Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — A community partnership in Ontonagon will result in a downtown park on River Street.
The park is a partnership between the village of Ontonagon, Regional Inclusive Community Coalition and Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital.
Village manager Joe Erickson, trustee Tony Smydra, Sue Kempen, Copper Country Health, and RICC President Hannah Platzke attended the recent Ontonagon Rotary Club meeting, where they were presented with a check for $815, proceeds from the Labor Festival Log Rolling contest, sponsored by the Rotary.
Erickson and Smydra said the members of RICC came to the village asking for a park site in the downtown area. An area between the Ontonagon Museum and Aspirus Fitness Center, owned by Aspirus Ontonagon, was identified. The village obtained a $1,500 grant from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region and a lease from Aspirus for the spot.
Erickson outlined six phases for development. A brick paved pathway, tables, benches, flowers and shrubs, a security camera, a fountain and art work are parts of the proposed development. The entire park will be handicapped accessible, Erickson said.
The plan for the park includes power and it can be used for the Community Christmas Tree, and other community events. The RICC board, which will take responsibility for maintaining the park, also decided the park would be smoke-free.
The RICC group was also responsible for the American Disabilities Act-compliant streetscape in Ontonagon a few years ago and has been working on making sure all aspects of the community are accessible to everyone. Smydra told the Rotarians the aim is to make Ontonagon the “most accessible town on the Lake Superior shore.”
Hannah Platzke, of RICC, thanked the Rotary for its donation, adding the group is excited about helping with the project.
