Courtesy Image This rendering, included in the Master Plan for Mich-e-ke-wis Park, shows several amenities that could be added to the park.

ALPENA — Significant changes are coming soon to Mich-e-ke-wis Park as part of an overarching plan that will reimagine the lakeside park.

The changes coming to the park are part of the city’s master plan for Mich-e-ke-wis and stem from public input sessions several years ago.

On Monday, the Alpena Municipal Council voted to close the south driveway into the park and to relocate the volleyball courts.

A Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Passport Grant, received in 2022, will pay for the new courts, and the city intends to construct a new parking area and walking trails in Mich-e-ke-wis.

The addition of more courts and their relocation are needed because of the demand for open courts and to protect them from fluctuating water levels. Several years ago, when water levels were near record highs, severe damage was caused to the existing courts, which increased the urgency to make new ones in a new location within the park.

City Engineer Steve Shultz made a pair of proposals to the council. The first would keep a small gravel road for people to drive into the park, and the other to close the existing entrance, move the courts, and begin designing the new trails.

In the end, the council decided the best option was to close the small access drive, which Shultz said is costly to maintain and demands a lot of man-hours to keep passable.

“The road leading into this area is difficult and time-consuming to maintain due to the proximity to the water and the soils on which it is built,” he said. “This road demands frequent grading and upkeep and requires city resources, including time, materials, and equipment. In its current configuration, it can never be properly repaired due to the water table.”

Shultz told the council that the courts could still be moved and still have sufficient room to maintain a temporary access point. He said if the council elected to go that route, it would buy the city time to come up with another option and design.

“This could be done while keeping a gravel access driveway to the south end of the park until a proper plan can be put together,” he said. “With the temporary road in place, the council would have time to weigh the decision to eliminate it completely or not in the future.”

The new volleyball courts, parking lot, and trails are only a few improvements spelled out in the master plan for Mich-e-ke-wis.

The plans for the park that are included in the master plan came after the city hosted several public input sessions in 2019 to learn more about what people wanted included at the park.

Although there is no defined timeline for other amenities being added to the park, the plan outlines a set of priorities and goals moving forward.

MULTI-USE PAVILION

The multi-use pavilion was one of the highest-rated improvements during the public input sessions. The pavilion could be used for year-round programming and social events, including festivals, family gatherings, school events, class reunions, concerts, and performances, and a potential ice rink.

Currently, the Alpena Farmers’ Market is a top-rated aspect of the park and operates two days a week from July through the first week of October. Depending on design and available funding, the pavilion would provide comfort for merchants and customers, potentially attract more customers, and possibly extend the market’s operating season.

QUIET AREA/PATHWAY

The plan says the water view is one of the most favored aspects of the park. This quiet area proposed would provide a pedestrian, non-motorized area of the park for quiet reflection and exercise. In this area, there are trees and quality views of the water.

The pedestrian path replaces the gravel drive, which was one of the criticisms listed at the public input session.

Instead of paving the gravel in this section of the park, it would be converted to a quiet space for recreation and relaxation. Picnic tables, benches, horseshoe courts, and a play structure could be placed in this area.

BIKE PUMP TRACK

These types of riding facilities receive high utilization when complemented by additional infrastructure, such as picnic tables, playground equipment, and other developed park facilities, which already draw children and families. An ideal area for a pump track is approximately 0.5 acres.

Other possible improvements to the park included in the master plan are the addition of more picnic tables, benches, bike racks, and new playground equipment.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.