Saginaw unveils Medical Diamond infrastructure and riverfront park plans; $3.4M funding gap remains
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Summary
City staff and consultants presented finalized designs and a financing update for the Medical Diamond corridor and a new riverfront park, reporting $34.6 million in secured state and federal funding, estimated total costs near $38 million and targeted construction beginning late 2026 with completion in 2027.
City officials on Monday presented a detailed update on the Medical Diamond infrastructure improvements and the design for a new riverfront park, outlining timelines, secured funding and remaining financing needs for the multi-part project.
The city’s public services director, Philip Carwat, told the Saginaw City Council that the utility-burial work for Consumers Energy — a purchase order for just under $9 million — is substantially complete and that the city has secured just over $34.6 million in state and federal grants and allocations to support the corridor work. "To date, the city has secured just over $34,600,000 in state and federal funding sources to support this overall initiative," Carwat said.
Nut graf: Combined estimates for the electrical relocation, infrastructure and park improvements reach about $38 million, leaving an approximate $3.4 million funding gap that staff said they are actively pursuing through state and federal grant opportunities.
Consultants said the public-facing park design covers roughly a six-acre riverfront parcel along Water Street and emphasizes walking and biking connections, seating and performance areas, a playground inspired by local history, a pier and improved river access. Brad Howe, principal at landscape architecture firm SCAPE, said the park plan preserves about 14 healthy trees, proposes nearly 300 additional plantings over time, and adds new ADA parking, restrooms and an amphitheater-style flexible plaza. "We focused on creating a park for everyone that supported active recreation and movement, education, and more habitat at the water's edge," Howe said.
Spicer Group, the civil engineering lead for infrastructure, described the utilities and roadway work: roughly 3,900 feet of new water main, replacement of aging 1920s-era sewers and several large sanitary sewer segments, drainage improvements and repaving or reconstruction of multiple streets in the corridor. Rio Primo of Spicer said the infrastructure component had a 90% design estimate of about $11.2 million and that permitting was underway with the city targeting bid-ready documents this summer and construction beginning late summer or fall 2026.
The city manager, Tim Morales, said some elements are already staged for construction and pledged to continue applying for additional grants (including MDNR and MDOT programs) to close the $3.4 million shortfall. He said portions of the park work — such as restrooms and the pier — could be phased if additional funding is not secured immediately.
Questions from councilors focused on whether planned city work conflicted with MDOT’s Washington Corridor proposals, how cul-de-sacs and parking would operate, and the sequencing of permit approvals. Staff said the designs had been coordinated with MDOT and that most transportation options remained compatible with state planning.
What’s next: staff and consultants said permitting will continue through the spring, with a federal grant application due this summer to support the park portion; if funding and permits proceed, major infrastructure construction would occur through 2026 and 2027 with full completion anticipated in 2027 or early 2028.
