On The Boardwalk

(editorial by the Outlook’s Dave Schmidt)

Ok whether you agreed with the final ok to implement the new West Bank Boardwalk or not it is now going to be a part of the Grand Lake shoreline for a long time. I was involved in the very early process of looking into making this part of the lake a possible tourist attraction. While working for the city I arranged group tours to St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Michigan, plus South Haven, Michigan and saw how they had made those towns very attractive and a place someone would like to shop, visit and spend money. The group also took a trip to Winona Lake, Indiana, which is just outside of Warsaw, Indiana. It was really a good trip in which folks from around the community went together as a community; including County Commissioners, City Administration, City Council members and staff from the local Chamber. I can easily say it was an enjoyable time to visit these sites and see what these communities had done to improve these lake side areas and I think everyone agreed it was working for them. During our visit to Indiana we found out how the City of Warsaw used TIF money to finance the project, that principal is being used now in this boardwalk project. I can also say I saw an excitement from everyone on those trips that this change if placed on the West Bank could work and could be a new found “industry” for the community.

What happened after these trips was not a pretty thing. The city hired a consultant for some $80,000 on the recommendation of a council member (who is still on council) because he did not like the fact that the Mayor at that time had some plans for some new buildings on Lakeshore Drive. The mayor’s plan would include tearing down the old Hawk Buildings. Do you remember those buildings? They had long been ready to be torn down and finally they were after much heated talks in council. But that was just the beginning of the fighting over this project. I might also say that the Mayor at that time had some simple and effective ways to make this work and his building could have been completed many years ago and used today for as much as the consultant’s fee. Do you remember what came back from the consultant? Redirecting roads around Mecelina Park, building a giant pier out into the lake, a boardwalk, redoing Main Street, including a boulevard, the list went on. To say the least it looked nice, but it was very expensive and what started out as project to tear down a couple of buildings and build an outdoor venue for concerts by the lake soon became a “political war”. Finally after much talk a referendum was voted on by the community and the project was defeated at the polls. This meant to everyone the project was a dead deal, but we know now it was just on life-support. Some of the defeat was on the concerns of local fisherman that they would not have access to fish as they had been able to at the Hot Water Hole. Needless to say that this entire project has now turned into a “money pit” for the city and could still be a problem in the future. Extra land being bought because of wetland issues, study after study, etc. Had the community and council worked together possibly these problems might have been turned into a positive.

Let’s look at some things we think need to be done to make this work for Celina, because like the “Field of Dreams” quote “If you build it they will come” will not work by itself.

1- Maintaining the boardwalk will be a key, including weed removal and trash pick-up. I often said that this would be a challenge, because in recent years no one did that with the present sidewalk on West Bank. The City will need to keep this as a priority for the Boardwalk to work.

2- Find specialty shops, restaurants and hotels that can locate as a new business in that area. I remember eating at Bellas, Celina Pizza Hut, the old Bob Evans and Pullman Bay and whenever someone from out of town would come in they would want a table to look at the lake. This has to be done on an aggressive pattern, talking days are over. The county development and city development departments must work together, after all Celina is in Mercer County.

3- Change the name of West Bank Road, most people hear that and they think it is a Middle East settlement. I think any name would work, ask developers about what a name can mean to them selling a home.

4- Remove the sludge ponds, the smell alone can kill the atmosphere. Hopefully the city fathers are making this change as we write this.

5- The city needs to partner with the state on making the park at the end of the road a nice option while visiting the lake.

6- The city needs to support the Lake Festival and Regatta at a higher level for the boardwalk to work. These are already great events, city council needs to be a positive with these groups and not a group that says, “Why should we help you?” These two events are important to Celina.

7- Marketing the new boardwalk regionally will be a key, radio, newspaper and tv ads, folks need to hear about why they should come to Celina.

The above are just some items that can help make the Boardwalk an asset to Celina. I do believe the Boardwalk can be good for Celina and Mercer County. It is time for everyone to work together on this, what a great chance to show-off the lake. The key will be to keep politics out of this process, the future is now, don’t let this chance slip by. Celina needs an economic shot in the arm, this could be that opportunity.