRT is composed asfollows:Practicing cultural historian, with nationaland international client experience in economicdevelopment via cultural tourism, extensivefield experience with community organizationfor cultural tourism, tourism programming andAfrican American history.SF:2IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMHumanities scholar, with national and interna‑tional experience in cultural programming, litera‑ture, folklore, community education, communityevents programming, publishing and AfricanAmerican culture.Community preservationist, with national andinternational experience in economic develop‑ment via cultural tourism, extensive fieldexperience with community organization forcultural tourism and tourism programming, fund‑raising, education, advanced humanitiesresearch, and African American culture.Professional landscape architect, with nationaland international experience in planning, designand implementation of complex tourism andresort destinations, extensive field experiencewith community education .Professional landscape architect, with nationalexperience in interagency process, extensive fieldexperience with large facility evaluation foradaptive reuse, community improvementprojects, community education and public educa‑tionProfessional landscape architect and architect,with national experience in historic preservation,cultural tourism planning, extensive field experi‑ence in historic resources assessment, historicdocumentation research, historic resourcesdocumentation, public arts and humanitiesprogramming, and historic AfricanAmerican communities.

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKB. OBSERVATIONS C. RECOMMENDATIONSObservations and Recommendations are presentedunder the following format:Observations/recommendations are limited tostrategic issues identified by the NRT. Theseare arranged side-by-side on the same, or imme‑diate, page(s) for ease of comparison andreference.Strategic issues and recommendations are listedin priority order, beginning with the most impor‑tant. Recommendations that can be initiated,and/or developed immediately by the Idlewildcommunity are identified with C followingthe text.KEYNOTES are included before each observa‑tion/recommendation topic to define thefundamental importance to Idlewild.OBSERVATIONS emphasize strategic conceptswhich include policy, process, procedure, organi‑zation and resources.RECOMMENDATIONS emphasize approachesfocused on the greater good of the community,community self-help, community sustainability,timing (short-term versus long-term), position‑ing Idlewild for strategic long-term partneringrelationships, and creative vision.APPENDICES are included with informationthat can be used for reference and independentfollow-up by the State and Idlewild community.Illustrations are included to document observa‑tions and support strategic examples andreferences.IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMSF:3

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK1. Stewardship & Historic PreservationKEYNOTE: Stewardship, protecting and main‑taining Idlewild’s natural setting (forest, lakewater, animals, insects, plants, and soils), will beessential for human health and safety. The PerreMarquette River, a designated National ScenicRiver, Lake Idlewild, Little Lake Idlewild andParadise Lake offer unique tourist potential.Idlewild’s National Register of Historic Placesdesignation is the highest level of recognition ofsignificance that a community can receive.Historic preservation theory, discipline, technol‑ogy, standards and practice provide the bestopportunity to preserve the human and physicalassets of Idlewild while developing economicgrowth at all levels of the population.KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLYphoto:National Wildlife Federationa. Opportunities exist for Idlewild and YatesTownship to become actively involved inenvironmental stewardship programs. A com‑prehensive environmental resources inventoryhas not been conducted for the Idlewild/YatesTownship area since the 1960’s. MichiganDepartment of Natural Resources has iden‑tified the Idlewild area as potential habitat forfederal endangered species.C. RECOMMENDATIONS1. Stewardship and Historic Preservationphoto E.L. Fly 2006MIDDLE BRANCH PERRE MARQUETTE RIVERB. OBSERVATIONSa. Idlewild and Yates Township must becomeactively involved in environmental stewardship programs. As a minimum, activitiesshould include forest management, lake waterquality, wetlands protection, and endangeredspecies protection. C1) Idlewild residents must become active inprograms to protect natural features andeducate the population about the localresources.2) The State must conduct a comprehensiveenvironmental resources inventory for theIdlewild/Yates Township area.3) Potential habitat for Federal endangeredspecies must be protected and developedfor species regeneration.b. All efforts should be made to use historic pres‑ervation as a tool to preserve Idlewild as aninhabited functioning community. Great careb. Idlewild was established, and exists, as a func‑ and patience will be required to enhance thetioning inhabited community. Its culture is quality of life of the residents, preserve theembedded in its everyday life.dignity of the residents and authentic physicalcharacter while advancing economic growth.SF:4IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAM

