The Review Magazine : May-June 2022

CHARLEVOIX pop. 2,348

Charlevoix Engages Youth in Placemaking Reimagining Hoop Skirt Alley By Lindsey J. Dotson, MSARP

D owntown Charlevoix boasts one of the most picturesque main streets in Michigan, especially in the summertime. The sidewalks are full of people shopping, outdoor dining, well-kept storefronts, and the occasional bowl of water for four-legged friends. Hanging baskets of petunias line the street, mature trees help shade the sidewalk, and the sounds of the drawbridge going up all add to the charming experience of Bridge Street in downtown Charlevoix. However, that experience is not matched if you step off the main drag and into some of the municipal parking lots or side streets. Charlevoix Main Street DDA, along with the City of Charlevoix, has been working to change that over the past five years.

Youth Involvement One aspect of programming that has garnered a lot of attention is our Junior Main Street Program, which allows local high school seniors the opportunity to get involved in improving the downtown. The program is now in its sixth year, and every year Lindsey Dotson, Main Street DDA Executive Director, goes to the high school students to identify a project that can be done within the school year. The students do all the fundraising, planning, and outreach. Every year, it's a different group with different interests, and it has been incredible to see what they can accomplish.

16 THE REVIEW

MAY / JUNE 2022