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Alpena council approves new volleyball courts at Mishikiwis Park, votes to eliminate vehicle access to southern park
Summary
City council voted to construct new volleyball courts at Mishikiwis Park, remove vehicular access to the park's south end and direct staff to plan pedestrian trails; the decision follows resident concerns about park tree removals and maintenance challenges of the existing access road.
Alpena City Council voted Monday to build new volleyball courts at Mishikiwis Park, eliminate vehicular access to the park’s southern area and direct staff to begin planning pedestrian trails for that portion of the park.
Council’s motion, moved by Councilmember Carol Carrier and seconded by Councilman Ferrier, passed by unanimous recorded vote. The motion directs staff to proceed with construction of the courts and to develop a walking-trail plan for future council consideration.
The vote follows an extended staff presentation and public comment about the park. City Engineer Steve Schultz summarized the plan and maintenance concerns that shaped the recommendation, saying, “The volleyball courts are the primary project, which includes paving the parking lot and driveway and road access.” Schultz told council the existing southern access road sits on soils and a water table that require frequent grading and ongoing maintenance, and that building the courts in the proposed location would remove the vehicular route as currently configured.
Resident Eric Peterson raised concerns during public comment about recent tree removals at Mishikiwis, Duck Park and Bayview, saying some trees “did not need to be cut down” and urging better community communication when parks work is planned. Councilmembers referenced those community concerns during discussion and weighed them against practical maintenance and safety issues identified by staff.
Council considered two implementation approaches before voting: (1) construct the volleyball courts while retaining a temporary gravel access to the south to allow more time for evaluation, or (2) eliminate vehicular access immediately and begin planning pedestrian-only access and parking. The council chose the latter option, while directing staff to start formal trail planning so the council can review trail design, materials and accessibility options before construction.
Schultz and other staff told council they would consult the Alpena County Road Commission about parking and drive alignment and would include ADA-accessible routing options in the planning process. Councilmembers discussed surfacing options for pedestrian routes and trails; Schultz said some material choices (including stabilized wood-chip surfacing and engineered mats for beach access) would be explored as part of the trail planning.
The motion passed with no recorded no votes. The council did not set an immediate construction start date in the motion, but staff indicated the volleyball-project construction must start this season to meet grant timelines and to support the volleyball league’s schedule.
Council directed staff to return with detailed walking-trail plans and ADA considerations, bench and trailhead placement options, and a clearer schedule and cost estimate for the volleyball project and the pedestrian improvements.
The council’s action closes the existing vehicular approach to the park’s south end as vehicle access once construction begins; the area will remain accessible by foot once the pedestrian plan is implemented.
