By Patricia Ferrell
“This is DNR’s property,” said Lisa Graham during the June 4 ribbon cutting celebration of the Mill Pond Park Improvements Project in Farwell. Graham was there from the Village of Farwell, where she works.
“They have dredged the Mill Pond,” said Graham — regarding the Village of Farwell. “We put in three pavilions.
This they have done with a $3.5 million grant they received.
“We put in the walking path that leads to the other two pavilions,” she said. “We have done a lot in roughly (just) over four years.”
Graham began working for the Village of Farwell in 2022, and she said these things were in the works at that time.
Along with the pavilions is a fishing pier and kayak launch, she said, as well as a two-unit bathroom that is fully plumbed.
The Pere Marquette State Trail runs alongside this park; and if you journey along the park path, you’ll come upon a sign that says to watch out for turtles crossing.
You can travel along the path, which goes on for about a quarter of a mile said Graham; and the general contractor for this work was the Isabella Corporation of Mount Pleasant.
Fleis & VandenBrink, who have many locations throughout the state, were the engineers who helped design the project; and Kayla Palmer, who works for the Fleis & VandenBrink location in Midland, was present at this event.
“It does create a loop along Mill Street,” said Palmer. “It changes at one point.”
If you follow along Corning Street, which is where the Mill Pond Park is located, it will turn into Mill Street.
Village President Tracey Jackson is the one who cut the ribbon that morning.
