On behalf of the City of Mishawaka thank you for both your concern and comments. I am the City Planner for Mishawaka and the Project Manager for the various sections of the riverwalk under construction and planned for the future.

Yes, the area is a construction zone due to the wastewater expansion and it will not be cleaned until the end of this year. Then, sometime in the late Spring of 2008, the area will be disturbed again as part of the riverwalk expansion that will connect the Logan Street Bridge to Kamm Island. As a grant, the City is receiving over $800,000 in Federal funds (75% of the construction cost) to make this connection. This project includes a small bridge over the outfall of the wastewater teatment plant, a complete rehab of the historic WPA restroom building, and planting enhancements with new walks by the boulders representing Princess Mishawaka’s gravesite. Based on the current schedule, these improvements should be completed by the end of 2008.

It should also be noted that this is a “symbolic” gravesite. What we understand from the late Merle Blue, a local Mishawaka historian, from his research of indian records, that there never was an actual Princess Mishawaka in this area and that the story is a legend. It is the legend of our namesake, and thus important, but no one is actually buried there. The boulder site was established in 1932 as part of the centennial celebration of the City, but funding for the statue envisioned at the time was never realized. Since that time, a statue of the Princess was created and is proudly dispayed adjacent to City Hall.

According to Betty Berger Hans, the name Mishawaka was derived from the indian language for “Swift Water”, “Big Rapids”, or “Thick Woods Rapids” – Mish-a-wa-ka.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. I have plans on the Riverwalk in my office at City Hall if anyone would like to see them.