Bayfield, Wisconsin’s Historic Streets Reconstruction Project was recently awarded both a 2016 APWA Wisconsin Chapter Project of the Year award and a 2016 APWA Nationals Small Cities/Rural Communities (SC/RC) Project of the Year – Historical Restoration/Preservation award. Each year, the American Public Works Association (APWA) recognizes an elite group of projects that exemplify the public works profession and association.

As the City relies greatly on its tourism industry to sustain its economy, the historic clay brick paved streets were beginning to erode due to heavy traffic over the years. To maintain the historic character of theses streets and the community itself, the City decided to renovate. The project serves as a superb example of how balancing historical and modern needs can result in a successful project that not only sustains a vibrant tourism industry but enhances the small-town feel that the community is known for throughout the state.