What’s happening: With its tennis and basketball courts in disrepair, a local nonprofit has partnered with the City of Alpena to replace the aging Bay View Park sports complex with an expanded and state-of-the-art outdoor athletic facility. The project will be completed in two phases, first in 2025 and the second in 2026.
What it is: One of Alpena’s largest parks, Bay View Park is situated along the Lake Huron shoreline and features amenities that include the Fine Arts Bandshell, a children’s playground, walking paths, and more. The park also features the aging tennis and basketball courts scheduled to be replaced.
What’s planned: The Friends of Alpena Courts nonprofit has partnered with the City to launch the New Bay View Sports Complex, razing four tennis courts and three basketball courts to install new asphalt playing surface for three tennis courts, five pickleball courts, and three basketball courts – and all of them regulation-size. The athletic courts will be installed in 2025, along with new lighting, fencing, and other infrastructure upgrades. In 2026, the project will culminate with the installation of a timber-framed pavilion with a cedar shake- and copper topped-roof.
How they’re doing it: The New Bay View Sports Complex project has been accepted into the state’s placemaking initiative Public Spaces Community Places, a joint effort from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity. As part of the initiative, organizers have launched a $50,000 crowdfunding campaign on the Michigan-based Patronicity platform. Should they successfully reach their goal by 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, the MEDC will contribute a $50,000 matching grant to the project.
Learn more about The New Bay View Sports Complex project
on Patronicity.
Why it’s important: “The Bayview Park restoration project is a great investment for Alpena,” says Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “These multi-sport courts, as well as the unique pavilion, will enrich the human experience of park visitors and allow for greater usage year-round. This is what activating spaces in communities is all about.”
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