“ Years ago , the harbor was vibrant ,” said Brian Miller , Marinette ’ s city engineer . “ It was a focal point of the community , and it was very significant to the people who lived in the Menekaunee neighborhood , among them the logging folks and the commercial fishing folks . After the harbor had deteriorated , residents ’ pride in the area led to a desire to restore the harbor .”
Bringing a vision to life
In 2010 , the City of Marinette hired Ayres to assist in the revitalization of Menekaunee Harbor . The Ayres team provided a wide spectrum of expertise , with the company ’ s funding development services , environmental services , water resources , structural design and analysis , municipal services , landscape architecture , architecture , and geospatial groups all involved in the many aspects of the nearly 10-year , $ 10 million project :
• Assistance in the acquisition of nearly $ 8 million in state and federal grants .
• Restoration of the harbor seawalls and shoreline .
• A massive dredging of the harbor to remove and dispose of approximately 66,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment .
• Demolition of an industrial site .
• Development of Menekaunee Harbor Park .
Plans for the harbor and park included new shoreline riprap and sheetpile retaining walls ; a new boat launch with three slips and docks ; a parking area ; a restroom facility ; two pavilions ; a transient floating marina dock system ; ADAcompliant kayak / canoe launch ; walkway system connecting the restrooms , boat launch , docks , and the local street bordering the area ; pedestrian bridge and boardwalks connecting the north and south sides of the harbor ; and amenities including lighting and bollards , benches , an electronic message center , offshore power , landscaping , and a bioretention stormwater treatment system .
Also part of the project were construction of a new water main crossing under the harbor ’ s south channel ( which made room for the pedestrian bridge ) and the
4 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .