The Grand River Greenway consists of 9,000 acres of public land stretching between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven, with 2,700 of those acres being protected Ottawa County park land.
Construction continues on the Idema Explorers Trail, which will ultimately run 36.5 miles through the Greenway.
In Ottawa County, the first three miles of the Bass River Segment of the Trail is planned for construction next year. This section will connect Riverside Park in Robinson Township with the Bass River State Recreation Area in Allendale Township. The project is being done in partnership with the Michigan DNR and will eventually make up a total of 7.4 miles of the Idema Explorers Trail.
Another portion of the Trail is in line for $400,000 in state grant funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Once approved, construction can begin on the Eastmanville Connector. The 2.3-mile project will connect Allendale Township neighborhoods to Eastmanville Bayou Open Space and includes nearly 0.7 miles directly along the Grand River.
Work on both of these projects is expected to begin by fall of this year.
