About

Waterfront Enhancement Project

Community: City of Harbor Beach
Population: Under 6,000

Back to Project Listing>

Project Description

City of Harbor Beach
“Waterfront Enhancement Project”

In 2012 the City of Harbor Beach obtained the site of an Old Coast Guard installation.
The property was heavily blighted. Remnants of the caissons and pier foundations from the old abandon pier were still in the water. In 2015 the City was awarded a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund and also received a large donation from DTE to begin the “Waterfront Enhancement Project”.

The main focus of the project was to provide more public access to Lake Huron and the City’s harbor. The scope included: clean up of the site, reconstruction of the pier, add a section to the City’s bike and pedestrian path, and creation of a kayak launch. The pier was constructed over the top of the old pier.

Long range goals are to conduct lighthouse tours from the site and to create a Lake Huron Outreach Center in conjunction with Saginaw Valley State University.

Is your project easy to replicate in other communities (clear in its impact and execution for other communities)?

The community would have to be located on the shoreline. Our project was unique in the fact that it repurposed an abandon Coast Guard installation.

What is the Community Wealth Impact (based on one or more of the categories you selected) of your project?

The project connects to the City’s Harbor View Trail, which is a bike/pedestrian path that extends along the lakeshore in our community. The establishment of the path, pier and kayak launch add to recreation amenities in Harbor beach that entice people to exercise by walking, biking or kayaking. It also is a great lake access point for fishing, kayaking or to just enjoy the view of the water..

Describe the creativity and originality of your project.

The City took an abandon blighted property in our community and transformed it into beautiful recreational amenity. The project was designed to overlay the existing structures, saving on demolition costs and unneeded disruption of the environment. The project was completed exclusively with City personnel and equipment, including a barge that is use for dredging the City’s marina.