Contact: Renee’ Ihlenfeldt
231-723-4325
For Immediate Release
DESIGNS FOR MANISTEE LAKE:
MSU Presents Final Designs on May 29
Manistee, Michigan – Months of community input and creative design work by one of the nation’s premier landscape architecture schools will culminate in a “world premier” of “Final Design Concepts for Manistee Lake", presented on Thursday, May 29, 2008 by Warren Rauhe of the Michigan State University Small Town Design Initiative. The unveiling of the design concepts and images will be held at the First Baptist Church, located at 1201 Lakeshore Road from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Everyone with an interest in the future of Manistee Lake and the communities surrounding the lake are encouraged to attend.
“This study and presentation are important projects being led by the Alliance for Economic Success to involve the community in defining how we can realize the full potential of the lands and waters of the Manistee Lake area,” said Beth McCarthy, who chairs the Board of the Alliance for Economic Success. “Whether it be public surveys or economic development studies, Manistee Lake has been consistently identified as an underutilized asset, one that holds tremendous value and potential for a range of interests. We will all see the final product of MSU together on May 29!”
“We’ve talked with the community, presented design options for them to respond to and our final images and design concepts for the Manistee Lake area will address what we heard and recommend a few surprises for the community to consider,” said Warren Rauhe, director of the University’s Small Town Design Initiative. “The Manistee Lake area is a wonderfully diverse resource with immense potential that already supports an incredible mix of uses. With leadership, vision and unity among the governments that are stewards of the lake, this can become a global model of how a freshwater resource can be managed, used and improved to support those and other uses in perpetuity. We hope that our work provides tools, concepts and options for all interests to realize the full potential of this remnarkable resource."
“This is one of three independent but somewhat related initiatives involving Manistee Lake,” said Renee’ Ihlenfeldt, Executive Director of the Alliance for Economic Success. “We recently met as a community to learn about the results of a feasibility study involving the potential relocation of rail lines around Manistee Lake to remove safety hazards and environmental risks, support jobs and businesses and to open new opportunities for jobs and economic development around the north end of the Lake. We have another study in the works that will be completed this summer that will provide us with a marketing plan for expanding or attracting businesses and jobs to the lands surrounding Manistee Lake. On May 29, we’ll all see together, for the very first time, how the lands surrounding Manistee Lake could be developed or used to benefit our communities and county.
“We hope everyone will participate and enjoy the show!”