The new stage at the village park in Onekama is ready for an afternoon of performances scheduled during its grand opening on Sunday, June 23. Photo by Joseph Suchocki.
By Nikki Schneider
ONEKAMA – The Portage Lake Association is especially excited about this summer. Thanks to OCR (Onekama Collaborative Recovery) for leading the effort to install a new event stage in the village park. This project would not have been possible without the support and input of the village council and assistance from the Manistee County Community Foundation (MCCF), as well as area businesses, organizations and individuals.
The stage will be in place just in time for the PLA’s popular Monday Night Concerts in the Park, which begin July 1. A ribbon cutting and afternoon of music will be held on Sunday, June 23, to kick off the season and celebrate the new addition to the park.
After a year of planning, the new stage will be a beautifully designed, permanent, covered structure in the park’s northeast corner. The new location will allow the beautiful sunsets to occur behind the audience instead of in their eyes.
In a September 2023 press release, OCR shared its plans for Onekama Village Park improvements. The release stated that Phase I would include the construction and installation of the stage. The plan for Phase II would involve completely rebuilding the existing pavilion and renovating the electrical system.
“In May (2023), the Onekama Village Council approved a plan for OCR to take the lead on Phase I of a multi-phased improvement plan for Onekama Village Park without impacting Village resident taxes,” the release stated. “Funding is to come primarily from grants and private donations.”
Donations, made by check or online, are held in an Onekama Village Improvement Fund administered by MCFF, a charitable organization. Those wishing to donate are asked to reference Onekama’s improvement fund and mail their check to Manistee County Community Foundation, 400 River St., Suite 420, Manistee, MI, 49660, or donate online at: https://manisteecommunityfoundation.org.
OCR is a cooperative group of area-wide citizens, residents, businesses and organizations collaborating to revitalize Onekama Village and Onekama Township. Its mission is to seek improvement through coordinated activities, projects and programs. For more information, contact Joe Suchocki via email at jsseagle@mac.com.
The Portage Lake Association is a group of volunteers dedicated to making the Portage Lake area a great place to live, play, and stay. In addition to Monday Night Concerts in summer, the PLA is also responsible for the Petunia Parade along Main Street, Onekama Days, Fall Festival, Christmas in Onekama and various community projects. For more information, go to https://www.onekama.info and follow the group on Facebook and Instagram for the latest event news.
Nikki Schneider writes from Onekama, where she owns and operates Patina, a resale shop and gallery.
