Mill Race Village drainage project set to begin

    Century-old bricks will be used in a major environmental construction project at Mill Race Village this month.
    Officials said the plan is a part of a regional effort by SEMCOG to reduce more than three million gallons of stormwater runoff to Lake Erie annually and help improve water quality in streams and tributaries across the region.

    The village project will reduce water runoff to the Middle Rouge River by transforming the current rustic dirt and stone lane at the park into one of brick pavers edged with pervious stones. The original lane is prone to flooding after heavy rains, officials noted. Contractors will also install an underground drainage system on both sides of the lane to collect stormwater as well as two new rain gardens to absorb and filter the runoff.
    To help fund the project, the village is offering commemorative bricks. Each 4x8 inch brick has three lines (18 characters each) available to be engraved. The variable cost depends on where the brick is placed: $250 for random lane placement; $375 for preferred lane placement and $500 for preferred dwelling walkway placement. The pervious pavers were reclaimed from a roadway project in Kalamazoo and will be a major improvement while retaining the current atmosphere at the village.
    The reduced rate of stormwater runoff amounts to about 350,000 gallons per year and will not only keep the river cleaner but also help prevent flooding in the village and its nine historic buildings, according to a prepared statement from the city. The new rain gardens will serve a dual purpose of absorbing rainwater while also adding to the village’s natural beauty. They will be planted by an Ann Arbor garden club as part of a master gardener project.
    Mill Race Village, which is on city-owned land, is a living museum village of restored and replica 19th-century buildings, plus a local history archive located at 215 Griswold St. It is a popular destination for field trips, weddings and tours, drawing thousands of visitors annually, the statement continued. The contractor for the nearly $370,000 project is D2 Contracting of Brighton. Engineering plans were developed by Fleis & Vandenbrink.

    The greening of Mill Race Village was one of 10 local projects selected by SEMCOG in 2023 to receive a combined total of $900,000 from the Green Stormwater Infrastructure

    Implementation Program, funded by a grant from the EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. SEMCOG Stormwater Improvements Grant Program will help achieve the EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III to reduce untreated stormwater runoff.
    “Implementing green stormwater infrastructure is a regional priority for improving Southeast Michigan’s environmental, economic, and community health,” said SEMCOG Executive Director Amy O’Leary.
    The city of Northville collaborated with the Northville Historical Society (NHS) and the River Restoration Task Force Chair on the successful grant application that garnered $95,000 from the Green Stormwater Program in 2023, and an additional $10,000 allocation in 2024. The Community Foundation is contributing $6,800 and the balance will be provided by the Northville Historical Society.
    To order an engraved brick or for more information, access website at Northville Mill Race Village or call (248) 348-1845.iving museum village of restored & replica 19th-century buildings, plus a local history archive.