New Pier Expands Recreation Opportunities Along Lake Huron

Oscoda — A Michigan community will soon have better access to Lake Huron thanks to a new boardwalk and

pier.

Since 2010, Spicer Group has been working with Oscoda Township on the design, DEQ permitting and bidding for a new pier at Oscoda Beach Park on Lake Huron.

Spicer Group designed the 8-foot-wide, 150-foot-long wooden boardwalk that leads to the future site of a new 14-foot-wide, 300-foot-long pier. Some of the amenities incorporated into the design are accessible fishing areas, new ADA benches as well as lighting that will give the pier identity in the evening hours.

There will be many recreational and economic benefits of the project including creating universal access to Lake Huron, linkage to a larger trail system and waterfront integration, scenic viewing and wildlife observation, more fishing opportunities, natural resources protection and economic stimulus for the Oscoda downtown area.

Oscoda Beach Park is located in the downtown business district, has approximately 1,025 feet of Lake Huron beach frontage and comprises nearly 11 acres. It offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities and is known as one of the best public beaches in the state with its unspoiled

pure sand beach.

One of the biggest design considerations

for this project was the conditions of working on

Lake Huron. The action of both ice and waves needed

to be incorporated into the

pure sand beach.

One of the biggest design considerations

for this project was the conditions of working on

Lake Huron. The action of both ice and waves needed

to be incorporated into the

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design. Instead of a traditional wood pier, steel caissons are being used in the design.

The design uses only three large caissons, as opposed to wood piers, which greatly reduces sand deposition and makes it completely maintenance-free. The deck of the pier is wood to maintain the boardwalk appeal, but

Architect, David Boersma said it is pressure-treated and thick to withstand the weather conditions.

The pier will be made up of three 100-foot bridge sections which are being manufactured in Minnesota and shipped to Michigan. Two of these sections are being shipped to Bay City and will travel to Oscoda on a barge, where they will then be placed on top of the caissons from the barge with a crane.

The pier was also designed up to ADA standards and is universally accessible. The railings were specially designed in several places to allow for wheelchair access for fishing.

A unique feature of the design is that it has seats built into the concrete structure. Other design considerations: making the pier high enough so beachgoers could walk under it and it wouldn’t interfere with beach access; and designing the end of the pier so it could be extended in the future.

The project is being funded through three grants, a Department of Natural Resources Trust fund grant, a Great Lakes Fisheries grant and a Coastal Management grant. The pier is currently being constructed and is expected to be completed by the beginning of September.

New Pier Expands Recreation New Pier Expands Recreation New Pier Expands Recreation New Pier Expands Recreation

design. Instead of a traditional wood pier, steel caissons are being used in the design.

“A unique feature of the design is that

it has seats built into

the concrete structure.”

(See more project photos on last page.)

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Jackson—Constructed and opened to the public on May 10, 1932, The Cascades has been providing entertainment to visitors from across the country for

80 years. But many of the key components that function together behind the scenes to make the spectacle work have reached the end of their working life.

The Cascades is a seamless network of orchestrated waterfalls, fountains, lights, pools and music. It is 500 feet in length, 64-feet high and has a total width of 60 feet. There are 6 fountains, 16 falls (11 are illuminated), 1,230 colored electric lights and a 2,000-gallon-per-minute pump that filters, chlorinates and recycles water in a closed loop system. There are 126 steps along each side of the Cascades which pass three main pools of water that are 30 feet by 90 feet. (Editorial note: The Cascades can be viewed on YouTube by simply typing “cascade falls jackson.”)

The Cascades were created out of a vision by prominent Jackson-based business man William Sparks. He transitioned a section of land near his home into what is now 456 acres of recreation area including the Cascades and Sparks Foundation Park. The Cascades also features an amphitheater with 1,491 stadium seats along with benches that have a seating capacity of 360 people. The park was given to Jackson County shortly after Sparks’ death in 1943. The County currently uses all admission fees and donations for the Cascades to maintain and operate the system.

To ensure the Cascades continue to provide the historical entertainment they are known for, Jackson County hired Spicer Group to conduct a system analysis and identify areas of improvement or replacement.

Spicer’s team of engineers, architects and planners recently completed a comprehensive system analysis and field assessment of all components including structural, mechanical, and electrical to determine the extent of their remaining service life. Comments collected from a focus group meeting held were also incorporated into the study to ensure the ultimate visions of the local community were incorporated into the final report and recommendations.

All of this information was compiled into a final report which will help guide Jackson County in making important decisions regarding the future of the Cascades.

