Eliason Nature Reserve

In 2011 through a generous donation from Linda Eliason, the City of Portage acquired a 123-acre parcel east of Shaver Road.  This new park property was named the David J. Eliason Nature Reserve in honor of Ms. Eliason's late husband. This parcel was once part of the land owned by the adjacent Eliason Corporation where David was an innovative general manager in the 1980’s and 1990’s.  A large monument along Shaver Road south of Vanderbilt Avenue has been placed on this site as part of the donation.

 The property is a combination of uplands and wetlands. Of significance is that the wetlands are part of the Bishop’s Bog complex, which is registered with the Nature Conservancy. Classified as a “relict bog,” Bishop’s Bog is the largest remaining bog of this type found in the southern lower peninsula and possibly in the entire lower peninsula. Through this gift, the city now manages almost the entire 250-acre bog complex. In addition to providing unique habitat, Bishop’s Bog is a critical natural storm-water drainage system for the community.