Upgrades Nearly Complete at Lake Michigan Marina

The final stages of a three-phase improvement project are nearly complete at McKinley Marina, located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The major project completed its initial phase in 2021, which re-constructed parking, access, lighting, utilities and an improved storm-water management system employing green infrastructure (GI). Phase Two of the project, which wrapped up in 2023, included additional trailer parking, storm-water infrastructure, underground fuel tank and delivery system, digital pay portal, new landscape features and a new fishcleaning station.

The final phase of the project will be replacing the deteriorated boat launch, which lacks adequate traction grooves. A poured-in-place boat launch is slated for completion in the spring. Originally included in Phase Two of the marina project, the boat launch demanded additional funding and was bid as a separate sub-project. Additional capital budget funding arrived along with an additional $137,000 by way of the Wisconsin DNR Recreational Boating Facilities grant. Along with destruction and replacement of the existing launch, the final work will include some minor dredging to remove sand deposits at the launch site.