LeeBakerFarm

Once known collectively as "The University Farm", the University properties just east of Michigan 131 and south of Stadium Drive include the Colony Farm Orchard, the Asylum Lake property, and the Lee Baker Farm.

The Lee Baker Farm was so named by the WMU Board of Trustess in October, 1983. Lee Baker was Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Agriculture in the College of Applied Sciences. He and his family lived on the farm for many years, using its resources for research and for enhancing the academic programs. Public Act 269 deeded the property from the State of Michigan to the University in 1959.

In the early 1990's WMU President Diether Haenicke and other community and University leaders proposed developing the University Farms - Asylum Lake, Colony Farm, and Lee Baker Farm - as a research and technology park. The intent was to generate an economic engine for the area as well as for the University to cultivate research and economic ties with business and industry. This proposal was soon dropped. Although heavily researched and documented, the local neighborhood associations opposed the change, and it was vigorously opposed by those wishing to maintain the land for passive recreation. There was also strong support for returning the Asylum Lake property to its pre-farming vegetation, with large stands of oaks and fields of prairie grasses.

In 1998 WMU President Elson S. Floyd made the decision to develop the Lee Baker Farm for a new College of Engineering building and a business, technology and research park. An agreement with the City of Kalamazoo allowed part of the Lee Baker Farm to be rezoned for business and light industry, while the University agreed to set the Asylum Lake property aside for passive recreation and would not develop it for other uses.

In 2000, as construction started on the new building for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Business, Techology and Research Park was being developed, the Lee Baker Farm was renamed the Parkview Campus.

	Once known collectively as "The University Farm", the University properties just east of Michigan 131 and south of Stadium Drive include the Colony Farm Orchard, the Asylum Lake property, and the Lee Baker Farm. The Lee Baker Farm was so named by the WMU Board of Trustess in October, 1983. Lee Baker was Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Agriculture in the College of Applied Sciences. He and his family lived on the farm for many years, using its resources for research and for enhancing the academic programs. Public Act 269 deeded the property from the State of Michigan to the University in 1959. In the early 1990's WMU President Diether Haenicke and other community and University leaders proposed developing the University Farms - Asylum Lake, Colony Farm, and Lee Baker Farm - as a research and technology park. The intent was to generate an economic engine for the area as well as for the University to cultivate research and economic ties with business and industry. This proposal was soon dropped. Although heavily researched and documented, the local neighborhood associations opposed the change, and it was vigorously opposed by those wishing to maintain the land for passive recreation. There was also strong support for returning the Asylum Lake property to its pre-farming vegetation, with large stands of oaks and fields of prairie grasses. In 1998 WMU President Elson S. Floyd made the decision to develop the Lee Baker Farm for a new College of Engineering building and a business, technology and research park. An agreement with the City of Kalamazoo allowed part of the Lee Baker Farm to be rezoned for business and light industry, while the University agreed to set the Asylum Lake property aside for passive recreation and would not develop it for other uses. In 2000, as construction started on the new building for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the Business, Techology and Research Park was being developed, the Lee Baker Farm was renamed the Parkview Campus.
Click here to see a gallery of Lee Baker Farm Aerial Photos, taken in 1998 during the planning process for the new campus and the Business, Technology and Research Park. The map above shows the orientation of each of the photos in the gallery.
Additional information about the Lee Baker Farm can be found at http://www.wmich.edu/asylumlake/	Click to view 1825 vegetation survey.	Click to view 2004 Parkview Campus map.