“This whole project has taken on a completely different look.”
When it was originally proposed Kent County commissioner Tom Antor says Grand Rapids Whitewater promised a fast moving river through the city that would attract tourists.
“This was originally going to be a whitewater destination economic development.”
But after state and federal regulators rejected the original restore the rapids plan Antor says the scaled back version is not worth pursuing.
“I think we need to cut our losses at this point because this thing is nothing like it was originally going to be. We were sold a porterhouse steak, and we are ending up with a happy meal.”
Kent County has already contributed 500 thousand dollars to the restore the rapids project and promises another 900 thousand if the group makes progress by certain deadlines. Grand Rapids Whitewater director Matt Chapman is asking the commission for more time to reach those milestones.
“We have submitted permits for a new design. Still is designed to make this river better improve this river.”
The finance committee voted to extend the funding deadlines for Grand Rapids Whitewater, commissioner Matt Kallman was not convinced.
“Even the name at this point is a misnomer because we can’t do the whitewater and so the project has kind of moved from cool to lame.”
