Lake Center District Progress Updates

Master Plan Update

The Lake Center District Corridor is an established “subarea” within the city’s existing Master Plan, and the approved subarea plan serves as both the guide for the city’s initiatives to invest and encourage reinvestment in this corridor.  A Master Plan – sometimes called a Comprehensive Plan – is a policy document outlining a community’s vision for the future and is the basis for and the influence on the community’s future as it relates to the quality of life, land use, economic development, zoning, and other regulatory ordinances. The city’s updated master plan was adopted in August 2024.

Lake Center District Commercial Corridor Rezoning Study

One of the major recommendations of the Lake Center Corridor and Placemaking Plan (2021) conducted for the Lake Center Subarea was to rezone the commercial corridor. See the Lake Center District Commercial Corridor Rezoning Study webpage for details about this process, which kicked off with a public open house on January 16, 2024, and concluded with the approval of the Lake Center Mixed Use Rezoning in January of 2025.

Lake Center Corridor Complete Streets Improvements Project

To help implement the desired public infrastructure elements of the Lake Center Corridor and Placemaking Plan, in March 2025, the City of Portage submitted a $14.2 million application to the federal Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) discretionary grant program. If awarded the funds, the city will contribute a local match of $4.3 million to deliver the 2.5-mile Lake Center Corridor Complete Streets Improvements project. The project will integrate modern urban design that respects and celebrates community and business along Portage Road, to expand regional transportation equity and mobility and create a safer corridor suitable for a walkable community. The project will promote traffic calming and connectivity through active transportation while providing a destination for shopping, recreation, dining, and entertainment.

Forest Drive Traffic Signal

One key infrastructure improvement intended to promote traffic and safety improvements contained in the Lake Center Corridor and Placemaking Plan is not awaiting future funding: the Forest Drive Traffic Signal Installation. Portage Road is a major arterial street that serves as a connection between residential, industrial, and commercial areas. Increasing levels of congestion/traffic volume and speed in the vicinity of the Forest Drive/Portage Road intersection is a safety concern for the City Administration and the community. The installation of a traffic signal at this location will improve the function of the intersection, increase safety for pedestrians, and provide an opportunity to calm traffic in the heart of the Lake Center District corridor.

With the input of business and property owners at that intersection, a four-way signal design is being pursued to allow patrons, employees, and delivery vehicles to access the businesses on the east side of Portage Road. In December 2023, the city approved the purchase of 8847 Portage Road to facilitate the four-way intersection. Additionally, the improvements require the relocation of power poles and overhead electric lines to allow for the installation of traffic signal mast arms and poles, which Consumers Energy will accomplish. Construction drawings have been bid out and poles and mast arms have been ordered. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025.  

Lakeview Park Renovation Project

Lakeview Park, a beloved community space founded in 1970, is currently undergoing a transformative renovation to revitalize its aging amenities, most of which were originally constructed in the 1970s and 1980s. Following a public input meeting organized by Portage Parks & Recreation in May 2022, the city has adjusted the project’s design to better align with the preferences and needs of the community. View the Lakeview Park Master Plan for complete details.

As one of the city’s oldest parks, boasting 1,200 feet of shoreline along Austin Lake, the renovation aims to upgrade and enhance the current features enjoyed by citizens, while introducing exciting new additions. Among these enhancements is a new game area equipped with outdoor ping pong, cornhole, and game tables, providing additional recreational opportunities for park-goers. Noteworthy improvements include the expansion and addition of roof structures on the two popular fishing docks, the creation of inviting seating areas along a new boardwalk with scenic water views, and the establishment of an inspiration garden seamlessly integrated with existing walking trails, offering a tranquil space for passive relaxation. The plan also addresses environmental considerations, such as the removal of invasive plants along the waterfront, the clearing of dead and diseased trees, and the introduction of native trees and plants as part of the park’s land management strategy.

Subsequent phases of the renovation will focus on park rental facilities, parking lots, the relocation and widening of the entrance, and the incorporation of additional amenities. Notably, there are no plans to include a boat launch facility, boat docks, or any alterations to the existing channel under Portage Road. The community can look forward to a revitalized Lakeview Park that combines modern amenities with the natural beauty that has made it a cherished part of the city for over five decades.

Phase I activities are underway, including utility upgrades to support the construction of a new restroom building, facilitate picnic rentals, and accommodate future electric vehicle charging stations. Construction for this project phase began in 2024, and the first part of the boardwalk is now open.

Property Acquisition

In September 2021, the purchase of 9617 Portage Road and 2010 Woodbine Avenue was approved for a future workforce housing development. See the Housing Plans & Programs webpage for details about the workforce housing development.

On July 27, 2021, the City Council authorized the City Administration to purchase the property at 9303 Portage Road near the entrance to Lakeview Park. The stated rationale for the purchase at the time was: “The acquisition of the subject property is beneficial considering that it can be combined with the adjacent, city-owned property. The resulting combined parcel would be strategic to enhancing connectivity and placemaking within the Lake Center District corridor and is in alignment with the final Lake Center District Corridor & Placemaking Study. Options for future use include increasing the existing area of Lakeview Park, improving pedestrian/neighborhood connectivity between the park and the commercial corridor, and enhancing public spaces where residents may gather.  On January 9, 2024, City Council considered a recommendation to sell the property with the home intact, but, after discussion, City Council voted 5 to 1 to "table the matter” until March 19, 2024. At that time the City Council voted to temporarily rent the property on an annual lease until a final disposition of the property is determined by Council.

At the May 24, 2022, City Council meeting, the purchase of 9138 Portage Road (formerly West Lake Drive-In) was approved. Since the acquisition, city staff met onsite with the Portage District Library historian, and all items identified as having historic value were removed for safekeeping. The physical building underwent abatement for lead paint and asbestos and was demolished in June 2023.

In December 2023, the city approved the purchase of 8847 Portage Road to facilitate a four-way traffic signal design at Portage Road and Forest Drive. Two existing buildings on the property were demolished to make way for the traffic signal and intersection improvements. See the Forest Drive Traffic Signal section of this webpage for complete details.

The city is not seeking any additional purchase of privately owned property in the corridor.