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Lakeshore tract a great addition for city of Marquette

More publicly accessible lakeshore in Marquette is a good thing.

The Marquette City Commission recently voted to acquire about 1,000 feet of frontage along Lake Superior from We Energies.

The property lies on the east side of Lakeshore Boulevard next to the Presque Isle Power Plant site.

The plant, as is evident by its diminishing size, is being demolished, but the land is not. So, it’s the city’s good fortune that the property transfer is at no cost to Marquette. The transfer is an added component to the agreement that the city manager waive the requirement that We Energies remove all subsurface materials and infrastructure on the property because of an increase in demolition costs and site restoration work without adding commensurate value to the site.

Commissioner Fred Stonehouse, also a local maritime historian, indicated at the meeting that the transfer represents a “wonderful opportunity” for the city to add to its publicly accessible lakeshore.

The coal-fired Presque Isle Power Plant was retired and taken offline in March 2019, and replaced with two natural gas plants in Negaunee Township and Baraga.

The property the city has acquired combines the scenic view of the largest Great Lake, the Upper Ore Dock and a beach that is home to unique plants and animals.

People are responsible for nurturing this piece of land, so that means no littering, no trampling of beach grass and no harassment of shorebirds.

The industrial/natural scenic combination cannot be found everywhere, and Marquette is fortunate that it has such a new parcel it can call its own.

We hope the city — and the people who visit it — maintain it well and keep it as pristine as possible for future generations to enjoy.

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