News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A group of people who want to save Culligan Plaza visited the plaza on Wednesday. Alpena city officials want to do a complete remake of the plaza, but many residents believe they should have been involved in the design making process.

ALPENA — A preliminary rendering of a proposed remake of Culligan Plaza in Alpena has drawn the ire of many residents who disapprove of the design.

Those residents intend to express their displeasure with the Alpena Municipal Council after a group opposed to the new plaza design was added to Monday’s meeting agenda.

So far, more than 900 people have signed a digital petition on Change.org to halt the project, demanding more public input into the proposed design.

The News was not able to verify how many of the signatures on the petition were those of residents, but people from as near as Harrisville and as far as the Netherlands signed the petition.

After it was reported last week that the council intends to move forward with the project and the rendering was released, social media backlash began and many people questioned both the design and the project’s cost.

The proposed rendering of the new plaza would have a smaller fountain built in one of its corners, while archways and a large lighted tower — capable of changing colors — would be erected near the park’s front.

People also voiced their displeasure about the removal of several of the current plaza’s trees in the rendering.

The budget for the project is $320,000 and a combination of funding from the city’s America Rescue Plan Act, and grants from the First Federal Foundation and the Alpena Youth and Recreation Committee would pay for the proposed improvements.

Taishaw Thomas started a Facebook group encouraging people who want to save Culligan Plaza to join and share their opinions on the proposed plan.

Hundreds of comments were posted under the photo of the rendering in that group, and other Alpena-related groups.

Thomas said when she heard about the project — and saw the early design idea — she wondered why the public wasn’t more involved in the planning process.

“My first thought was that this wasn’t a community-approved plan and it sure doesn’t scream Alpena,” she said. “I don’t think it has the old town Alpena feel or charm and I feel like this was just sprung on us. Our goal is to have the city stop what it’s doing and allow for other submissions.”

Councilwoman Cindy Johnson attended a meeting on Monday at the plaza that was held by people opposed to the plan. She said she wanted to assure people the city is listening to their thoughts, opinions and ideas, and, for the time being, the project is on hold.

“I went to the plaza for the meeting and answered as many of their questions as I could,” Johnson said. “There was a mutual agreement that until the next committee meeting, we would put everything on hold.”

The next plaza committee meeting is in mid-August, but a firm date has not yet been established.

Jean Beamish didn’t mince words about her thoughts about the proposed changes to the plaza. She said the tower — part of the planned redesign — would restrict what people see in the park, especially during the holiday season when the city Christmas tree is on display.

“I think it is just horrible and it absolutely doesn’t go with the rest of our downtown,” she said. “The arch and the towner will block the view of the park and I was really just taken aback by the whole thing. They should do what they said they would do and get public input and put out a call for design ideas from the community.”

Beamish also questioned the use of the ARPA funds and tax money from the youth and recreation millage to pay for the project. She said the city should share how much it would cost to repair the plaza’s current fountain and then make appropriate changes to the plan.

Beamish said she suspects repairing Culligan Plaza would cost less than the proposed design.

“I’m open to change but we need to know exactly what the cost is to redo the plaza and compare it to repairing the fountain,” she said. “I think there can be some changes, but we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

Monday’s council meeting begins at 6 p.m. and public comment is welcome.