This $1.4 million dollar project provided a complete makeover of the Village of Central Lake downtown business and shopping district. The Village serves as the main hub for a major telecommunications company, and there were hundreds of aerial telephone and power wires along the streets and above the buildings. The sidewalks were also sunken and cracked, and the curb and gutter had settled and could not drain. The streetscape design needed to provide a fresh look for the entire downtown.

The Village worked with MDOT over a six-year period and was eventually able to secure an Enhancement Grant and limited trunkline highway funds from MDOT, but well over two-thirds of the $1.4 million dollar project was provided by the Village.

The project included coordination with utility companies to remove all aerial electrical and telephone wires and poles. This was a costly proposition, and the Village invested nearly $500,000 to remove and replace all of the aerial wires underground. The streetscape was designed to provide an "Up North" look. The landscape treatments needed to be cost effective and able to withstand the harsh northern Michigan winters. To accomplish these objectives, the landscape design utilized arborvitaes along the store fronts with wildflower plantings at the intersections. All landscape plantings are native to the northern Michigan environment. The old sidewalk was replaced with new and accented with colored and stamped sidewalk rather than more expensive brick pavers. New ornamental street lights were also installed. The project has provided dramatic improvements to the downtown district.