Dexter begins to nail down grants for Mill Creek Plaza

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Dexter Village officials are starting to line up and knock down grants to build the Mill Creek Park.

The village recently nailed down a $48,000 grant that requires a $48,000 match. It also applied for about $1 million more in grants, including a competitive, $500,000 Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund grant. Decisions on these grants are expected to be handed down by the holiday season.

The village is planning to spend $5 million to develop the Mill Creek Park along the west side of downtown over a number of years. The first phase of that plan, designed by Ann Arbor-based JJR, could begin construction as early as next year.

The park will run alongside approximately one mile of the east bank of Mill Creek between Warrior Creek Park and Shield Road. It will be integrated into the city's proposed river walk, highlighting the section of Mill Creek that borders downtown.

The idea behind the park is to open up the creek to more village residents and downtown patrons. The creek has turned into a mud-filled pond over the years as the old damn under the Main Street bridge has aged. The Washtenaw County Road Commission is tearing out that damn, rebuilding the bridge and the creek.

Source: Courtney Nicholls, spokeswoman for the village of Dexter
Writer: Jon Zemke