Our Land, Our Dreams: UU Lansing Grounds and Historical Marker Update
by Ed Busch
Exciting news: our Michigan Historical Marker arrived this week! It will be stored safely until the installation site is ready.
The marker and its 2 poles coming off the XPO truck.
Moving the crates over to the barn.
Safely stored in the barn.
Initially, we planned to place it where the construction roll-off dumpster currently sits. However, this spring we realized we need a broader plan for the entire area before proceeding.
Steve Puepkke and I discussed the importance of viewing the marker, the Flaming Chalice sculpture, and the native plants area as part of a larger landscape design.
We are fortunate to have a lot of land around our church — have you ever wondered if there’s a master plan for it all?
At a recent Stewardship Team meeting, Evy Jackson mentioned the existence of grounds plans from 2017 and 2020. I had never seen them before; Evy shared copies, and we have now archived them!
A Little History
As you may know, in January 2015, the UU Lansing congregation voted to purchase our South Lansing property. Afterward, several groups and teams worked hard to design the building’s interior and select a contractor. (To learn more about this chapter, see the Moving Our Church document.)
One group the Board created was the Grounds Planning Group (GPG), which was charged with:
Initiating development of a site plan for our nine acres
Consulting with congregants on the use and management of the grounds, including playgrounds, plantings, and the Memorial Garden (in collaboration with the minister)
They were also encouraged to explore possibilities such as community gardens, a soccer field, picnic areas, fire pits, RE playgrounds, a basketball court, a labyrinth, and dedicated green space.
In September 2017, the GPG submitted the UU Lansing Evolving Site Plan for a ten-year period. This effort gave rise to three spinoff groups:
Seventh Principle Design Group
Community Gardens Group
Memorial Garden Group
GPG’s First Site Plan, Feb. 2016
Progress and Dreams
Following the 2017 report, the GPG evolved into the Grounds Committee (2017–2020).
In September 2020, they submitted an updated UU Lansing Grounds Evolving Site Plan to the Board, summarizing projects already underway:
Religious Education (RE) Natural Play Space (south side)
Native Gardens and Planted Areas:
Native Plant Area
West Wing Plantings
Memorial Garden in bloom
UU Urban Forest
The committee also shared additional recommendations and dreams:
Develop the West Wing
Create a permeable pavement parking lot in a "park-like" setting
Dreams for the future included:
A Chapel in the Woods
A UU Lansing Pavilion
A Labyrinth
Other ideas explored expanding the social hall by:
Bumping it out into the parking lot, or
Building a new social hall behind the sanctuary
During the Board presentation, Evy Jackson and Ralph Putnam offered additional insights. Ralph emphasized that “there has always been a commitment to using native plants,” a value further supported by a grant from the Audubon Society. He noted that the Memorial Garden is in "phase one," with most plantings in place and more to come.
The presentation also recommended:
Enhancing the Memorial Garden with a shaded patio gathering space
Adding evergreens to screen the HVAC systems, creating a natural backdrop for outdoor events or celebrations
Developing an accessible pathway starting by the north entrance (offices), wrapping through the Memorial Garden, Natural Play Space, and around to the east and north sides of the building, connecting to any future structures.
When asked whether these spaces are envisioned for the larger community or primarily the congregation, Ralph explained:
"The commitment to native plantings was intended to be us living our values, but also to create a site where others could learn about native ecosystems. The Memorial Garden primarily serves the congregation, while the Natural Play Space is envisioned as benefiting the broader South Lansing community, where natural play areas are scarce. There has not been a formal plan yet for marketing the play space beyond those already connected to the church and community garden."
Some truly beautiful dreams to keep alive!
Looking Ahead
Now, five years into the 2020 plan, it’s time to think carefully about the placement of the Historical Marker — and how it fits into the larger vision shaped by the 2017 and 2020 plans.
We must also consider the potential for a future road and parking along the West Wing (if still desired) and the continued growth of our Food Cupboard.
Do you have dreams for our space? Interested in helping shape our future landscape? If enough interest emerges, we can ask the Board to consider forming a new team to carry this work forward. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved!
Our goal is to install the Michigan Historical Marker later in 2025 or in spring 2026, timed to coincide with Rev. Neal’s return from sabbatical. When the marker is finally in place, we’ll hold a special celebration. Stay tuned for updates on landscape planning and our upcoming dedication event!
I’m out of town the next couple of weeks, so there will be a pause in my UU Lansing church history posts until mid-May.
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Sources:
Lovell, K. (2016). MOVING OUR CHURCH: A HISTORY. Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing: Our History. https://www.uulansing.org/s/MOVING-OUR-CHURCHhistory2016AnnualReport.pdf
UU Lansing Evolving Site Plan, 2017, 2020
UU Lansing Board of Trustees minutes, September 2020
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About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.
I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and IT.
My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.
I look forward to connecting with you through these blog posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.