ALPENA — The access driveway for Mich-e-ke-wis Park will be closed to all vehicular traffic while improvements to the park, including the installation of the new volleyball courts, are being completed.

Access to this area will be limited for the duration of the construction of the volleyball courts.

Also, the Alpena Municipal Council will vote at its next meeting on Tuesday to move forward with other proposed improvements at the park, which would include a new parking area, and a rain garden storm-water drainage, as well as pedestrian trials.

This closure will also allow for the removal of the existing gravel drive within Mich-e-ke-wis, but the park will remain open throughout the construction process, however, access to areas of the park under construction will be limited.

Construction of the volleyball courts will be completed through volunteer work provided by the Alpena Mixed Volleyball League, and as such, work will not be performed every day. The project is anticipated to take up to a month to complete.

The overall project includes a new paved parking lot and rain garden which will be installed tentatively in September as work is completed on the new clear well project at the water treatment plant.

This delay will eliminate overlapping construction operations which could damage the new road and parking area. The project is being funded through a Michigan Passport Grant, donations acquired by the Alpena Mixed Volleyball League, and the City of Alpena General Fund for a total project cost of $301,200.

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