City of Battle Creek Wins Awards For Public Works Projects

The City of Battle Creek has received two Project of the Year Awards – for Festival Market Square and the Lynwood Drive culverts – from the American Public Works Association Southwest Michigan Branch.

*The Festival Market Square redesign project received the Project of the Year Award in the Quality of Life category.

 The FMS project construction took place in 2014 and early 2015 following a public input and design process. It was a continuation of the Downtown Transformation Initiative that took place from 2008 to 2012. FMS is located at the southeast corner of McCamly and Jackson streets and is home to the Battle Creek Farmers Market Association.

 The new space already has hosted many successful events, including the city Parks and Recreation Department’s Movies in the Park and the late-summer Backyard Burgers and Brewsfest. The space features large awnings, seating and free Wi-Fi for visitors.

 *The Minges Brook flood mitigation project/Lynwood Drive culverts received the Project of the Year Award in the Environment category.

 Construction was completed in November to eliminate flooding in the Lynwood Drive neighborhood. Two culverts were installed, as well as a diversion channel to improve safety in this large residential area, where Lynwood is the only access road. The $2.2 million project was paid for through a bond issue and not a special assessment, and was supported by the Intercounty Drain Board of Calhoun County, Kalamazoo County and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

 “It is very satisfying, both professionally and from a community standpoint, to be recognized for these two infrastructure projects,” said city Department of Public Works Director Chris Dopp. “These both satisfied big community needs and involved our citizens to design and construct the finished products. That makes these community efforts of which we should all be proud.”