Calumet celebrates reopening a rejuvenated area of the village. The Calumet greenspace improvement project on 5th Street has been in development since 2019 and provides a place for the community to enjoy.
DDA Chair Nikki L’Esperance says the organization is focused on revitalizing Calumet through such projects, and she hopes this momentum will continue for years to come.
It’s really fun to see development from businesses coming into our downtown and opening into this green space, developing. I just really like fills a huge part of my soul to be a part of it. And I just continues to be excited to see this happening in our downtown. – Nikki L’Esperance, Chairperson, Calumet Downtown Development Authority
It takes a space that had formerly housed a collapsed building. The remnants of a collapsed building that had been sitting there for a number of years. And it completely brings it back into use for community space. – Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
The greenspace has accessible pathways, a band shell, seating, and, of course, greenery. It’s open just in time for the Croatian heritage festival, CroFest, this weekend, which kicks off on Saturday.
The calumet green space project was imagined by Main Street Calumet Director Leah Polzin and the Calumet DDA, with KEDA acting as a project manager, and UPEA and Brandon Mattson for work on the site’s design and construction. The project was funded through a match grant with the MEDC, with support from the Calumet Downtown development authority.
Calumet envisions the Farmer’s Market returning to the space, events taking place, and families taking a break from a walk around town. Ratcliffe expects, as a winter town, Calumet will also enjoy using the park during the winter months. Such as during CopperDog.
The park was designed as a greenspace park, to have space for events and activities. The Farmer’s Market had been here. And may, hopefully come back. But it was designed around having places for people to gather. – Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
L’Esperance says the park will soon have additional furniture for seating. Throughout the greenery people might find a blueberry or other small fruit. Around the space, the park is bordered by Gabian Walls filled with mine rock. An homage to the village’s mining industry and history.
We utilized the preliminary concept design services with the landscape architect at the national park. And ultimately drew on an MEDC grant program that is designed to support projects like this. – Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