The final report provides substantial detail regarding Spicer’s obser vat ions , ana lys is , conclusions , recommendations and cost estimates including the structural, mechanical and electrical systems. The report also contains

an overview of conceptual design possibilities that

ensure physical improvements made to the Cascades are consistent with the overall vision of its stakeholders.

The next step will be for Jackson County to evaluate the report and develop a strategic plan to fund the improvements and renovations.

Report Completed for the Cascades

View from top of the Cascades

the creek and to the Huron River immediately downstream. Flattening of Traver Creek’s steep grade and reconfi guring two inline ponds within the project will lower sediment loads and associated nutrients. Traver Creek is subject to the Ford Lake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus. Phosphorus will be reduced by 30% as a result of the stabilization work.

Successful CollaborationA unique aspect of the project is the level of collaboration. Project stakeholders include the City of Ann Arbor Systems Planning and Parks and Recreation, golf course staff , the WCWRC, and the Department of Environmental Equality (DEQ). Within Spicer, team members were involved with the project from the planning department for landscape work, the structural engineering department for bridges within the golf course and the watershed department for design and permitting.

It’s important to note that per SRF loan requirements, permitting and design had to be completed within a 5-month time period. Typically, a project of this size would take a year or longer to successfully complete those tasks.

Golf Course EnhancementTh e location of the golf course along the creek was a unique challenge for the design of this project. Th e Spicer team worked closely with the golf course staff to make sure the design wouldn’t interfere with the course.

“First, it was important to make sure the creek restoration didn’t interfere with golf play,” Roznowski said. “On some holes, in places where we would usually use riprap, we incorporated more aesthetically appropriate retaining walls instead.” Th e types of plantings used and how tall they grow also had to be taken into consideration in order to keep the aesthetics of the golf course and avoid obstruction of golf play.

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A nn Arbor — Spicer Group is helping improve the Traver Creek Drain which flows through the Leslie Park Golf Course in Ann Arbor. Th e

creek has eroded over time, and improvements have been designed to address erosion problems and improve water quality.

Janis Bobrin, the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner (WCWRC) and the City of Ann Arbor are working together to reconstruct a section of the Traver Creek while restoring and improving many of its natural features. Funding is provided by a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan, and construction is expected to begin in November and go through April — during the golf off -season. As an added benefi t to taxpayers, an S2 grant covering 90% of design costs was obtained and up to 50% of the construction costs will be forgiven due to the water quality benefi ts.

Improving Water QualitySpicer Group engineers have proposed a two-stage design, which will stabilize the bank by slowing down fl ood waters. Th e overbank area of a two-stage channel will increase sediment capture to help manage sediment loads and excess nutrients such as phosphorus.

Additionally, wetland areas will be re-created in areas where they existed in the past, providing even more storm water fi ltration and wildlife habitat. To provide more rainwater storage capacity, Spicer Group engineers also plan to modify ponds along the creek by deepening them and adding sediment settling areas.

On top of improving water quality, the City and WCWRC have additional goals for this project: improving storm water fl ow for an upstream tributary area of more than seven square miles, improving and maintaining adequate storm water conveyance, the ecological goal of improving biodiversity through habitat improvement, and lastly, enhancing the aesthetics and landscaping of the award-winning Leslie Park Golf Course.

Improvements to the creek and creation of the riparian corridor will connect natural wetland areas to provide a continuous wildlife habitat. Th e City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation Group will work with golf course staff to manage vegetation and habitat in the corridor. Controlled

Another challenge the golf course presented was the question of where to place excess soil from widening the creek. Instead of simply piling up the extra soil, Spicer engineers collaborated with the golf course staff to fi nd areas to blend the soil into the course to better separate some golf holes, more clearly defi ne certain fairways, and fi x areas where drainage problems have existed in the past. In order for the staff to be able to mow and maintain the course, slopes of the new berms also had to be taken into consideration.

Th is successful collaboration with golf course staff allowed the project to run more smoothly. Being able to have quick access to plans for the bridges and sprinkler system was helpful for the design, Roznowski said. Th e City also brought in golf course architects to review the designs to make sure the changes would not degrade the quality of the course. Th e end result will not only enhance the environmental components of the creek, but will make the golf course even better.

“Th ere will defi nitely be a visual enhancement to complement the extensive water quality improvements,” Roznowski said. It’s going to look really nice when it’s done, and the design will intercept and retain over 600 pounds of pollutants per year.

burns will be used to continually rehabilitate and maintain the function of natural areas and the riparian corridor.

