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Pocket park plans move forward despite funding shortage

ONTONAGON – Ontonagon village’s plan for a downtown pocket park are moving forward, despite some funding shortages.

And it may take a village to raise the estimated $26,650 necessary to complete the park.

The first step will be putting in about 6,000 bricks at an estimated cost of $6,000, $3,000 of which comes from the Placemaking Micro-Grant Program, acquired through Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region. This grant will fund the pave stone base of the park, as the village supplies in-kind matching funds through labor and equipment to install the pavers. In addition, the village manager will contribute labor in project design, cost estimates and material acquisitions.

Furnishing and fixtures, including picnic tables and benches, will come later, at a projected cost of $17,700. The site will comply with the Americans with Disability Act.

The village hopes to find grants for the furnishing and fixtures this year, as well as the $2,950 to install electric service,something it hopes to do later.

Grant writer Carol Maass looking into additional grants, while the village seeks donations from individuals and community organizations to complete the project.

“We’ll look at grants from different foundations to get this done,” village Manager Joe Erickson told the village council Monday. “Eventually we can add power to it for the Christmas tree and Labor Day announcements.”

The chosen site, between Aspirus Fitness Center and the Ontonagon County Historical Museum on River Street, had its limitations.

“The lot is owned by the (Aspirus Ontonagon) Hospital and has limited development potential due to storm sewers running through the lot,” Erickson said in his report to council last month.

Ontonagon’s Regional Inclusive Community Coalition (RICC), having introduced a downtown park proposal to the village recreation commission about a year ago, will help build and maintain the park.

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