How Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB Transformed a Forgotten Space into a Community Landmark
Discover how Henry Marsh Plaza, a once-overlooked stretch of space under a busy overpass, now stands as a welcoming community landmark that unites Saginaw, Michigan's north and south sides.
What was once a dark and disconnected part of town is now an established community gathering space filled with art, festivals, and foot traffic. This results from a 15-year effort led by Annette Rummel, President and CEO of Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB. Inspired by the pocket parks of New York City, the plaza is a tribute to an impactful community leader and a testament to the power of vision, persistence, and place-making.
Recognizing a Community Need
Before it became a community space for gathering, the area beneath Saginaw’s I-675 overpass was a stark reminder of disinvestment. It was dark, foreboding, and had come to be avoided by pedestrians. It split neighborhoods, discouraged walkability, and projected a sense of neglect at the city's center.
When she first described the plan for the new plaza, Rummel recalls someone telling her, “I never realized how bad that looked. Now I can’t unsee it.” That sentiment spotlighted a collective truth about the space. Everyone passed by it, but no one claimed it. Luckily, that would soon change thanks to the efforts of the Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB.
Honoring Henry Marsh's Legacy
Henry Marsh was the first Black mayor of Saginaw and one of the first elected Black mayors in the United States. He served as mayor during a turbulent time in American history, caring deeply about his community. He led by bridging divides and advocating for equity, inclusion, and civic unity. His legacy inspires efforts to unite citizens for beautification and betterment in Great Lakes Bay communities.
Eminent domain had taken Marsh’s childhood home, his first home with his wife, and his law office when the I-675 bypass was constructed. The bridge was named after him to honor him, but the gesture always felt hollow to Marsh because the space bearing his name was cold, uninviting, and symbolic of what had been taken from him.
Marsh was not only influential in the Saginaw community, but was also a mentor for Rummel. One night over dinner with Marsh and her siblings (who also happened to be the heads of the local chamber of commerce and the economic development office), Rummel joked with him, saying, “I think you did a lot more than we did. I don’t have a bridge named after me.” Then, she learned Marsh’s true sentiment around the bridge, and how the dark and daunting space didn’t align with his love for the community.
“That night, I made a promise to him that I would make it a place that he felt proud [to] have his name on and that reflected his leadership and contributions.”
The Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB coordinated the entire effort for the Henry Marsh Plaza, pushing the project forward when momentum lagged and ensuring that every element stayed true to the original vision. When grants were denied or the project didn’t qualify for certain funding, they didn’t pivot to change the integrity of it, but persevered and continued to educate people on the project's intent to build cross-sector collaboration that can last.
Fifteen years later, dozens of funding rejections, community partnerships, funds secured from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Consumers Energy, and countless local, state, and federal jurisdictions later, she delivered.
Building Something That Will Last
Turning the blighted underpass into a welcoming public space would never be a surface-level project. Inspired by pocket parks in New York City, Rummel saw the potential for a place that would serve as an appropriate tribute to Marsh and a welcoming and functional community asset. That work started underground.
“You don’t just put frosting on top and hope it’s okay,” Rummel said. “You have to dig deep and understand the sewer lines, water mains, electrical, how it all flows…or you’ll have to tear it up again in five years.”
Drainage proved to be one of the biggest challenges, as the roads near the Dow Event Center would be flooded for days after heavy rain. Before beautification started, a new containment system was installed to move water efficiently and protect the area. Above ground, the plaza was designed with accessibility and flexibility in mind. Rummel envisioned a space with wide walkways, open green space, decorative lighting, and space to host everything from large festivals to family gatherings.
“We wanted it to have its own personality, and most importantly, reflect the life, the character, and the interests of Henry Marsh.”
Investing in Local Talent
The mural at Henry Marsh Plaza is a stunning, storytelling centerpiece, and the story behind it is evidence of Rummel’s passion for community and high standards of quality. Stephen Hargash was a high school student when Rummel noted his artistic abilities. Upon learning about his dream to study art in Europe, she worked with him to help him get his passport and funding to study abroad with master artists. Now, Hargash does murals all over the community and is considered a local legend in the art community.
When the time came to choose an artist for the Henry Marsh Plaza mural, the choice was obvious. Honoring Marsh's community spirit, as part of his commission, Hargash mentored local students during the painting process, teaching them techniques and his process for public art.
Activating The Space
The plans for Henry Marsh Plaza helped Saginaw win the bid for the 2024 CHL Memorial Cup Championship. The event would serve as the plaza's inaugural event, being hosted at the nearby Dow Event Center. In the days leading up to the event, a major rainstorm tested the effectiveness of the new drainage system.
Rummel’s efforts and persistence paid off as the streets drained quickly and the space was ready to welcome thousands of visitors. The vision for the space came to life with food trucks, children’s games, and outdoor hockey activations. It was the first time this event had ever been hosted in Michigan, and as the cherry on top, hometown hockey team, the Saginaw Spirit, won the championship title.
Since then, the community has claimed the space and come together exactly as Rummel hoped. What was once a dark underpass that people went out of their way to avoid is not a gathering place. People arrive early before symphonies, Broadway shows, and hockey games, and residents who once wouldn’t walk under the bridge now stroll through the area comfortably. The space feels welcoming day or night with lighting, a mural, and wide-open access points.
For the Henry Marsh Plaza, that meant hosting open houses, attending community meetings, and inviting critics to the table as plans began to take shape. Residents were a core audience for the new space, and their insight would help make the space something they genuinely value and something visitors can understand and appreciate.
The Henry Marsh Plaza is a promise fulfilled and a model for the future. As part of the region’s 30-year sense-of-place development plan, new projects are already in motion, and they have an excellent example to follow. Each project will bring something new to the region, but Rummel’s mission remains the same: to build spaces that connect people, celebrate local stories, and honor the place they call home.
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