Streetscape gets finishing touches
Workers from Nagelkirk Gardens in Harvey walk down Ludington Street with a wheelbarrow after planting the last few Sienna Glen maples on Ludington Street. The trees, which now stand on the blocks between Sixth and 10th Streets, are said to be good for cityscapes. Hydrangea trees previously on the main street will be replanted at the western end of Ludington. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Hydrangea trees purchased by Enhance Escanaba in 2022 were removed from Ludington Street when construction began and now sit in the lot where East Ludington Gallery once stood. They will likely be replanted between 11th and 16th Streets in early October. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Workers from Nagelkirk Gardens in Harvey walk down Ludington Street with a wheelbarrow after planting the last few Sienna Glen maples on Ludington Street. The trees, which now stand on the blocks between Sixth and 10th Streets, are said to be good for cityscapes. Hydrangea trees previously on the main street will be replanted at the western end of Ludington. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Hydrangea trees purchased by Enhance Escanaba in 2022 were removed from Ludington Street when construction began and now sit in the lot where East Ludington Gallery once stood. They will likely be replanted between 11th and 16th Streets in early October. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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ESCANABA -- Small tractors carrying trees down Ludington Street yesterday were some of the last machinery to roll down the roadway before it opens to traffic on Wednesday. The newest installation is a batch of Sienna Glen maples planted in openings along Escanaba’s main street.
A naturally-occuring hybrid plant, the Sienna Glen is a cross between red and silver maples and is said to be an excellent variety for cityscapes. It’s native to North America and rated for USDA hardiness zone three. While silver maples are known to be destructive to sidewalks and pipes because of their root systems, Siennas reportedly don’t have the same issues, remain smaller with a maximum height of about 60 feet, and grow quickly to become good shade-providers.
The new trees ordered by the City of Escanaba and planted on the 10th block yesterday came from Nagelkirk Gardens in Harvey, the same nursery that provided the trees planted about a week ago along Ludington between Sixth and 10th Streets.
The hydrangea trees that Enhance Escanaba funded and planted in 2022, which were dug up during construction and temporarily planted in the empty lot at 1007 Ludington St., are to be replanted likely the second week of October, said Department of Public Works Director Kent Dubord.
Openings for the hydrangeas remain between 11th Street and 16th Street. Maples have been planted between Sixth and Tenth. East of Sixth are large concrete planters that Enhance Escanaba maintains. Bump-outs, benches and bike racks feature at the eastern and middle portions of the main drag.
"It's such a long street, and there are different amenities throughout the whole area," said C2AE Project Manager Darren Pionk. "It is very costly to do the same streetscape throughout the whole project. There's going to be some transitions and buffers, so I think we handled it pretty well, in regards to the flow of Ludington Street."
Grants focusing on streetscape were used by the city along with funds from the Downtown Development Authority.
The final touches include the installation of light poles and traffic lights before the street reopens this week.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Escanaba Marketplace along with a ceremonial ride and procession to celebrate the reopening of Ludington Street starting from 6th Street at 12:30 p.m.