History of FALC
In 2006, a group of Congregational Summer Assembly (CSA) families purchased the 47+ acre Frankfort Golf Course from its owners who were retiring and who had an offer to purchase the land to build high-density housing. They were committed to keep the land from such extensive development and to ensure that its future was consistent with CSA principles and values. Their plan was to design and set aside twenty-three lots where families in the purchasing group could build cottages and to donate the rest of the land to a non-profit land conservancy.
From 2006 until 2009 the purchasing group worked to successfully implement their basic plan. They cleaned up pollution left by golf course operations, got zoning approval from Benzie County for a planned development, and donated 26 acres (more than half of the golf course parcel) to a newly formed Michigan not-for-profit corporate entity – the Frankfort Area Land Conservancy. This new Conservancy applied for IRS 501 (c) (3) public charity status and received it in the summer of 2010.
Timeline Highlights
2006 -- Purchase of Frankfort Golf Course
2008 -- Distribution of lots on Pilgrim Preserve; creation of FALC (21 acres surrounding Pilgrim Preserve)
2010 -- IRS 501 (c) (3) public charity status attained.
-- Decision to plant little bluestem after research - 16 acres to be planted. Project value $22,200 Fund raising and grant application to US Fish and Wildlife
2011 -- Grant of $7500 over 2012/2013 from US Fish and Wildlife; we committed to maintain grasslands for ten years (2022)
2012 -- Planting of grasslands
2014 -- Decision to plant wildflowers; fundraising and grant application
2015 -- Grant of $4000 for 2016 from US Fish and Wildlife; committed to maintain grasslands until 2026
2016 -- Planting of Wildflowers
2020 -- Determined mowing was not a viable option for maintenance; research on controlled burn and decision to schedule
2022 -- First Prescribed Burn conducted with resulting renewal of healthy prairie grasses and wildflowers
From 2006 until 2009 the purchasing group worked to successfully implement their basic plan. They cleaned up pollution left by golf course operations, got zoning approval from Benzie County for a planned development, and donated 26 acres (more than half of the golf course parcel) to a newly formed Michigan not-for-profit corporate entity – the Frankfort Area Land Conservancy. This new Conservancy applied for IRS 501 (c) (3) public charity status and received it in the summer of 2010.
Timeline Highlights
2006 -- Purchase of Frankfort Golf Course
2008 -- Distribution of lots on Pilgrim Preserve; creation of FALC (21 acres surrounding Pilgrim Preserve)
2010 -- IRS 501 (c) (3) public charity status attained.
-- Decision to plant little bluestem after research - 16 acres to be planted. Project value $22,200 Fund raising and grant application to US Fish and Wildlife
2011 -- Grant of $7500 over 2012/2013 from US Fish and Wildlife; we committed to maintain grasslands for ten years (2022)
2012 -- Planting of grasslands
2014 -- Decision to plant wildflowers; fundraising and grant application
2015 -- Grant of $4000 for 2016 from US Fish and Wildlife; committed to maintain grasslands until 2026
2016 -- Planting of Wildflowers
2020 -- Determined mowing was not a viable option for maintenance; research on controlled burn and decision to schedule
2022 -- First Prescribed Burn conducted with resulting renewal of healthy prairie grasses and wildflowers
"After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild"
"Most defunct golf courses get paved over, but a number are getting transformed into ecological life rafts for wildlife, plants — and people."
Read this article from The New York Times, Feb. 15, 2024 (click the linked title above)