For over half a century, The Lawrence University and Door County communities have been enriched by the special place called Björklunden, the University’s Northern Campus just south of Bailey’s Harbor. Nestled among 441 acres of forests, and over a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, Björklunden is a place where solitude, creativity, scholarship and nature intersect. It is where stewardship is both a responsibility and a celebration.
That spirit of care traces back to the generosity of Winifred and Donald Boynton, whose gift of Björklunden to Lawrence University was guided by an intention that the property be maintained for retreat and education and that the land be preserved for the enduring beauty of the natural world. Winifred Boynton said of her beloved summer home “far removed from confusion and aggression, it offers a sanctuary for all.” Today, that vision continues to flourish.
Ten years ago, Lawrence University took an important step to protect that legacy by establishing a 305-acre conservation easement on the Björklunden property in partnership with the Door County Land Trust (DCLT). To further establish Lawrence as a leader in sustainability with Net Zero Bjorklunden as a laboratory for renewable energy, the easement was amended in 2022, and nearly 10 more acres were added to provide for a Solar Energy array within a Renewable Energy Zone.
The DCLT is a local, non-profit organization working to preserve Door County’s open spaces, scenic beauty and ecological integrity. Landowners establish a legally binding conservation easement to protect those values on private land in perpetuity. With over 5,000 acres of land nationally lost to development every day, protecting land via an easement demonstrates a commitment to long-term land conservation and environmental sustainability. More than a legal agreement, the conservation easement represents a shared commitment between Lawrence University and the DCLT for the care and preservation of this vital resource. The Björklunden conservation easement is significant for DCLT not only for its size but because it includes over one-half mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, the most waterfront of any of DCLT’s conservation properties.
The Björklunden conservation easement permanently safeguards over seventy percent of the property from future development or subdivision, ensuring that its ecological value and natural beauty will be protected for generations to come. The conservation easement was created to preserve Björklunden’s rich biodiversity of plant and animal life, its unique geological features, and the integrity of surface and groundwater resources. According to Drew Reinke, Conservation Easement Program Manager for the
