Municipal Marina docks expected to open Thursday

Tue, Apr 29, 2008    to del.icio.us

A $1 million dock project at the west end of the Grand Haven Municipal Marina is nearly complete, and the marina is expected to be open to boaters on Thursday.

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The project is the first of two phases to improve the city marina's docks along the south shore of the Grand River.

Hardman Construction of Ludington was hired for the job in December 2007 and began the work in late January. It was targeted then to be finished by May 1, in time for the 2008 boating season.

"We just have a few odds and ends to go," Grand Haven Community Affairs Manager Sandy Katt said this morning.

The project focused on replacing the marina's 31 fixed docks, which were more than 35 years old and deteriorating, and bring the dock and slip dimensions up to current standards. Because of the wider standards, there are now 28 fixed docks at the marina.

A grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is paying half of the cost, and the city is funding the other half.

Katt said the fixed docks will be open for transient boaters only until May 15. After that, seasonal rates will be available.

Earlier this year, City Council approved raising the rates for daily transient docking at the marina by about $5. For instance, a boat up to 24 feet in length would be charged $29 a day — up from $24 last year — coinciding with the state's "premium" rate schedule.

Julie Beaton, the city's facilities manager, said the project also included upgrades on power and water service to the marina, and a new "state of the art bubbling system" to keep the docks clear of ice during the winter.

"It's just amazing," Beaton said of the new ice-clearing system.

The second phase of the marina improvement project, which will focus on its 40 floating docks — many of which are used by charter fishing boats — is tentatively scheduled to happen next winter and spring. That project will include pulling the walkway towards the land to allow extending the dock lengths from the current 25-30 feet to 30-35 feet, Katt said, and stabilizing the rip-rap revetment.

The cost of the second phase is also estimated at $1 million, which is also expected to be split between the city and a DNR grant.