Unique public art creation proposed by Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce
By Barb Pert Templeton
When your post on Facebook picks up over 16,000 views in a day, plus 218 hits of engagement it seems there’s definitely something positive in the air, just ask Laura Merchant.
Merchant, who’s the executive director of the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce, is bursting with delight over the public’s response to the chamber’s Love Locks Freighter Public Art Project.
When contacted by phone on June 25 Merchant said the number of calls she’s has received related to the project, not only from people in the immediate community but inquiries from Troy and Rochester, has been amazing. In fact, she already accepted a half dozen donations.
The idea is to have a custom designed freighter shaped powder-coated metal sculpture, complete with an internal crisscross steel grid to attach locks, installed at a local park. Merchant’s memo to the commission suggested Nautical Park or Drake Memorial Park, both off Water Street.
Sponsors can purchase a special lock for $250 that will include their business or non-profit name to be permanently attached to the ship and visitors will be welcome to attach their own locks free of charge.
Laura Merchant, executive director of the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce, appeared at a June 18 meeting of the Marine City Commission to seek approval to proceed with fundraising, construction and installation of the Love Locks Freighter project.
The estimated cost of the project is between $4,800 and $6,600 dollars, with the sculpture itself costing $3,589, an estimate for installation of between $1,000 and $2,500, plus $200 to $500 for signage and branding.
Merchant said the Love Locks Freighter project will be funded entirely through community donations, grants and sponsorships.
“Whether you’re a resident, business owner, organization, or simply someone who loves Marine City, you can be part of creating a new community landmark,” Merchant posted on the chamber Facebook page in the days after the project was approved by the city commission.
“Imagine years from now, thousands of locks telling the story of the people who have celebrated life’s special moments right here in Marine City,” she added.
Presenting things to the commission
At a June 18 Marine City Commission meeting, City Manager Scott Adkins introduced the agenda item and said while there’s been a moratorium on placing items in city parks, Broadway Park in particular could use something new.
After that, Merchant stepped to the podium to pitch her quest for approval to proceed with fundraising, construction and installation of the Love Locks Freighter project.
Laura Merchant, executive director of the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce, appeared at a June 18 meeting of the Marine City Commission to seek approval to proceed with fundraising, construction and installation of the Love Locks Freighter project.
She said the freighter will be on a footing so it won’t impede grass cutting and it would be placed in an area near the sidewalk where there are already benches.
“We looked at Nautical Park and we looked at Drake Park but we are open to whatever the commission decides,” Merchant said. “It’s an art project and it’s something really neat. We were in Port Austin and there they had a wire man that had locks all over him and we said Marine City can do better than this.”
Merchant said the city has a great relationship with Mechanical Fabricators, located right in Marine City, so she went and talked to the owner, Carl Colman, and he said they could create it.
“It would be an attraction and it would bring people in,” Merchant said. “Sponsors could have a lock with their logo on it, businesses could sell locks and it would be just a way of promoting something cool and the love of freighters.”
City Attorney Robert Davis said his understanding of the project, having seen similar ones in Europe, is that you place the locks on the sculpture as a symbol that seals your relationship.
“Yes, your love, it could be your love of freighters, love of Marine City, it’s just for special occasions, you could get married, engaged in front of it and take photos,” Merchant said.
At some point the project could be purged and the old locks removed to make room for new locks.
“Whether you’re a resident, business owner, organization, or simply someone who loves Marine City, you can be part of creating a new community landmark.”
Laura Merchant, executive director of the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Merchant said depending on the weight limitations she doesn’t know how many locks the unit can hold.
Commissioners thoughts on the project
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick said what about the maintenance of the unit, even if its powder-coated, like the city bridge, that will not last. Hendrick recalled that when all the murals were put in around town the city had to get a separate agreement with the historical society to maintain them.
“I know you’re saying there’s know maintenance but there is maintenance, you’re going to have maintenance on that, on removing locks and on certain things, so we need to address that,” Hendrick said.
The mayor pro tem also suggested perhaps the new Marina Park in the city might be a nicer location for the lock project because it has nothing in it so far and everyone would see it coming in and out of town.
Merchant said the chamber would sign whatever the city requires related to maintenance.
“We don’t want it to look junky,” she said.
Merchant said she also thought about the Marina Park but she also likes the idea of spreading the downtown, to invite people to peruse the entire area.
“We are a walkable downtown, we’ve done a lot with signage trying to get people to continue walking and to discover all of Marine City,” Merchant said.
“Well, that would be another reason to move it, we always put everything downtown and I’ve heard other people ask can we put it in other places,” Hendrick said.
Merchant said she didn’t know if the project would get the same financial support moving in to the Marina Park.
Commissioner Sean O’Brien said he liked the idea of Broadway Park because it’s so photogenic there with the big river in the background.
The city manager said a decorative walleye bike rack is going in at the Marina Park soon and a local art group may step up and do several things there too.
Commissioner William Klaassen asked if the locks attached to the freighter unit would be all one style and Merchant replied that there will be a variety of locks, really whatever a person wants to attach to it.
Commissioner Rita Roehrig said what about people that attach their lock to the unit but then want to toss the key into the river, that becomes an environmental concern including for the fish living there.
“We don’t need 1,000 little metal things (key) in the river,” Roehrig said.
Adkins suggested they install a key collector bin with a sign saying leave your keys here.
The commission then unanimously approved placing the love locks freighter art piece in the Broadway Park.
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation can contact the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce at 810-765-4501.
