The scene would not be so idyllic had it not been for the initiative of Friends of the Boyne River and project chairwoman, Nancy Cunningham, to restore and stabilize the river's banks.

FOBR volunteers have transformed what had been a health concern for the Boyne River ecosystem and an increasingly unlikely recreational site, into a place that is beneficial to not only wildlife, but also to the people and businesses of Boyne City. The bank erosion of the Boyne River had been a concern for several years, but until 2005, the problem remained unaddressed.

"The city talked about it being a problem for a long time," Cunningham said.

Not wanting to wait any longer for the city to take the reins, the FOBR began plans and fundraising efforts to control the erosion, stabilize the banks, and beautify the park. Aiming first to address the ecosystem health of the river, FOBR consulted with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council that had monitored the river and found lowered numbers of insects and salmon over the years. With Tip of the Mitt's guidance, as well as that of other environmental organizations, they formed plans, culminating in a groundbreaking ceremony this year on July 9. The result is a much more pedestrian, fisherman, and wildlife-friendly riverbank.

The project, funded by approximately $60,000 of private donations and grants, extends 420 feet and utilizes largely native plants to keep the soil of the banks in place. The native plants can grow without fertilization or irrigation and were carefully selected for root depth and range as well as for their beauty. By holding the soil in place, these plants prevent rainwater and pedestrian traffic from washing the soil into the river. In addition, the plants already displaying touches of bright pink and red, demonstrate that native plants can be just as beautiful as non-native, while being less harmful to the surrounding ecosystem. Cunningham said that she has already observed an increase in insects near the bank, which in turn generates greater numbers of birds and fish in the area. Without today's current knowledge regarding environmental protection techniques, the bank's previous structure was such that erosion was inevitable after several decades of wear. The newer structure's ability to provide stabilization should last forever with only minimal maintenance, Cunningham said.

For those who volunteered their time, materials and funds toward the project, Cunningham issued tremendous gratitude and praise.

"We simply couldn't have done it without their support," she said.