A proposed waterway project that would allow people to boat from Lake Michigan to downtown Grand Rapids didn’t get much support from residents as The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the matter.
The public meeting held Tuesday in West Olive allowed residents and Ottawa County officials the chance to weigh in on the Grand River Waterway Project, a 23-mile stretch of waterway would give recreational boats the ability of traveling from the Fulton Street Bridge, in downtown Grand Rapids, all the way to Lake Michigan through the Grand Haven Harbor.
To so would require dredging the Grand River, digging deep enough that vessels 26 feet and longer could safely navigate the waterway.
According to a study conducted by Anderson Economic Group, the proposal would generate nearly $60 million over ten years in economic activity, while increasing property values on the Grand River an additional $54 million.
Still, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Chair Greg Delong said, local residents didn’t seem sold on the idea at the public hearing.
“One of our largest crowds ever came out yesterday in big, big numbers and spoke in opposition to doing anything to the river whatsoever.”
Critics argued Tuesday, there are too questions surrounding the environmental impact that dredging the Grand River would have. And while one study estimated the cost at roughly $2 million, county officials said the cost of construction, maintenance, and adding additional law enforcement would be much more expensive than the study suggests.
“There were probably a lot of eyes open wide yesterday, I won’t say overwhelmed, but they were extremely informed by the presentations that were made.”
Delong says the commission is still gathering information, and has not made a decision whether to support the project, oppose it or stay neutral.