At the recent May 2024 Loutit Library public viewing of HI renderings, below is what I heard or thought w.r.t. the three presentations: A / B / C.  All of which I thought were well done and very helpful to the public.  So, thanks the HDR staff who put those together.  Thanks.  Brent Clark

I preface the below design element suggestions in the HI clean-up area of with my continuing hope that we 1) update the existing (old) HI Master Plan, and 2) “holistically” design and buildout the clean-up area only as part of a comprehensively integrated HI and contiguous and surrounding properties.  I discourage a “silo” approach.  I embrace a “wholistic” approach.

All the above being said, please see suggestions and comments below as HDR updates renderings for the next round of public view and comment.

1. Combine the parking of C and the solar panels of B on the capped impoundment ponds.  Let that space do double-duty.  Have parking spaces, yes; but add solar panels above the spaces on a skeletal, open roof area.  The ponds are approximately 80 x 100 ft and 100 x 150 ft (I think).  Somebody can figure out how much energy that roof area could generate to be used elsewhere on HI; maybe to provide lighted pathways for evening walking, etc.??

• Add a “pedestrian mover” known as a “chain ferry” across the river W of the Wharf Marina, about straight across from the Farmers’ Market.  Use underwater cables for the two rafts.  Big enough for bikes and strollers and 5 or 6 people.  Use two rafts that are 180 degrees biased so one is always at each river edge.  You traverse one raft from GH shore to HI shore, the other raft also traverses in the exact opposite direction.  Expecting people to go to Third St and walk or drive to HI, or come onto HI off US-31, and not have easy access right from downtown GH to HI is missing probably the most important “user-friendliness” element to the whole HI.  A pedestrian mover draws the two areas exactly together.  We need a way to get across the 150 ft between the two shores without walking or driving five blocks to do it.  I would be a terrible missed element to not have it.  Saugatuck does it.  Other towns and parks do it.  Not to have would be a sad oversight.  We run utility lines and snowmelt tubing at the river bottom now.  Maybe run the raft cabling at the same place.??

• Remove most of the berm but leave 2 or 3 small hill berms along the river edge, back 30-40 ft.  Just as we have the hill berm by the railroad cars where there are benches and playground equipment, duplicate the berms on HI similarly.  Commonality of the two sides of the river like that would harmonize and integrate the overall design.  A total dozing of the berms gives more sight to the N across HI but breaking up that open space with 2 or 3 berms that have a function are a better design.

• Push the berms E toward the river edge to raise the elevation 5-10 ft higher so we don’t have flooding problems as the water level ebbs and flows with the water table.  Push the linear park trail line back 20-30 ft from the river edge and give the edge a sloped manicured green grass space with benches and tables much like we have along the boardwalk green slope that was rebuilt just N of Snug Harbor a few years ago.  Again, we already have some nicely designed areas that could easily be mirrored on HI to show commonality and integration.  Nothing that we have to learn again how to do; we’ve done it along the Boardwalk and Chinook Pier already.

• Food trucks are a good idea, but don’t bunch them.  String them out.  Maybe hidden behind the remaining berms so they don’t make such an unsightly critical mass of themselves all together.  Allow for 3 or 4 stalls around the area.

• A blend of some of Designs B and C w.r.t. the educational / event area S of the parking.  Take a hard look at what we did at Rosy Mound walking trails.  A small events area, yes.  Even a “mini” Sherwood bandshell of sorts.  Something that is an open, minimalist structure that can shelter from sun and rain and wind, but not overwhelming.  A small wedding party setting; great.  A place for a simple outdoor wind instrument or piano recital; great.  A place for a thespian or chorus performance; great.  A setting presence but not dominance is the goal.

• As for educational elements, I think that can be better achieved along the foot pathway.  Markers, exhibits, small interactive kiosks, etc.  I think the above “events” theme trumps the “education” theme as a set aside space.  Let the educational elements be more “fluid” and in motion along the way around HI; not static in one setting.

• Bathrooms are needed in this HI clean-up area.  Probably adjacent or incorporated into the parking area by the impoundment ponds.  We have a nice facility by the soccer fields.  That’s too far away; we need them in this “event” area, too.

• Design B has natural grounds area.  Design C has manicured grass ground area.  Some of each is ideal.  The manicured grass along the 20-30 ft green border between the re-located linear park and river edge lets people sit and lay blankets and folding chairs and benches in that area as we have next to Snug Harbor.  But areas between the retained berms to the N of the linear park such as Rosy Mound did lets the natural setting exist, too.  I wouldn’t take a landscape firm long to figure all that out if we lay out the goals.

1. The walking path through the wetlands of B is great; but overkill maybe.  Instead, have 4 or 5 walkout areas from the borders around it; and find a special interest group willing to write the check to build it.  The wetlands pathway in Spring Lake next to the Holiday Inn is a perfect example to take notes.  So is the walking dock platform at the GH city park off Beechtree just E of the sewage treatment complex.

1. A winter ice skating rink is missing from GH.  HI might be the ideal place for it.  It might be better placed by the soccer fields.  We have a ski slope.  We need an ice skate park.
2. All pathways and lookouts need subtle lighting that respects wildlife and allows people to enjoy the areas at dusk and nighttime.

1. Drinking fountains along the pathways for people and pets.

1. Birdwatching needs to be integrated and compatible with surrounding areas.

1. HI elements to include birdwatching platforms, snowshoe trail, pet paths, walking paths, soccer fields, solar garden, historical education plaques, boat launch, charter fishing, pickleball, etc.?

1. Be sure HI is a year-round destination; not just seasonal.

1. Snowshoe and cross-x ski trail on walking path during winter.

1. Ice skating and hockey rinks on parts of the soccer fields during the winter.

1. Need emergency phones / call boxes.

• Need soccer / lacrosse fields.

• Relocate Farmers’ Market on the spot just over the 3^rd St bridge DPW uses now for DPW storage, etc.  Build it out as an “emporium” and let the farmers’ market be part of it.  Instead of leading with a farmers’ market and attach “add on” elements; flip it around.  Build a fresh market “emporium” and let the farmers’ market be the secondary.  Cheeses, meats, candies, other specialty, destination “shops”; and have the farmers’ market as well; some year round, some seasonal.

• Relocate charter fishing center to the HI boat launch; move from downtown to help solve downtown waterfront traffic and parking problems.

• Move all the winter carnival; chili cookoff, music fest, art fest, etc. to HI.