Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to purchase a small parcel of land in the city so it can be incorporated into the ongoing restoration and development of Ox Creek.

At this week’s meeting, commissioners without comment approved the purchase of 2971 Ross Street, right at the corner of Ross and Washington, from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for $300.

City Ox Creek project manager Dane Rasmussen tells us the parcel is a remnant property the DNR acquired in the 1980s. The agency has been clearing house of unneeded parcels and offered it to the city. That’s convenient because the parcel is within the Ox Creek project area.

Rasmussen says a trail may eventually run through the property, although that’s not quite known yet as engineering for the trail still needs to be done. He said with a nominal sale price, it was an easy decision for the city to take on the site.