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKB. OBSERVATIONSC. RECOMMENDATIONS1. Stewardship & Historic Preservationc. Preservation of land, and landscape, inIdlewild is as important as preservation ofstructures. A comprehensive coordinationpolicy, or plan, for State and Federal “taxreverted properties” relative to the NationalRegister District and Yates Township is acritical need.c. Preservation of land and landscape mustbecome as high a priority as preservation ofstructures.1) A detailed and comprehensive history ofland purchase, ownership, use, size andphysical description must be conductedfor each property in Idlewild. This shouldbe approached as a “land genealogy”project. Cphoto E.L. Fly 2006OAKLAWN CEMETERYphoto E.L. Fly 2006OAKLAWN CEMETERY2) Local land resource planning must be coor‑dinated with State and Federal managementand disposal of tax reverted properties.This collaboration is especially sensitiveand critical relative to the NationalRegister District. Tools such as deedrestrictions and easements must be care‑fully developed and applied as part of ad. A wide variety of resources exist that have his ‑ master preservation plan.toric and tourism value. However, compre‑hensive historic and cultural resourcesd. The “1935 Rural Inventory: Yates Township”inventory has not been conducted for the map should be used as an authentic masterIdlewild National Register of Historic Places reference for inventory and documentation ofDistrict (T17N/R12W/Sections 5, 6, 7 partial, the Idlewild National Register of Historic8 partial). The 1979 Idlewild NationalPlaces District. The 1979 National RegisterRegister District boundaries are inaccurate inDistrict boundaries should be formallythat they do not include all of the originalamended to include all of the original IdlewildIdlewild “plats” (T17N/R12W/Sections 7 “plats” and the Oaklawn Cemetery.partial, 8 partial, 17, 18) and the OaklawnCemetery (T17N/R13W/Section 12), totaling1) A comprehensive historic and culturalmore than 1,400 acres. The list of thirtyresources inventory must be conducted for“Historic Sites In Idlewild” does not satisfy the Idlewild National Register of Historicminimum standards of content or completeness Places District.of the National Park Service or Secretary ofthe Interior Standards.2) Physical representation of footprints of allstructures built on Williams Island between1920 and 1940 should be one of the firsthistoric preservation projects.3) A formal maintenance plan for historic andcultural resources in Idlewild and YatesTownship must be developed.IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMSF:5

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKB. OBSERVATIONS1. Stewardship & Historic PreservationC. RECOMMENDATIONS4) Salvage physical artifacts and architecturalcomponents that may be used in exhibits,renovations and reconstructions. C5) A formal plan for development of historicand cultural resources in Idlewild and YatesTownship must be created.e. The community efforts to gather and maintaininformation and documentation on historicand cultural resources in Idlewild and YatesTownship can be strengthened and morecoordinated.e. Community organizations and groups mustactively collaborate to gather and maintaininformation and documentation on historicand cultural resources in Idlewild and YatesTownship. C1) A group of volunteers should accept respon‑sibility to actively lead stewardship andpublic education efforts.2) The public library in Yates Township Hallshould be used to house a local history andculture collection (oral histories, photo graphs, maps, letters, newspapers, etc).3) See “ Recommendations: #4 CommunityReadiness”4) See “Recommendations: #7 Next Steps”.f. Opportunities exist for the Idlewild and YatesTownship community to build a workingknowledge of local history information anddocumentation in the Michigan State Archivesand Library. Important and substantial documen‑tation exists in the State Archives which is notin the hands of the community, and is essentialto authentic interpretation and presentation ofIdlewild’s history and culture.g. The lack of comprehensive building and land‑scape ordinances for historic and culturalresources in Idlewild and Yates Townshipis a major problem that must be corrected.Prescriptive building codes, regulatingbuilding scopes, are in use at this time.SF:6IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMf.Idlewild community groups must visit theMichigan State Archives and Library ofMichigan to research and build a workingknowledge and bibliography of informationand documentation on Idlewild and YatesTownship. See “Recommendations: #4Community Readiness”.g. A comprehensive building and landscapeordinance for historic and cultural resources inIdlewild and Yates Township must be preparedby a building and construction professional.1) Legal authority to enact and enforce thenew ordinances must be assigned to YatesTownship.

