Courtesy photo This is a rendering of a map that shows how proposed improvements to Mich-e-ke-wis Park will be laid out.

Mich-e-ke-wis Park is one step closer to getting a facelift, as the Alpena Municipal Council approved a final restoration plan for Mich-e-ke-wis Park on Monday.

The plan includes natural pathways, planting areas, educational opportunities, and possible reflecting/ or relaxation destinations.

North by Nature Landscapes, from Petoskey, was hired to develop a landscaping plan and assist the council in the planning and staging of the overall project.

The information presented to the city council by North by Nature provided many details about what the park would include when the entire project is completed.

“This project is inspired by a collective goal to restore city-owned lakefront property, in order to comprehensively demonstrate to all what a naturalized Lake Huron shoreline is meant to be, as Mother Nature intended,” North by Nature says in its packet to council.

The plan also calls for additional volleyball courts, a new parking lot, and more vegetation including the planting of 60 trees, 140 shrubs, and various species of flowers to replace the vegetation damaged in the park throughout the years.

“The addition of volleyball courts and new parking will bring new community activity to the area,” North by Nature says. ” A blatant need for new vegetation in the park is evident. The city of Alpena is ready to advance into sustainable infrastructure, and adding a lush greenbelt style planting with layered habitat is the ultimate goal for the park.”

Four primary naturalizing native perennials will be used to begin installing groundcover which will replace all turf grass: American Dune Grass, Little Bluestem Grass, Prairie Dropseed Grass, and Tussock Sedge Grass.

Additionally, new sustenance for wildlife like birds, butterflies and moths is part of the plan.

“Blooming perennials will be incorporated in masses which will offer new sustenance for birds, butterflies and moths,” the proposal states.

Also, Low Bush Honeysuckle and Ninebark will be incorporated to encourage foot traffic through specific areas.

The plan calls for seven new gardens in the park, the largest being 38,960 square feet. With an additional 22,895 square feet for volleyball courts.

Among the other ideas discussed for the gardens is a medicine wheel. The packet information provided by North by Nature describes what a medicine wheel is.

“The medicine wheel encompasses spiritual teachings, traditional medicines and illustrative stories. It represents four directions, four seasons, four elements, four human races, and four human ages. It is a spiritual guide to balance throughout life.”

Included in the packet was maintenance plans for the property going forward.

“A thorough spring and fall cleanup will be required. Perennials like Yarrow, Coreopsis and Bee Balm will naturally seed out and spread into the naturalizing grass groundcovers. The first three years will require dutiful frequency in weed maintenance.”

After three years it is believed the entire landscape will be irrigation-free.

“Once maintained for a solid three years, the entire landscape will be essentially irrigation-free. Also, after being maintained properly for three years, every naturalizing groundcover will mass in as “living mulch,” further reducing costs long term in replenishing mulch each year.”

The city has secured roughly $20,000 in funding so far. Mayor Cindy Johnson explained what that will be used for.

“The $20,000 we will spend next year is for the parking lots and some trail improvements to the beach.”

Johnson went on to explain why it is unclear how much the project will cost overall just yet.

“We won’t know the necessary funds until we have the cost estimates. They didn’t price it out yet. We will do it in phases, similar to the improvements we already made at Mich-e-ke-wis.”