West Shore Bank donates $80k towards Ludington Ave. west end project.

Proposed West Ludington Ave. project.

West Shore Bank donates $80k towards Ludington Ave. west end project.

LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank is contributing $80,000 towards the City of Ludington’s transformation of the west end of Ludington Avenue. The proposed project will increase public access to the Lake Michigan waterfront as well as enhance the City’s significant expanse of waterfront that is open to the public.  

“We are blessed to be located along Lake Michigan’s beautiful shoreline, and we believe these efforts will allow others to appreciate the true beauty of Ludington,” said Raymond A. Biggs, president and CEO of West Shore Bank. “This multi-phase project seeks to make this area more accessible to the public. Not only does this transformation aim to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, it seeks to provide improved universal access for individuals with physical disabilities which will give more people a safer way to take advantage of the beauty of Ludington.”

The proposed project would include construction of a new concrete walkway running from the west end of Ludington Avenue to the existing breakwater leading to the north pier lighthouse. It would also include installation of a new promenade area at the west end of Ludington Avenue, changing the current parking.

In 2014, the City financial commitments from the $51,000 in funding from the Community Foundation for Mason County and the Consumers Energy Foundation.

Additionally, the project has received Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant funding of $300,000. approval for the $300,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF).  West Shore Bank’s donation is the first corporate commitment received for this project.

The project is expected to begin this year.