Downtown's 'Federal Square' to soon take shape

September 26, 2007
By Dave Alexander
Muskegon Chronicle Business Editor

Re-establishment of the historic Federal Square in front of the Muskegon Post Office began in earnest Tuesday with relocation of a James Clover sculpture along West Western Avenue.

An Erickson's crane plucked Clover's artwork from the center of the traffic circle at Terrace Point and moved it a few blocks to its new home in front of the Post Office. The hollow metal white sculpture is a gift from SPX Corp., which commissioned the Grand Valley State University art professor about 15 years ago to create the public art piece for the entrance to what was then the company's headquarters.

The North Muskegon crane operators moved the 5-ton, roughly 20-foot-tall sculpture to the front of the post office. It will be left on its side for the next two weeks as it is refinished and painted.

A new pedestal has been built for its placement as part of a new Federal Square. Federal Square had been a plaza in front of the post office, which was built in 1938. It was a gathering place for past generations of Muskegonites, a place to feed the pigeons or protest the Vietnam War.

Federal Square was eliminated in 1976 with the opening of the Muskegon Mall, which turned West Western Avenue into a covered shopping center. The front of the post office was hidden by the mall until the mall closed in 2001 and was demolished in 2004.

The 23-acre site of the former mall has been obtained by a community consortium of nonprofit organizations -- Downtown Muskegon Development Corp. -- and is being turned back into a commercial and residential district. The Downtown Arts Committee -- an effort of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County led by retired foundation President Patricia Johnson -- is working on putting public art throughout the former mall site.

The unnamed Clover sculpture is of "birds and stars," Johnson said. "He left a lot to your imagination," she said of the artwork.

The $25,000 relocation and refurbishing of the sculpture is being paid for by SPX Chief Executive Officer Christopher Kearney and Chief Financial Officer Patrick O'Leary, Johnson said.

SPX moved its headquarters from Muskegon to Charlotte, N.C., in 2001.

In addition to the Clover sculpture, the new Federal Square will include a children's fountain and a raised platform for outdoor performances.

The Downtown Arts Committee is working with North Muskegon's Harry Wierenga of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering Inc., an urban designer, to plan the downtown's new public spaces. Wierenga said reconstruction of Federal Square will begin in the spring. The arts committee will raise money for the effort throughout the coming months.

Besides Federal Square, the arts committee is working on a Richard Hunt sculpture for the traffic circle at Third Street and West Western Avenue and a Charles Hackley statue at Clay Avenue and Third Street. A relief sculpture below the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts marquee celebrating the arts already has been installed on behalf of the Muskegon Insurance Co., celebrating its 100th anniversary.

© 2007 Muskegon Chronicle. Used with permission