Benton Harbor City Commissioners have formally approved a document laying out all of the plans for improvements to the Ox Creek Corridor after more than a year of work.
City Ox Creek Project Manager Dane Rasmussen tells us he’s worked with partners including the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission to develop the Ox Creek Revitalization Plan. It envisions improvements that could be made to the neglected waterway in the coming years, focusing on multiple areas.
“Habitat restoration, potential economic development opportunities,” Rasmussen said. “We’ve incorporated all those ideas into this strategic plan, or revitalization plan.”
Rasmussen says development of the plan included several public sessions with residents and consultation with both state and federal agencies.
With commissioners approving the 60-plus page document on Monday, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Marcy Hamilton says new opportunities for grant support could be opened.
“This is something that we can point to if we’re going after different parts of funding for different aspects of the plan, we could show funders how certain projects fit into the overall vision of the actually corridor and how it’s going to be pretty transformational for the community,” Hamilton said.
With more than $13 million already awarded to the city and partners for Ox Creek-related work, Rasmussen and Hamilton say there’s plenty happening. Improvements are underway at Hall Park as a new basketball court and trail are being constructed, and work on the parking lot and rain garden will start soon. They say up next will be repairs to the Bobo Brazil Community Center roof, and then work will begin clearing large debris from the creek.