July 25, 2005

By Robert C. Burns
CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

The 30-year effort to resurrect cross-lake ferry service between Muskegon and Milwaukee -- and its successful conclusion -- have landed the city of Muskegon a statewide award.

The Michigan Municipal League picked Muskegon for its annual Michigan Municipal Achievement Award in the category of "community partnerships."

Those partnerships were among numerous governmental entities and private businesses, which culminated in Lake Express LLC's launch last summer of a high-speed, twin-hulled vessel serving the two cities with three round trips per day.

Muskegon won over four other cities in that category -- Port Huron, Southfield, Sterling Heights and Troy, according to Kim Cekola, information coordinator for the organization. There were 22 entries.

Muskegon's award will be presented Sept. 22 at the league's annual convention in Grand Rapids. The cross-lake ferry saga also will be featured in the November/December issue of the organization's publication, the Michigan Municipal Review.

It will be the second statewide award the city has received recently. Earlier this month, the Michigan chapter of the American Public Works Association named Muskegon's $9 million Shoreline Drive East tops in the transportation category among projects between $2 million and $10 million.

The city won a Michigan Municipal League achievement award in 2000 with its youth-developed skateboarding facility in Seyferth Park.