Artwork suggested for Main, Washington streets

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Mount Pleasant’s Director of Public Works told city commissioners Monday that having artwork along Washington and Main streets would increase the city’s visual appeal.

“We’re trying to enhance the connection,” Duane Ellis said. “We could invite fraternities or sororities to make their own artwork.”

The suggestion came during Ellis’ presentation to the City Commission regarding ongoing plans to develop a more defined connection between downtown Mount Pleasant and Central Michigan University’s campus via Main and Washington streets. They city’s Capital Improvement Plan has allocated $250,000 for the project and, already, Ellis said the city has applied for $115,000 in grant money.

“There’s nothing guaranteed at this point,” he said of the grant money.

In addition to street work, Ellis said the city has been in contact with Central Michigan University’s art department and Art Reach, 319 S. University Ave., to help design artwork.

The plan would make Washington Street a two-way street from Bellows to Illinois streets and create bike lanes along Main. The city also is exploring an expansion to increase the street’s sidewalk width to 8 feet from 5 feet, and include some colored concrete to add visual appeal. Curb extensions could make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street.

Added lighting also would be included in the redesign — something Ellis and Jeff Gray, director of Planning and Community Development, said would make the connector more appealing.

“That corridor is dark, and lighting makes people feel safer,” Gray said.

The plans were crafted after Dan Burden of Walkable Communities, Inc. visited Mount Pleasant in October to give his insight on how the plan should be executed.

“We had very good participation from a good cross-section,” Gray said.

The plans for the connector will cost Mount Pleasant between $365,000 and $560,000, depending on what direction the city takes the project.

Ellis also said Bellows between Mission and Lansing streets would see renovations, with angled back-in parking installed along the road.

“That was CMU’s preference,” he said.

Angled back-in parking was installed last summer along Ottawa, Ojibway and Calumet Court.