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January 20, 2006Citizens share ideas to shape up bay's shorePlans take shape for city's West Bay frontage
Possible ideas for the West Bay shorefront are displayed prior to the public forum meeting Thursday, which was packed with onlookers, Her mother Susan was the first woman city commissioner and a staunch opponent of the plan to build a plant at the bay, Fishbeck said. Susan died before the city razed the plant. Fishbeck attended Thursday's bayfront planning session to express her wish that the site remain an "open, usable space." "That was important to me - to see that come down. I don't want that to be lost," she said. Area residents have tossed about design ideas for the waterfront since June. That's when the city started to work with students from Michigan State University's design program to form a "consensus plan" for the 13,000 linear feet of public shoreline. A final plan, or plans, will be shown at the next bayfront meeting June 8. Thursday's meeting was a chance for residents to critique six design schemes created by students. Keeping much of the bayfront open and not allowing any cars to park along the waterfront were popular refrains that met with some applause from the 150-plus crowd. "It's been refreshing to see that nice sweep ... that nice, wide-open space," said Marilyn Byers of East Bay Township. What to do with the Clinch Park Zoo site once the zoo is closed in 2007 sparked the imagination of many. John Noonan, executive director of the Great Lakes Children's Museum, said it could be a good fit. The museum, once located on West Front Street, is readying to move temporarily to Greilickville while it raises money for a new center. The museum won voter approval in 2004 to lease city property on West State Street for a new building. There was support at Thursday's meeting to move the museum to the zoo spot, as well as for other children-friendly ideas. Jim Carruthers suggested a "splash pad" play area. "Re-use some of the buildings, but keep in mind kid uses," he said. David Grams called for a fountain, walkways and trees. Another fountain proponent said the city could consider keeping the otters, even though it plans to close the zoo. "I really think a fountain would be a great focal ... gathering place for residents and visitors alike," said Dave McClary. Traverse Symphony Orchestra's Andy Buelow and others championed an amphitheater. Buelow said the attraction would keep the waterfront "family orientated." Heather Peyton earned the evening's first smatter of applause when she said her desire "is to see the area left as open as possible." Others said benches, picnic tables, bathrooms and changing rooms are needed. Some wanted signs to point out the way. Others wanted no signs at all. Along the Boardman River, one resident said the city shouldn't "commercialize" the good fishing stream. A few others wanted to see "eyesore" buildings along the river cleaned up. The MSU designers will take input from this meeting and earlier ones and try to create a plan that features ideas with solid community backing. The city will hire a professional design and engineering firm to produce a more detailed design once the students' work is finished.
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