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News
By Vicki Browne
The City of Caspian will receive $963,000 in grant funding through the Michigan Economic Development Council to upgrade Caspian Community Park.
Officials were notified on Sept. 26 that Caspian was one of 16 Michigan communities slated for awards through the MEDC’s Public Gathering Space Initiative. Funds for the program are generated in part via the American Rescue Plan Act. Grant recipients were eligible for anywhere between $200,000 and $1 million in funding.
“This has been a long process with much behind-the-scenes work that not many are aware of,” said John Stokoski, Caspian city manager.
The cost of upgrades to Caspian Community Park, located at 404 Brady Avenue, total an estimated $1,070,000. The City must provide a 10% match to supplement the grant funding, equating to $107,000.
According to Stokoski, the project will include new basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, as well as court lighting. There will be a sheltered pavilion with ADA accessible tables and grills. The playground area will be updated with universally accessible surfacing to enable wheelchair access to the amenities.
“The city enlisted the services of the U.P. Superior Alliance for Independent Living Disability Network to review the proposed project to assure it’s being designed to meet Americans with Disabilities and Architectural Barriers Act standards,” Stokoski said.
The project also outlines an outdoor ice rink as well as new fencing, benches, bike racks and security site lighting.
“My hope is that people of all ages and abilities enjoy this outdoor space and take good care of it for future generations,” Stokoski said. “This will be a gem not only for Caspian, but for everyone who would like to enjoy all that it will have to offer.”
After the demolition of the community center in early 2022, the City surveyed residents regarding an updated recreation plan the following summer. Of the 87 residents who responded to a written questionnaire, 58% ranked improvements to the Community Center playground as a high or medium priority. This was by far the most popular of the 13 options posed to respondents, with an improved soccer field ranking as the distant second.
Wickwire, a local design and planning firm working on the park, partnered with the city on both planning and funding the project.
“Due to the cost to redevelop this space the city needed to apply for a grant,” Stokoski said. “The [city] board turned it over to Wickwire to pursue grant funding.”
An initial grant application through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was denied, with the PGSI grant application submitted last April.
Zach Hautala, director of the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance, encouraged local jurisdictions to pursue multiple funding avenues.
“Caspian receiving this grant directly supports why Iron County municipalities should continue to apply for grants even if past applications were unsuccessful in securing funding,” Hautala said.
According to PGSI materials, the grant program is designed to “create and enhance recreational places that will allow residents to gather, relax, celebrate and commemorate.” Accepted projects demonstrated “usability, accessibility and seasonality within new or existing community spaces on publicly owned property.”
Because these grant dollars are federal funds, Stokoski added that the competitive bidding process and local prevailing wage requirements will both apply to the project.
“Wickwire has been authorized to design, bid and oversee the construction of the project,” Stokoski said. “Bids will be reviewed and evaluated by Wickwire and ultimately approved by the city board and the MEDC.”
Groundbreaking for PGSI projects must begin by May 2024 and be completed by December 2025.