Mona Lake Park set for renovation
"At this moment we have enough money to do the boat launch, fishing pier, some shoreline stabilization work, (construct) a bathroom/plaza sitting area and underground utilities," Anderson said.
Those improvements are expected to be completed this year, Anderson said.
The demolition of the existing fishing pier and boat launch is tentatively scheduled to begin in May, Anderson said.
Utility work is second on the city's to-do list.
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Boat launch just the start of Mona Lake improvements
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS — Construction of a new public boat launch and fishing pier at Mona Lake Park in Muskegon Heights is tentatively scheduled to begin in late June or early July, city officials said this week.
The project will take two to three weeks to complete, said Reatha Anderson, the city's director of planning and community development. Officials were hoping to tackle the project this spring, but are still awaiting state approval of construction permits, Anderson said.
Use of the boat launch would be interrupted during construction. The existing boat launch will have to be removed first.
"It will be a very short disruption," Anderson said. "People will still be able to use the boat launch most of the summer."
The new boat launch is a small part of a multimillion-dollar renovation planned for Mona Lake Park that when completed may include construction of a 400-seat conference center.
Many area boaters this spring have expressed concern about lake access this summer. Norton Shores officials in April briefly discussed constructing a boat launch in their city, but the idea hasn't been acted on.
The Mona Lake Park improvements will be paid for with a combination of state and federal dollars, city officials have said. The city already has received $629,000 in grant dollars to do the boat launch, fishing pier, some stabilization work, build a bathroom/plaza sitting area and install underground utilities, Anderson said. Those improvements are still expected to be completed this year, officials said.
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Norton Shores council puts Mona Lake boat launch project on hold
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07/14/09 by Eric Gaertner | The Muskegon Chronicle ** you do not have permission to see this link **
NORTON SHORES — Any hope to have a public boat launch constructed in the city for Mona Lake access relatively soon has been squashed by the poor economy and Norton Shores' tight budget.
Citing the $456,992 estimated cost of the project, a majority of the Norton Shores City Council said now is not the economic time to pursue construction of a launch at Ross Park.
The construction of a launch within the city limits has been debated for decades, but the only public boat launch on Mona Lake remains at Mona Lake Park in Muskegon Heights. Other than the Heights' park, the Mona Lake shoreline falls within the Norton Shores city limits.
City Councilman Gary Ostrom, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of constructing a boat launch in Norton Shores, agreed with other council members that a launch will have to wait. He said the city had to cut four staff positions for its 2009-10 budget.
"I still think it's absurd that a city our size situated around a lake doesn't have a public launch," Ostrom said, but said the project's estimated cost doesn't fit in the current budget. "As the economy gets better, I'm going to be back banging the drum."
The issue was pushed to the forefront earlier this year, when Norton Shores officials learned that the Muskegon Heights launch will be closed for an improvement project this summer. The improvements, which will include a new boat launch and fishing pier, are scheduled to begin in mid-August and be completed in two or three weeks, according to a Muskegon Heights official. Use of the boat launch will be interrupted during construction because it will have to be removed first. A 400-seat conference center also is planned as part of the Muskegon Heights project.
Carrie Larks, Norton Shores' director of Administrative Services, provided council members with the cost estimate for a Ross Park boat launch based on 1979 plans she reconfigured with today's prices. She also researched three grant opportunities — Land and Water Conservation Fund, Waterways Program and Coastal Management Program — for a Ross Park project. She determined that the maximum grant would be $50,000 with a 50 percent match.
As other grant opportunities are researched, Ostrom said he would like to consider the project if larger financial assistance is available.
I noticed the bid contract went out to Muskegon Quality Builders which is a local Muskegon Hts business. FYI they do good work and were the contractors that built the RR trestle fishing bridge across the White River at Whitehall-Montague. I got a $100,000 for that project they got it done for $137,000 which was under my original $150,000 budget. Once the Mona Park launch is done, we need to go back to city Norton Shores for boat launch on the south side of Mona Lake. There is plenty of room at Ross Park for a boat launch and parking.
Tom
Mona Lake Park improvements coming soon
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08/30/09 by Federico Martinez | The Muskegon Chronicle
The first phase of major renovations at Mona Lake Park, including the replacement of the fishing pier and boat launch, will begin shortly after Labor Day.
The Muskegon Heights City Council on Monday awarded a $553,682 contract to Muskegon Quality Builders to oversee the project, said Muskegon Heights City Manager Natasha Henderson.
The improvements are being paid for with a combination of state and federal grants, she said.
"This is our signature project," said Henderson, explaining that it is hoped park improvements, including a future conference center, will draw more visitors to the city.
Improvements also will include construction of a bathroom facility and installation of underground utilities at the park, said Reatha Anderson, the city's director for planning and community development.
