Jaymie Depew, communications and special project assistant, Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau

Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a series focusing on placemaking projects in Alger County. The first part was published Jan. 27.

Last month, in this column, I briefly described recent placemaking projects executed by our office – with the help of sponsors, grant funding and partnerships, in the Grand Marais and Munising area. I’d like to expand on some of those descriptions.

≤ Munising Murals: Four large murals hang on several buildings off Superior Street in downtown Munising. The murals – which went up last summer – each have unique themes, including: the history of Munising, popular outdoor activities, and history of communications – which were all created by artist Mike Lempinen, and nature and northern lights, which was created by artist Mike Stockwell of Cranking Graphics. The project was funded by ArtPlace grant monies, a Prosperous Places grant, which was administered by the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission, and the Munising Visitors Bureau.

≤ Shadows From Munising’s Past: Four historic photos of Munising residents/visitors can be found on different establishments in downtown Munising. Francis Putvin (who is placed on Putvin Drug Store) is the only person named. There’s a woman with a fishing pole, which is located on Pictured Rocks Cruises’ building next to the gift shop’s entrance; a tall man pictured next to a bicycle, which is on the Chamber/Partnership and DDA’s building; and a carpenter is located on Madigan’s Ace Hardware. The background of each photo reflects the building they’re placed on. Mike Stockwell of Cranking Graphics was graphic designer of this project. The project was funded by a grant through ArtPlace.

≤ Scenes From Munising’s Past: A historic photo walk in August consisting of 13 plaques was installed in downtown Munising. The installations start near the Munising City Dock and are placed along Elm Avenue, Superior and Maple streets. The historic photos face structures or scenes in their present-day form, showing observers what the area looked like years ago. Funding was provided through an ArtPlace grant.

≤ Art in the Park: Our office, with the help of an ArtPlace grant, was able to fund the historic photography walk in Grand Marais. The display is adjacent to and behind the old post office along with a beautiful wind harp.

≤ Munising DDA Banner Design Contest: Last year, individuals were encouraged to submit banner designs to an art contest aimed to help beautify Munising’s downtown district. The theme for the contest was “Munising’s Great Outdoors.” Winning designs were displayed on Highway M-28/Munising Avenue in late spring throughout the fall and will be up again in a few months. The project was funded by the DDA and an ArtPlace grant.

≤ Welcome to Munising signs: The signs on the east and west end of Munising can now be seen at night, as Deanna Boyak and the Fuzzy Foundation helped pay for the lighting.

≤ Mobile Directories: New mobile directories featuring our office director’s golden retriever, Tucker, went up in September. The project was funded by a Prosperous Places grant, which was administered by CUPPAD.

≤Gardening: With the help of the Munising Visitors Bureau, the Munising DDA was able to increase gardening efforts throughout the city.

Editor’s note: Jaymie Depew is the communications and special project assistant for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau.