The City of Grand Rapids is reopening two if its parks this week. Call it a nearly $1 million refreshing.
Grand Rapids Campau Park is now new and improved with the addition of a splashpad and new playground. That along with renovations to the restroom facility, walking path, drinking fountain, benches bike rack, trash cans and landscaping add up to $650,000 in improvements.
“If you can believe it this park construction that we’re celebrating here today is park number 41 of 74 city parks that we own, that we have made improvements to already with the 2013 voter approved millage. So this is remarkable. We are over halfway complete with park projects in the city and that’s a huge milestone for us to be celebrating today.” That’s City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Director David Marquardt. The 7-year millage provides approximately $4 million annually. The city explains the money is dedicated “for repair, rehabilitation, and new improvements to parks, pools, and playgrounds.”
Richmond Park received a $300,000 makeover with the construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act approved fishing platform and restroom enhancements along with a remodeling of the park’s shelter.
City of Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss celebrated the accomplishments. “Friends of Grand Rapids Parks continues to be one of the key partners we have to make sure our parks throughout our city are beautiful and we have lots of them especially in places where kids live in neighborhoods where they don’t have access to parks. So that’s one of our goals, too.”
There are a number of city parks with upgrades underway this year including Veterans Park reconstruction of its reflecting pool and the installation of a new plaza.
Patrick Center, WGVU News.