Community: City of Mount Pleasant
Population: 10,000+
ROWE assisted the City of Mt. Pleasant in applying for and obtaining a MDNR Trust Fund grant to complete a semi-circular fitness trail with an outdoor fitness equipment station in Island Park.
The trail, completed in Fall 2020, connects an existing semi-circular trail at the south and north ends of the park’s 50 acres, while creating a circular paved pathway around the park’s perimeter.
A prefabricated pedestrian bridge was brought in to replace an existing aging pedestrian bridge. The new bridge connects Island Park with Pickens Fields, incorporating an existing Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the overall site design.
ROWE succeeded in obtaining an EGLE/USACE joint permit for work within the project’s 100-year flood plain. The project was funded through a MDNR Trust Fund grant and local funds.
Replicability:
The pedestrian bridge and fitness path are unique to Island Park. It would be difficult to replicate the exact design of the path and bridge. However, the fitness equipment and equipment area could be replicated as well as the design aesthetics of the bridge. The pedestrian bridge is a prefabricated structure and the overall aesthetics of the bridge could be replicated at other locations. Similar to the bridge, the same fitness equipment could be provided at other locations throughout the park or the city, if desired.
Creativity and Originality:
The City of Mount Pleasant is very proud of Island Park and all it offers to park visitors. By “closing the loop” with the additional paved pathway within the park, it creates the opportunity for users to use the path for exercise or to access one of the many park attractions. The addition of the exercise equipment area is unique to the park and the city, and provides the opportunity for users to utilize the exercise equipment in an outdoor setting.
Community Impact:
The completion of the Island Park fitness trail and replacement of the pedestrian bridge across the Chippewa River continues to allow park visitors convenient and safe access from Island Park to Pickens Fields to the north. The old pedestrian bridge had fallen into disrepair and if left in place, would have posed a safety threat to pedestrians crossing the bridge. Both Island Park and Pickens Fields are two heavily visited areas near downtown Mount Pleasant that are frequented by individuals and families utilizing the park’s many attractions, including tennis courts, basketball courts, skate park, pavilions, playgrounds, amphitheater and baseball/softball fields. The completion of the circular fitness path allows for convenient access to all areas of the park and the addition of the outdoor fitness area encourages park visitors to focus on their personal health and fitness.
