Courtesy photo Dick Ketcik, left, chairman of the Manistique Downtown Development Authority board, accepts a $3,000 check from Alyssa Swanson, president of the Schoolcraft County Community Foundation, at the boardwalk. The funds will be used for repairs and improvements to the Manistique boardwalk.

MANISTIQUE — Repairs and improvements to the Manistique Boardwalk got a boost recently. The Schoolcraft County Community Foundation presented a $3,000 check to the Manistique Downtown Development Authority for continued work on the popular site.

“The Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, our umbrella organization, had U.P. Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Grant money available,” explained Alyssa Swanson, SCCF president. “We applied and received the $3,000 grant to help with the boardwalk.”

This is the second grant the community foundation has given for the boardwalk. “Last November, we received a $5,000 Level Grant from CFUP. We gave $3,500 to the DDA for the boardwalk,” Swanson said.

The Manistique Boardwalk, a 1.83-mile pathway along Lake Michigan, is very popular with both local residents and visitors to the area. It was constructed in 1991, and there have been several additions and improvements over the years.

In 2019, high Lake Michigan water levels combined with a severe storm badly damaged the boardwalk, making it impassable in several spots. The community immediately pitched in to get the damaged areas stabilized. Covid restrictions complicated the situation, and there were unavoidable delays in repairs.

In 2021, the city of Manistique let bids for the extensive repairs and found it would cost $135,000 to repave the pathway with asphalt. Further studies showed the work could be done using cement in place of asphalt for a cost of $85,000.

In June of 2022, Dick Ketcik, DDA board chairman, approached the Schoolcraft County Board to seek help with funding the repairs. The county board agreed to release $65,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with the repairs.

Work is under way now to repair and repave the boardwalk. Meanwhile, the DDA hopes that in the near future it can extend the boardwalk toward the city campground, and to add some benches and enhance areas for fishing, Ketcik said.

The boardwalk gives access to the historic Manistique Breakwater Lighthouse, as well as offering sightings of rare and endangered plants, many species of birds and wildlife, and of course, scenic views of Lake Michigan. Because Manistique is a stopover spot for migrating birds such as snowy owls, water birds of all kinds and pelicans, among others, the boardwalk is a favorite spot for birders from all over the U.P. It is also used extensively by locals and visitors to walk their dogs and enjoy a stroll along the lake.