Benton Harbor City Commissioners have moved forward with a plan that could lead to the cleanup and restoration of Ox Creek. At a meeting this past week, they approved a $75,000 allocation from the Brownfield Authority for a study and development plan to be drafted with the help of the University of Michigan. Commissioner Sharon Henderson said she remembers when Ox Creek was clean and clear.
“We see on the overpass over Britain, you see trees, and I remember going over Ox Creek and it used to be water in there,” Henderson said. “You could see to the bottom of it. Now, it looks like a forest.”
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said there could be additional benefits to come from a cleanup of Ox Creek.
“If you go down underneath the bridge right on Britain, where they clean all that brush out and you could have murals and seating and a walkway all the way down by the Empire bridge,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad said he’s spoken with representatives from the offices of Congressman Fred Upton and Senator Gary Peters, as well as state officials, who have indicated they’ll allocate additional funds for a cleanup once a study is done. He said the city commission’s move Monday showed local initiative to start the process.
