Sponsored by: Everything Classic Antiques
Written by Audrey Sochor
Spring is the season of rebirth and the St. Clair Palmer Park boardwalk is getting new life with help from a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.
Installed in the 1960s as part of an urban renewal project, the boardwalk has faced repairs and replacement in parts, but Trice Hawkins, recreation director for City of St. Clair, couldn’t recall a complete renovation being done before.
“It was just getting to a point beyond repair,” she said. “It was difficult fastening new boards to the existing decking, whether it was dry rot or there were some design flaws.”
The boardwalk will stretch 1,954 linear feet from the St. Clair Inn to The Voyageur. The city is adding an additional 50 feet on to the original length so it reaches the restaurant. In all, 4,271 boards will be put down.
But the boardwalk isn’t the only thing getting a makeover. The seawall cap will also be repainted and all the benches will be replaced. The reconstruction project will cost about $380,000. Costs not covered by the state grant are funded by the St. Clair County Parks and Recreation millage, city taxes and the Community Foundation.
The new benches will also be part of a memorial program, so people can donate and dedicate a bench, or businesses and organizations can do it for recognition.
City officials are targeting to have the work completed by May 25, before the summer events start.
“Palmer Park is a big part of our community,” Hawkins said. “It’s a destination. People come here for up close freighter watching, and we have events here like the Art Fair [and] Fourth of July.”
Residents can also own a piece of history – all the wood planks ripped out over the winter will be up for grabs. Check the city’s website or Facebook page to see when it becomes available.
