River dredging set; plans for riverfront park becoming a reality

A prototype plan for River Raisin Park developed by SmithGroup JJR.

For the past several years–since the Village of Manchester purchased the former Buss Property on Ann Arbor Hill, and demolished the house and coal barn located across from Chi-Bro Park–the vision has been to create a riverfront park with opportunities for the community to enjoy and benefit from the River Raisin as it runs through town.

A combination of state grant funds and careful budgeting over the past several years has made 2018 the year that this plan will likely come to fruition.

The site next to Ollie’s and Over the Edge has been the long-time finishing line of the Manchester Canoe Race, and remains a popular place to pull out canoes and kayaks from the river. The village property adjacent to that site has taken shape slowly as the Shared-use trail was built and volunteer groups have dedicated time to brush removal along the river bank. Therefore, one of the desired components of the proposed River Raisin Park was a canoe/kayak launch. Other aspects included a fishing and observation deck that would be handicap accessible, in addition to the existing trail and overlook sites on the north edge of the park. Dredging of the mill pond was determined to be imperative before starting on these new projects, however, as years of silt accumulation had created a thick film of algae that makes fishing or canoe launching difficult by the summer months.

Permits were required by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in order to make the dredging possible. Those permits were received last winter. The bid, with a final cost of $95,000, was awarded to Dragline Works, LLC, from Stockbridge, at the May 7, 2018 Village Council meeting. Due to spawning season, DEQ regulations require that the work start no earlier than July 1. Once the final contract with Dragline Works is signed, the actual start date will be specified. Dredging is estimated to take about three weeks after mobilization.

Smith Group JJR is the engineering firm selected by the village to coordinate the design and construction of the park. The design is still a work in progress, but a preliminary map was placed last week at the park site just in time for this past weekend’s canoe and kayak race.

“As soon as final details of the park design are worked out, it can be approved by the Village Parks Commission and Council,” explained Jeff Wallace, Village Manager. “We will then put it out to bid. The goal is to have bids back in time and the contract signed, so construction can take place as soon as possible after the dredging is completed. We would like to schedule park construction to start immediately after; hopefully around August 1.”

Park construction is estimated to take three to four months for completion, Wallace added.

“We see this park as an asset to our downtown,” said Village President Pat Vailliencourt at the May 7 meeting. “This is one example of the placemaking initiative, to bring people into our community.”

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.