News Photo by Christie Werda On Thursday, Alpena Department of Public Works (DPW) employees are seen putting up the City Christmas Tree at Culligan Plaza in Alpena.

ALPENA — People received their first up-close look at the newly renovated Culligan Plaza in downtown Alpena on Thursday and enjoyed some of its amenities.

They also got to see Alpena’s Christmas tree which was erected yesterday by the Alpena Department of Public Works (DPW).

The public restrooms, which are located at the end of the new parking lot, are also open for people to utilize.

The reimagined plaza will include a new water feature, stage, and fire feature that are all ADA accessible. The plaza and adjacent parking lot also include an internal drainage system of which has a green filtration system utilizing rain gardens and tree filtration boxes.

The former fountain and plaza were in need of improvements, as there were water leaks under the plaza’s concrete and much of the cement work was cracking. It was also not ADA compliant.

The new water feature likely will not be operational until spring.

Christmas at Culligan Plaza

According to a press release from the City of Alpena, this year’s tree was donated by Scott and Kelsey Koenigbauer. The tree is a blue spruce and stands 42 feet tall and 24 feet wide. The tree came from Koenigbauers’ property on N. North Street in Alpena.

The release states that the Koenigbauers chose to donate the tree after their realtor, Lori Stephan, mentioned that the City accepts tree donations. Having recently moved to Alpena, they saw it as a meaningful way to contribute to their new community.

“We have enjoyed our first year in the area and are happy to contribute to the city’s tradition,” the Koenigbauers said in the release. “We are excited to see our tree decorated in the new Culligan Plaza!”

The City of Alpena also thanked Alpena Power, Charter Communications, and the Koenigbauers’ neighbor for helping remove the tree and transporting it safely to Culligan Plaza.

Mayor Cindy Johnson told The News that she hopes that community members make their way to Culligan Plaza after the Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade on Nov. 28, for the tree lighting. She said that she has invited the Alpena High School and Alpena Community College robotics teams to “light the tree.”

She said that both teams “represented Alpena with so much grace and dignity” at the 2025 Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) World Championship this past June.

Culligan Plaza renovation project

In September 2023, The News reported that the City of Alpena, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Target Alpena, received a $991,995 Public Gatherings Spaces Initiative Grant from the state to help pay for a complete renovation of Culligan Plaza and a new restroom facility downtown.

In addition to the grant, the Alpena Municipal Council also committed a 10% cash match of $118,555. The Alpena County Youth and Recreation Commission awarded the city a $20,000 grant and the First Federal of Northern Michigan Legacy Foundation donated $100,000.

In September 2024, The News reported that the reconstruction project was supposed to already be completed that fall and that the city estimated that the project wouldn’t begin till spring 2025.

This delay was due to requirements the city had to meet per grant guidelines.

In May of this year, the project began and by June the Culligan Plaza fountain was relocated to Bay View Park.

Johnson told The News that she’s “excited about the entire project” and thinks that the community will especially utilize the restrooms. She also said that she is glad that the entire community will be able to enjoy Culligan Plaza as it is ADA compliant.

Johnson added that Culligan Plaza is an important gathering space for the community and will allow people to have a space to gather.

“I was sitting there this morning,” Johnson said. “It is just absolutely peaceful, warm, and inviting.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.