“When this comes online, we’re going to be able to say that Riverside Park is part of downtown.”
That’s Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand speaking at the groundbreaking of a key connection of the Grand River Greenway. The 0.75-mile Grand River Edges Trail extension connects Leonard Street to Ann Street as the Greenway project approaches its halfway point. LaGrand says the project is central to the city’s broader river corridor revitalization efforts.
“Come out and start exploring it, because this is new. This is not the Grand Rapids you remember from 1990 or the 2000’s. We have actually got a river that we can actually experience and be proud of and that’s a natural asset.”
Once complete, the section will link downtown to Riverside Park and, by extension, the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park.
Clay Summers is grants manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He says the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has been crucial to making this project a reality.
“To date, the fund has invested (with a B) over $1.4 billion to local and state projects, and over $50 million in Kent County alone.”
Once complete, the 85-mile recreation trail will connect Grand Haven to Lowell. The entire Greenway project is expected to be finished by 2031.
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