Courtesy Photo This artist’s rendering provided by the city shows the proposed redevelopment of property on the northeastern banks of the Thunder Bay River. That’s the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center at the far right as seen from the river in the foreground.

ALPENA — A more than $4 million Community Development Block Grant from the state could change the face of the Thunder Bay River in Alpena for at least the next half-century.

The Alpena Municipal Council on Monday voted to allow a grant application that could fund a large community park and sports complex adjacent to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center on the northeastern bank of the river.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has already committed the money to the project, contingent on the city, Friends of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and property owner Jeff Konczak giving the go-ahead.

Alpena Planning and Development Director Adam Poll said he forwarded to the MEDC one of the projects outlined in the long-term plans for the Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher St., created by the Friends group.

He didn’t anticipate any funding for it, but the MEDC responded that it would support the project that would include an extension of the Maritime Heritage Trail, a natural playground area, a pair of pavilions, shade structures, expanded parking, up to four sports courts, and a festival space with an amphitheater.

Poll said preliminary designs have been made, but plans are still being finalized to be forwarded to the MEDC, which will then get the wheels in motion for final approval.

Whatever improvements are made will be done along the Heritage Trial on the vacant land northwest of the Heritage Center.

Some details still need to be worked out, Poll said. The city will need an easement on the private property, or for Konczak to sign a 50-year lease. Officials also must determine who will maintain the park.

Konczak said he supports the project, but committing the property for a half-century is a big commitment.

He said he has in the past allowed the city to use his land for projects such as the boardwalk, because he knows it is good for the community. He feels the same about the new project, but added that he needs to weigh all of the options, because it could have an impact on his family.

“I have to give a 50-year easement or lease, and I’m not going to be here in 50 years,” he said. “I have to be mindful of how this can impact my children. I just want to be sure that I don’t strap my kids with something that could end up a problem for them.”

Kronczak said the maintenance issue is key to him because he doesn’t want to see something built and then neglected. None of his concerns mean he doesn’t support the project, he said.

“They are willing to give us a lot of money, and we don’t get this kind of opportunity often, and I’m all about trying to move forward,” Kronczak said. “I would say there is a 90% chance we can figure out a way to do it, but we need to reach terms that benefit everyone and a strategy for the maintenance that will work.”

Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Director Katie Wolf said officials expected it may take many years to get funding to complete the projects outlined in their long-term plans, so it was sort of a shock to learn of the size of the MEDC’s commitment. She said everyone involved is excited for the park, which would be open to the public year-round.

“We never anticipated something of this magnitude would happen so quickly,” Wolf said.

To get the grant, a match of about $433,000 is needed. Wolf said the Friends group has already received donations and pledges for the project, including $50,000 from the Alpena Rotary Club. She said other groups will also be asked for help to reach the match amount.

“We will begin talking to entities that share our passion for the Great Lakes and recognize the need for economic development,” Wolf said. “We’re hoping we get a strong response from that.”

A public fundraising campaign is also possible, but, because of the short deadline to get everything filed to the state, a broad fundraising effort may be hard to do with the time constraints.

Work could begin early next year and continue for the balance of 2020, if everything falls into place, Wolf said.

“This is on a pretty fast track and there are a lot of moving parts, but we would like to break ground in early spring and have as much of it done as possible by the end of 2020,” she said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.