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKC. RECOMMENDATIONS2) New building and landscape codes must beperformance based, and contain referenceguidelines for environmental impacts andphysical appearance.(I.1.h) 1935 RURAL INVENTORY MAP:Prepared from field surveys of Yates Township, Lake County, sponsored by theMichigan State Tax Commission. Twenty two “Plats” labeled as “Idlewild”, plusdozens of adjacent private properties (YELLOW), extend from U.S. Highway 10south to the Middle Branch of the Perre Marquette River. See map I.1.i for detail.map courtesy Michigan Archivesoverlay graphics by E.L. FlyIDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMSF:7

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK(I.1.i) NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DISTRICT (1979):Inaccurate boundaries contain approximately 1, 300 acres (GREEN). The 1935Idlewild Plats (PINK) covering more than 1, 400 acres, and the OaklawnCemetery (BLUE), are not included in the Idlewild National Register District.Middle Branch Perre Marquette River (LIGHT BLUE), National Scenic River,crosses southern edge of Idlewild tracts.SF:8IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMmap courtesy Michigan Archivesoverlay graphics by E.L. Fly

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK(I.1.j) ENVIRONMENTALSTEWARDSHIP:The Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycacidesmelissa samuelis - SEE INSET) is anendangered species (U.S. Fish a n dWildlife Service) that lives in the Idlewildarea. Karner caterpillars feed only on wildlupine (Lupinus perennis) plant leaves.Idlewild’s environment could support wildlupine growth for Karner Blue habitat.Michigan DNR has started a Karner BlueHabitat Conservation Plan.photos: National Wildlife Federation(I.1.k) HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION:Photograph of “Roadway to the Island” isauthentic documentation of wood bridgeconstruction (foreground) and IdlewildClubhouse (left background). Other documents exist to make accurate interpretationof structures and reconstruction of landscapeon the Island feasible.photo courtesy Michigan Archives(I.1.l) VERNACULAR LANDSCAPE:Idlewild’s historic road layout includes pavedand unpaved paths. Maintaining unpavedpaths is as important to Idlewild’s authenticity and character as preservation of structures. Design and engineering guidelinescan be developed to stabilize unpaved roadswithout destroying historic character.photo E.L. Fly 2006IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMSF:9

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK(I.1.m) STONE PYLON:One of a pair of native stone pylons markingthe south end of Paradise Path. This is anexample of one of many landscapefeatures that have significance in Idlewild’scharacter and traditions. These should be professionally documented with physicalmeasurements and detailed written historicalbackground.photo E.L. Fly 2006(I.1.n) VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE:The Lindsey residence is included in theIdlewild National Register District as a contributing historic resource. This structureshould be included in tours with its story ofbeing built stone by stone.photo E.L. Fly 2006(I.1.o) ARCHITECTURAL VARIETY:The Nelson building is one of several commercial properties included in the IdlewildNational Register District as a contributinghistoric resource. This structure should beprofessionally documented with photographs,measured drawings and written historicalbackground.SF:10photo E.L. Fly 2006IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAM

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKB. OBSERVATIONSC. RECOMMENDATIONSa. The Idlewild National Register District his‑toric designation is a tool that can be creativelyleveraged to improve community quality of lifeand enhance physical planning. Historic pres‑ervation can be mutually beneficial to theLake County Planning Commission and YatesTownship Commission.photo E.L. Fly 2006LAKE IDLEWILD2. Vision & Points of Reference (Human &Geographic)KEYNOTE: Vision is one of the basic, andessential, ingredients to fuel and guide signifi‑cant long-term change in a community. Aneffective vision incorporates expertise andresources from several disciplines to createshort-range and long-range concepts to benefitthe community. A long- range vision is basedupon a clear, healthy, and profound understand‑ing of a community’s value and significancerelative to other people and places. This under‑standing, or point of reference, is one of themost basic elements in tourism planning andprogramming.a. The Idlewild National Register of HistoricPlaces District, and surrounding cultural his‑toric resources, must be used as the foundationof a visionary master plan.1) Idlewild’s vision must have three mainingredients:a) Past resources that defined Idlewild mustbe used as the heart of the vision. Thosethat can continue to represent and servethe community must be planned foranother 100 years. These strategic his‑toric resources must be respected bymaintaining appropriate authenticity,character, and quality. Those that donot meet original needs must be givenprominent new, or renewed, functions forthe next 25 years.b) Present resources must be thought of asinnovative complements to those fromthe past. Together, past and presentgenerate projects (events, programs,facilities) that last at least ten years, andbenefit the entire community (resident,non-resident, and neighbor).IDLEWILD NATIONAL RESOURCE TEAMSF:11

PART 1: STRATEGIC FRAMEWO

Eatonville of the 17th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festi-val of the Arts and Humanities ZORA Festival) in Jan-uary 2006. Members of the Idlewild delegation were given numerous opportunities to follow staff and