Chassell Township Planning Commission marked several accomplishments, including the installation of a canoe/kayak launch on the northwest side of the US 41 bridge over the Sturgeon River, just southeast of Chassell. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

CHASSELL TOWNSHIP — Since Chassell Township reformed its planning commission in 2016, the township has been able to boast some significant achievements.

Brian Waters, chairman of the planning commission, spoke at the Wake Up Keweenaw breakfast meeting last week. Waters presented an update on the township’s accomplishments over the past few years.

Since the PC was re-established, Waters said, township residents approved a five-year .5 mil recreation millage in 2018 and renewed it in 2023.

“Chassell is now in the process of becoming certified in the Michigan Economic Redevelopment Communities program,” waters said.

After surveying township residents in 2017, the PC developed two five-year recreation plans: the first for the years 2018 – 2023 and the second for 2023 – 2028.

Waters discussed the 2019 development of an off-leash dog park, the first of its kind in the UP.

The fenced, off-leash dog park project, named Chassell Bark Park, involved a substantial amount of in-kind labor to go along with the roughly $19,000 cost associated with the installation of the fences and gates.

The park’s name came from a competition among students at Chassell Township Schools, with the winning name chosen by the Planning Commission.

Eighty percent of the sign’s cost was covered by a Regional Prosperity Initiative Community Marketing Mini-Grant from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region that Keith Meyers wrote on the township’s behalf.

“The park,” Waters said, “was one-hundred percent funded by the millage.”

Also in 2019, the recreation millage funded a 2k/4k fitness trail, with 10 exercise stations, on the lower portion of the Chassell Classic Ski Trail.

Access to the trail is at the Heritage Center. Eighty percent of the funding for the project was provided by a grant, this time from a Copper Shores Community Health Foundation Recreation grant.

Waters said the reconstruction of the South Bridge on the trail was built by the Chassell Schools’ Construction Trades class.

In 2021, the PC assisted with development of a nine-hole disc golf course behind the School.

“Copper Shores Community Health Foundation funded the project,” Water said, “and it was constructed by the students of Chassell School, and many, many other local volunteers.”

The Foundation awarded the township the requested $2,973.50 for the project.

In 2022-23, thanks to a generous donation from the John and Melissa Besse Foundation, a .4-mile boardwalk and Historic Trail was completed. The trail is on the site of the Sturgeon River Lumber Company and Worcester Lumber Company mill, on property owned by PC member Doug Hamar.

“There are nine interpretive signs along the trail,” Waters said, “which teach visitors about the mill and the people who worked there.”

Also in 2023, Chassell Township established a canoe/kayak launch on the northwest side of the US 41 bridge over the Sturgeon River just to the southeast of Chassell. An outgrowth of the 2018 – 2023 Recreation Plan, the ADA accessible launch creates a river trail for residents and visitors to access this highly navigable river to float downstream to the cut constructed by the Sturgeon River Boom Company in the 1870s to access Chassell (Pike) Bay, Centennial Park, and the Chassell Historic Trail.

Other options include floating the river to its mouth on Portage Lake and circling back to the Bay or proceeding down the Portage River to the Sloughs, Snake River, and/or Portage Entry. The launch is also a potential take-out point for those putting in upstream below Otter Lake or even as far upstream as below Prickett Dam.

Since 2016 the PC has developed two five-year recreation plans, developed a new master plan, updated the township’s zoning ordinance, and is developing a Capital Improvement plan.

The planning commission has also rewritten the Dangerous Building Ordinance.