Positive Environmental ImpactDesign Engineer Steve Roznowski said the environmental enhancements of the project will be signifi cant. Wetland enhancement helps clean storm water, reduces peak fl ows and is good for wildlife habitat. Improvements such as the riparian corridor and deepening of the ponds will increase fl oodplain storage, which will help detain and attenuate storm fl ows.

Another positive impact will be the reduction of sediment in

Creek restoration to improve water quality and enhance environmental features

“...environmental enhancements of the

project will be signifi cant. Wetland enhancement

helps clean storm water, reduces peak fl ows and

is good for wildlife habitat.”

If you would like to hear more about this project and how Spicer Group can assist with your project, please call Steve Roznowski, at

(989) 754-4717.

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Mt. Pleasant — The first of many phases of the redevelopment of a 300-

acre site in the City of Mt. Pleasant recently began.

Spicer Group, along with AKT Peerless Environmental & Energy Service and real estate service provider CB Richard Ellis Group have been working with City officials since February to help them make the best decisions for the development of the site. The main goal of the project is to figure out the cost to get the site ready for redevelopment, determine what the future development will look like, and eventually facilitate a redevelopment that adds jobs to benefit the local economy.

Located near the crossroads of Pickard and Crawford, the site (previously known as the Mt. Pleasant Regional Center), was purchased by the City of Mt. Pleasant from the State of Michigan in 2011. In the past, the land was operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and eventually became a state-owned mental institution. The 300-acre site currently contains 27 buildings that will need to be demolished, a power plant, tunnels connecting the buildings and two pieces of land that are owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

The first step in the process included auctioning all of the machinery and equipment found in the buildings on the City’s behalf. The online auctions were held through Orbitbid.com in May through the first week in June and included items such as medical and dental equipment, office supplies, street lights and fencing.

In order to figure out the best use of the land, CB Richard Ellis is currently conducting a preliminary highest and best-use study. This study will help determine what the community needs and what type of developments would be the most successful.

“The development needs to be driven by demand,” Spicer Group Project Manager Darrick Huff said. The study is

expected to be completed by the end of the year where it will be presented to City officials and open for public input.

Another part of the study is determining the cost to redevelop the site, including utilities and demolition of the buildings currently on the site.

To assist with the financing, Spicer Group and AKT Peerless are working with the City on a funding plan. Huff said there are many different grants and options available, but many depend on what type of development the site will be used for, therefore many questions still need to be answered.

The final ideas for the developments will be incorporated into the City of Mt. Pleasant’s Master

Plan, which is currently being updated. This will help avoid zoning conflicts in the future and help the development fit into the City’s overall vision.

“We have to make sure the Master Plan incorporates the new development in a way that meets the needs and integrity of the City, but at the same time is loose enough that the developer can put his own stamp on it,” Huff said.

Spicer HelpS Drive Mt. pleaSant Site reDevelopMent

Aerial map of site redevelopment

InsIde spIcer Group

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Rodney A. Velez, P.E. was recently named a Spicer Shareholder. Velez is a Project Manager in Spicer’s Water Resources Services Department. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bolivian Private University in Bolivia, South America.

Max M. Clever, P.S., EIT was recently named a Spicer Associate. Clever is a surveyor/GIS technician and engineer in Spicer’s Water Resources Services Department. He received his bachelor’s degree in surveying engineering from Ferris State University.

Achievements

New Associates, Shareholder, and Principal named!Congratulations to the following Spicer Group employees on their recent achievements: Rick Born, Max Clever, Paul Forton, and Vern Moore, Associates; Rodney Velez, Shareholder; and Cindy Frazier, Principal.

Vern O. Moore, P.E. was recently named a Spicer Associate. Moore is serving as a Project Manager for Spicer’s Water Resources Services Department in the St. Johns office. He received bachelor’s degrees in both biosystems engineering and in fisheries and wildlife management from Michigan State University.

Paul L. Forton, P.E., CPESC was recently named a Spicer Associate. Forton is a Project Manager for Spicer’s Water Resources Services Department in the St. Johns office. He received his bachelor’s degree in biosystems engineering from Michigan State University.

Cindy M. Frazier, CPA was recently named a Spicer Principal. Frazier began her career at Spicer as a Corporate Accountant. Frazier is now the Director of Finance. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University.

Rick E. Born was recently named a Spicer Associate. Born is the Construction Manager in Spicer’s Construction Services Department in the Saginaw office. He has an associate’s degree in construction engineering from Ferris State University.

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PAIDSaginaw, MI

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Spicer Group, Inc.230 S. Washington Ave.Saginaw, MI 48607-1286989.754.4717

St. Johns, MI 989.224.2355

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Oscoda Pier Construction