When I was on this project years and years ago, I remember the request was to have a wall with fountains resembling a garden in Italy (Villa d'Este in Tivoli maybe?). It was a wall of fountains with vegetation growing over it. I'm sure it got value engineered, but maybe this is the wall you're talking about? It would be nice to see something even remotely close to that, but my hopes aren't high. This project was really scaled back over the years.
One of the local items I caught in the budget passed last night is $600,000 to improve a trail between MSU and Lake Lansing. I know you've discussed trails before, Hood, but would you perhaps know which one this is off-hand?
I have no idea, LSJ is reporting $300k to the MSU to Lake Lansing Trail for "improvements to the existing trail". The "existing trail" is only now being constructed so I'm not sure what improvements may be made that weren't already in the project's budget. I'd speculate that maybe they could go under Grand River by the RR tracks instead of crossing at Park Lake, perhaps repairs to the existing Interurban Trail or maybe it's to pay for the short phase 3a that diagonally goes from Marsh to Haslett along the RR tracks?
Other projects of note for Lansing in the budget are:
New city hall $40 million (!!!!!)
Capital Region International Airport $9.4 million for road improvements around the airport
Moores Park Pool $6.2 million
Lansing Riverfront, $1.7 million for an amphitheater at Brenke Fish Ladder
Lansing Housing project $40 million, no details
Northern Tier Trail extension to Coolidge $300,000
Hawk Island boardwalk replacement $300,000
Might discuss this more in the general thread, but I think the $400 million is for the new public safety center they will be building down on Washington.. The $40 million for the "Lansing Housing Project", I've been told, is being spread out over multiple projects. There was also money in there for the Walter French renovation.
Found out the wall at the north side of Ranney is, indeed, a water structure. It'll be used to aerate and filter water from the drain, and was told it'll look like the renderings you all were talking about, though I don't really remember them. A pretty interesting feature. Here's an example of a pool aeration system at the junction of the Cal-Sag Channel and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal:
Another example on the same system:
Making sure the water is oxygenated helps cut down on the potential smell of stagnant water, keeps flora and fauna healthier, and is just better for overall water quality.
These are great looking structures. I am excited to think that Lansing will have beautiful and healthy waters flowing down the Red Cedar. The crews have been installing the Michigan Avenue water features in front of the new hotels, as well as trees and plants. I noticed that last year's landscaping has filled nicely around the cement foundations.
Thanks for getting these pics, it is exciting to see these projects being completed. I am looking forward to seeing the waters flowing through these features. I think it will look very cool.
Comments
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-democrats-push-800m-pet-projects-help-unions-their-districts
Other projects of note for Lansing in the budget are:
New city hall $40 million (!!!!!)
Capital Region International Airport $9.4 million for road improvements around the airport
Moores Park Pool $6.2 million
Lansing Riverfront, $1.7 million for an amphitheater at Brenke Fish Ladder
Lansing Housing project $40 million, no details
Northern Tier Trail extension to Coolidge $300,000
Hawk Island boardwalk replacement $300,000
That's a lot to take in and they're light on details right now. Needless to say, this is very good news for us here in Lansing.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/29/lansing-state-budget-grants-spending-moores-park-lansing-center/70370482007/
Another example on the same system:
Making sure the water is oxygenated helps cut down on the potential smell of stagnant water, keeps flora and fauna healthier, and is just better for overall water quality.
First the MSU to Lake Lansing trail:
View looking east from Hagadorn towards the new bridge:
Looking west back at the bridge:
Looking east along the back of some the apartments on Northwind:
Looking east along a high spot on the riverbank near the end of Dawn Ave
View of the approach to Grand River & Park Lake:
Entrance to the Campus Hill section of the trail where they're using half of the former boulevard for the new trail:
View of the end of the Campus Hill section where work on Phase II is continuing and will come out at Okemos Rd near Nancy Moore Park:
A couple views of the muddy path that will become the trail:
Onto Ranney Park, but first a couple shots of the water features in the Michigan Ave median:
Looking northeast in Ranney Park:
One of the new bridges, this one seems to also function as some sort of water control:
A couple views of the big water feature at the north end of the park: