Courtesy Photo Amrize Alpena Plant Manager Jeff Scott, left, Julie Dietz, center, and Ron Fusina pose for a photo while holding renderings of the new Bay View Sports Complex. Amrize donated $25,000 toward the project that is ongoing.

ALPENA — Holcim, which operated the former Lafarge plant in Alpena, has changed its name again. The new name is now Amrize.

The plant in Alpena became part of the company’s North American spin-off in June and the company is already giving back to the community.

Amrize is the largest building solutions company with more than 1,000 sites and 19,000 employees.

In a press release, Amrize said it will continue the tradition of supporting the local community and recently made a $25,000 donation to the ongoing revitalization of Alpena’s recreational infrastructure for the new Bay View Sports Complex.

The new lakeside facility will include new asphalt and fencing with regulation-size facilities including three new basketball courts, three tennis courts, five pickle ball courts, and a new pavilion.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in the coming weeks and phase two of the project, which will include the construction of the new pavilion, is expecte to be done next year. The new pavilion will be built by Mike Kendziorski, who constructed the wooden bridge and water tower at Duck Park.

The total cost of phase one of the project is approximately $340,000 with the project being paid for with local donations, as well as a generous $100,000 grant from the Alpena County Youth and Recreation Commission.

The commission allocates tax revenue from the county-wide property tax earmarked for recreation.

Jeff Scott, plant manager at Amrize Alpena, said in the press release that the involvement of volunteers, local government, and other businesses to make the project a reality was something Amrize wanted to be involved with also.

“This project reflects what’s possible when committed volunteers, local government, and businesses pull together for the common good,” said Scott. “We’re proud to partner with the Friends of Alpena Courts to help bring new life to a place where Alpena area families can connect and create memories for generations to come.”

The new recreation complex is one of several projects planned for the Bay View Park area. The city is building a new restroom facility later this summer near the Kiwanis Kiddie Park and bandshell that will also include a pavilion. The restroom project will also include sidewalks and lighting near the new structure.

Alpena received a $300,000 Michigan Natural Trust Fund grant to use toward the restroom project and the city committed a portion of the $1 million it received from the America Rescue Plan Act, which was a federal government stimulus package during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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