SJC Surveyor and Ecologist announce plans to form nonprofit to preserve land surrounding Portage Manor

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The land surrounding the former Portage Manor carries a vast cultural and environmental history, from Native American trade routes and French explorers to farmland and a century-old county home. Now, after sitting vacant since Portage Manor closed two years ago, public trails surrounding a nearby Catholic school could possibly come next.

“This area is the reason why South Bend is located here due to this portage,” said Ecologist Steve Sass.

County Surveyor and former Commissioner, Derek Dieter and ecologist Steve Sass are working with an attorney to form a nonprofit that would manage the natural areas, restore habitats, continue trail systems and eventually open the land to the public for hiking and biking. Their plan follows an ecological assessment completed in 2024 and years of work cleaning up after large homeless encampments.

“There was still significant ecological value in the property, mainly due to the size and its variety of habitats,” Sass said.

The county council voted last week 6-3 in favor of a proposal for St. Thomas More Academy to move into the building itself while preserving the remaining acreage.

Dieter and Sass emphasize that the conservation plans would complement, not compete with, the school, which is interested only in the building and nearby land.

“The school area is here. This is the ravine. This is the rest of the property so it is about 70 acres with where the building would be and the parking lot,” Dieter said.

Their goal is to keep the remaining 90 acres, including the ravine, in public use similar to what surrounding counties have done with former county homes such as Ox Bow and Love Creek parks.

They also hope Portage Township will take over the cemetery where about 1,300 former Portage Manor residents are believed to be buried.

“And our intention is to try to continue to keep that property utilized by the public,” Sass said.

As the owners of the property, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will make the final call on what comes next. Dieter is calling on them to step up and get an appraisal of what the land and building are worth.

“But again, our personal opinion, this should be something for the public use and again we are just waiting for the commissioners to make a decision on what they may be doing,” he said.

Commission President Carl Baxmeyer said Tuesday that commissioners are still working on the next steps for Portage Manor but have nothing they would like to discuss publicly at this time.

If the plan moves forward the next step would be coming up with a management plan for the entire property to identify greatest needs, which Sass believes includes controlling invasive plants.