Walled Lake Receives Federal Grant

Downtown Walled Lake offers a truly unique experience to all who visit. Ideally positioned on the shores of its namesake, this amazing district has been an Oakland County Main Street community since 2000, featuring historic buildings and Mercer Beach.

In 2005, the Oakland County Planning Group conducted a needs assessment for the historic downtown lakefront district, evaluating development potential, preservation needs, parking, Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) boundaries, trail connections, and water resources issues. 

It was determined that there was a need to improve public knowledge about the lake and to capitalize on the connection between the lake and the historic downtown, which is the only district in southeast Michigan situated on a lake. With assistance from the Oakland County Environmental Stewardship group, the city successfully applied for $20,000 in federal grant funding, under section 319 of the Clean Water Act, to address this need. 

The purpose of the grant project is to explore how the city can utilize and promote its connection to Walled Lake as an amenity to enhance economic development within the downtown historic lakefront district. Products will include an identity “branding” concept that connects to the lake, opportunities for implementation of the brand through urban design, and opportunities for stormwater management best practices within the historic district. The city has retained the services of McKenna & Associates to provide branding services, and Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc. to provide stormwater services.

The project has four main goals:

1. Develop a brand identity for downtown Walled Lake’s Historic Lakefront District that connects the downtown to the Lake and the Rouge River
2. Implement the brand identity in downtown Walled Lake’s historic lakefront district through urban design and simple stormwater best management practices
3. Evaluate opportunities in the downtown for further implementation
4. Conduct outreach to advance resident and business awareness. Deliverables will include a logo, slogan, and branding application guidelines, as well as a detailed report and presentation of opportunities within the historic lakefront district for further implementation of stormwater best management practices (BMP’s) urban design elements, and community outreach opportunities for consideration by the city, including cost estimates

The grant kicked off on January 31 and is expected to conclude at the end of 2008.
During this time, the city will install a number of urban design elements incorporating the brand identity, including streetlight banners, benches, trash cans, planters, native plantings, and rain barrels.  Storm drains within the historic district will be stenciled with the logo and slogan, and an interpretive sign will be designed by Oakland County Planning and installed at Mercer Beach.

“The project exemplifies all three aspects of the mission of Oakland County’s Planning & Economic Development Services Program: to promote economic vitality, support distinct communities, and conserve environmental resources,” said Nina Ignaczak, Oakland County Environmental Stewardship Senior Planner. “Staffs from Oakland County Planning’s Main Street Oakland County and Environmental Stewardship programs are working closely with the city and its consultants to ensure the success of this project.”

For more information please contact Oakland County Environmental Stewardship Senior Planner Nina Ignaczak, at 248-858-5436.