Construction will begin this fall — take a break in the winter — and resume in the spring, said Anderson.
City officials have applied for $5 million in federal funding over the next five years to complete the project, said Henderson. The city already has received more than $600,000 in state and federal grant funds to start the project, she said.
The $5 million would be used for several improvements, including construction of a 400-seat conference/education center and an amphitheater, said Anderson. Other proposed plans include new baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts and walking paths.
The renovations at Mona Lake Park come at the same time the city is trying to revitalize its downtown. Some critics in the community have questioned the wisdom of building a conference center at the park instead of downtown.
City officials have cited several reasons for the decision, including a study — conducted and paid for by the West Michigan Strategic Alliance two years ago — that recommended the park site. The alliance is comprised of experts who specialize in developing community revitalization strategies.
Mona Lake Park is on Seaway Drive, near connectors to U.S. 31 and I-96. City officials believe the improvements could attract new businesses and help revitalize existing businesses. The national hotel chain Red Roof Inn recently opened a new hotel across the street from the park.
"It's starting to catch on," said Anderson, who noted that several other hotels, restaurants and a party store already exist within walking distance of the park.
Muskegon Heights qualifies for many grants due to its designation under the Michigan Cities of Promise program, a statewide initiative designed to help revitalize urban areas.
Work begins on renovation of Mona Lake Park
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01/14/10 By Federico Martinez | Muskegon Chronicle
Construction of a new boat launch began this week at Mona Lake Park in Muskegon Heights. The project is one of more then $500,000 improvements slated to be completed at the park by Memorial Day weekend.
Muskegon Heights City Manager Natasha Henderson has called it the city’s “signature project,” because officials hope the park improvements will draw more visitors to the city.
Other improvements slated to be completed by the spring include:
• Installation of a new fishing pier.
• A covered picnic shelter.
• Bath house with fish-cleaning station.
• New sidewalks.
• Lighted fishing pier with hand-rails and benches.
Eventually, city officials hope to invest up to $5 million in the park, including construction of a new conference center. The improvements are being paid for with a combination of state and federal dollars.
The work will be done in phases as the city obtains funding, said Reatha Anderson, the city’s director for planning and community development.
The first phase includes the construction of the new boat launch, and fishing pier, said Tom Grimm, president of Muskegon Quality Builders, the contractor hired by the city to oversee the completion of the first round of work.
Construction of the new boat launch will be completed this winter, said Grimm. His workers have just been waiting for the lake to freeze over so that they can begin.
The renovations at Mona Lake Park come at the same time the city is trying to revitalize its downtown. Some have questioned the wisdom of building a convention center at the park instead of downtown.
City officials have cited several reasons fro the decision, including a study — conducted and paid for by the West Michigan Strategic Alliance two years ago — that recommended the park site. The alliance is comprised of experts who specialize in community revitalization strategies.
Mona Lake Park is on Seaway Drive near connectors to U.S. 31 and I-96. City officials believe the improvements could attract new businesses and revitalize existing businesses. The national hotel chain Red Roof Inn opened a new hotel across from the park about one year ago.
“We can lay everything out on the ice without using barges and stuff,” said Grimm. “We take the saw horses out there.
“It just makes construction a lot easier.”
When completed, the new ramp will extend out from shore 60 feet, said Grimm. Overall it will be 90-feet long and 36-feet wide, with two, 5-foot floating dock systems. The floating docks will be located on each side of the ramp and will rise and fall with water levels, said Grimm.
The project architect is Hooker De Jonge Architechts & Engineers of Muskegon.
Access to the new boat ramp will be tighter when it re-opens this spring, said Grimm. A new armed gate will be installed, although city officials have not determined how much users will have to pay. The facility previously operated on an “honor” system, which asked users to place contributions in an on-site bucket.
City officials have applied for $5 million in federal funding over the next five years to complete planned for improvements, including construction of a 400-seat conference/education center and an amphitheater, said Anderson. The city already HAS received more than $600,000 in state and federal grant funds, most of which is being used on the first phase of improvements.
Improvements also will include construction of two to three new soccer fields, the re-location of three basketball courts and construction of new baseball fields, said Grimm. This spring contractors will begin installing new sidewalk areas in the park and an asphalt parking lot that will better accommodate boats, said Grimm.
Mona Lake Video of new boat launch and more
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MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich (WZZM) — The first phase of improvements to a Muskegon Heights park is nearly complete.
The improvements at Mona Lake Park in the city of Muskegon Heights include two new boat launch stations and a fishing pier.
There is even a new fish cleaning station attached to the restrooms.
The work was paid for with state and federal grant money.
City leaders are now going after an additional state grant to improve athletic fields at the park.
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