After nearly ten years of partnership between Legacy Land Conservancy and Salem Township, the finish line is finally in sight for the Anthony & Rose Shatter Family Preserve parking lot.
Although our start date is weather dependent, construction will begin this fall on a small parking area designed to improve visitor safety, reduce roadside parking and make it easier for people to responsibly enjoy the preserve.
Preserve visitors will notice construction equipment and activity for a short period during this time.
The vision of a parking area began in 2017, when Legacy started working with a variety of partners to protect the Shatter Family Preserve located along Curtis and Brookville roads in Salem Township. As part of the acquisition agreement eventually completed in 2018, the Salem Township Board agreed to fund the installation of a parking solution on the preserve for public accessibility.
“Many individuals have been involved with this project for a number of years, so the township is excited to see it come to fruition, increasing safe access to one of the few preserves in Salem,” Seth McRobb, Salem Township Land Preservation and Conservation Board secretary said.
The initial design and layout of the parking lot was completed soon after Legacy acquired the property, but a myriad of road blocks–including location selection, permitting, the pandemic and staff changes–delayed installation until recently.
Thankfully, after years of persistence, meetings, thoughtful planning and collaboration between Legacy and the Salem Township Board, a new location and layout was agreed upon in the summer of 2026.
“Choosing a lot location was much more complex than we imagined,” Legacy Land Conservancy’s Preserve Stewardship Manager Kyler Moran said. “But the dedicated working relationship between Legacy and Salem Township really helped us land on a spot that supports the delicate balance of safe, public accessibility for the community and a thriving natural ecosystem.”
A thorough review over multiple years pinpointed a location that meets the space requirements for the design, the required road commission buffer distances, and would not damage the property’s wetlands.
“Putting the lot on Curtis Road was impossible due to a combination of high vehicle speeds, limited visibility on a hill, and occasional standing water,” Moran said. “Multiple locations were considered along Brookville Road before settling on the current location at the western edge of the preserve.”
The road commission requires a distance buffer between intersections and parking lot entrances, so anywhere near the corner of Curtis and Brookville roads was ruled out. And a majority of the preserves’ frontage on Brookville Road was excluded after wetland delineation was performed on the site.
“It was important not to rush things though, and I'm glad we took the time to choose the right location that will serve the need while having a minimal impact on Shatter Preserve itself,” McRobb said.
This summer, Salem Township selected the engineering firm Stantec to finalize the technical aspects of the parking lot design and layout. A permit was obtained from the Washtenaw County Road Commission and a contractor was selected. Legacy’s preserve stewardship team began clearing trees in early September in anticipation of a construction start date in October or November.
All of the actual construction, beyond site preparation, is expected to be completed within two weeks once it is started to limit the impacts to our preserve visitors and neighbors as much as possible.
Constructions projects often face unexpected delays, but we anticipate the new parking lot will be open for visitors by the winter. A grand opening of the parking lot is slated for the spring of 2027.
As we approach the finish line together, we are thankful to all our partners along the way and look forward to celebrating this accomplishment with them and our community next year!
Check our website and social media platforms for the most up to date information on the parking lot construction and grand opening celebration date.