HavingAhoot

— One year after suffering a big setback, the push is still on to restore the Grand River’s rapids in downtown Grand Rapids. The project just won’t look exactly like how it was originally envisioned. Grand Rapids Whitewater, a nonprofit working in partnership with the city of Grand Rapids, hopes to apply for a scaled-back permit from the state this summer, more than a year after federal opposition sank the effort’s founding vision of creating whitewater waves in the river. “It’s not dead,” said Matt Chapman, project manager at Grand Rapids Whitewater. “We’ve been working really hard, and it still will be an exciting project.” First envisioned around 2009, the project calls for the removal of four low head dams between Bridge Street and Fulton Street and the installation of thousands of pounds of rocks and boulders in the waterway. Doing so, supporters say, would create a more natural and safer river with improved fish passage and enhanced recreational opportunities. One of the defining features of the project, when it was first envisioned, was whitewater wave structures. The idea of creating whitewater rapids in the river was championed by project supporters and tourism advocates who said the feature would draw whitewater paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts to the city, providing an economic boost to the local economy. However, that element of the project nixed in March 2023. That’s when the city of Grand Rapids withdrew its permit request for the project from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The city did so after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it opposed the project because of concerns the whitewater rapids would pose a safety hazard and damage the river. Since then, Grand Rapids Whitewater and the city have been redesigning the project. Steve Heacock, president and CEO of Grand Rapids Whitewater, said the whitewater rapids will be missed. But, despite that, he described the redesign as “spectacular,” and said it still helps deliver on the goal of restoring the waterway to a more natural state before it was scarred by decades of logging and industrial use. Removing the dams will also make the river, between Bridge Street and Fulton Street, safer and better suited for wading, paddling and other recreation. “It will recreate the rapids,” Heacock said. “It will put a number of boulder and rock in the river. It will sound good. It will look good, and it will be everything we wanted except for the standing waves.” Elements of the redesign include: Remove the four low head dams. Place natural rock and boulders to install two expansive riffles with emergent boulders. Riffles are shallow, faster moving sections of rivers and streams. Add four unique boulder drop structures. The boulder drops help create rapids and provide fish passage. Add three boulder vane structures for access along the banks. The vanes help provide slow moving water that’s safe for wading. Install approximately 125 scattered habitat boulders. The boulders help restore the river’s historical flow and river-bottom diversity. Each one creates an area of slower-moving water behind it, which serve as resting areas for fish. Place about 5,000 tons of boulder and 15,000 tons of small, rounded rocks in the river. “With the standing waves, we might well have had competitive kayaking,” Heacock said. With the redesign, he said, recreation will likely be geared toward casual paddling as well as tubes and floats rather than “kayaking with helmets on.” Restoring the rapids is one piece of larger vision for the Grand River in Grand Rapids. For the past decade or more, the city has been working to capitalize on the river, with the goal of adding more parks, trails, access points, housing and development along the waterway. After years of planning, some of those projects are now in the works. The redevelopment of Lyon Square and renovations to the Grand Rapids Public Museum kicked off last fall, and work is expected to start on the 12,000-seat Acrisure Amphitheater this spring. An effort to add more trails along the river is also in the works, supported by $55 million in state funds. However, despite years of planning, the rapids restoration project has not yet begun. The challenges, officials say, has been the complexity of the project, and the requirement that at least seven regulatory agencies at the state and federal level that must sign off on the effort, Grand Rapids Whitewater says. The state and federal objections that caused the city last March to withdraw its permit has only added to the wait. Despite that, officials say they are confident the state will approve the project’s permit when it’s resubmitted, potentially this summer. “We’re happy, collectively, with where the design is at,” said Grand Rapids Deputy City Manager Kate Berens. “I think we’ve responded to the concerns that were raised that ultimately led us to withdraw the permit last year. We’ve responded to the agency concerns, partnered very closely with them throughout.” Heacock said working with EGLE on the redesign has been challenging at times. What the agency would have preferred, he said, is that “we just take out the dams and let the river run.” However, as discussions progressed, the project’s design team and EGLE were able to come to an agreement to include rocks, boulders and other elements of the previous design — just without the whitewater waves, he said. “We’re pretty excited about it,” Heacock said. “It really is everything but the standing waves.” Looking ahead, if the project’s permit were submitted by this summer, construction in the waterway and removal of the dams would likely not start until next year, Chapman said. However, officials are hoping to begin relocating endangered snuffbox mussels from the construction zone within the river in August, he said. “Construction, bulldozers and that kind of stuff probably won’t be until 2025,” he said. “But the goal is really to push hard and get the mussel relocation started this year.” Estimates for the project are between $15 million and $20 million, Heacock said. In addition to removing the four low head dams between Bridge Street and Fulton Street, the rapids restoration project includes a second phase, known as the upper reach. For that portion of the project, Grand Rapids Whitewater envisions removing the Sixth Street Dam and creating a way to prevent the invasive sea lamprey from migrating further upstream. Work on that portion of the project isn’t expected to start until after a permit is obtained for the first piece of the project between Fulton Street and Bridge Street.

I hope its goodbye Burger King, hello Stadium District Tower

https://grandrapidscitymi.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=7464&MediaPosition=&ID=21931&CssClass=

I like the modern Lumber/Wood parts while also dislike cheap way out budget clad look. All in all, grateful we are getting a stadium. Can always give it a facelift if this pro soccer business takes off.

I say maybe its a "If you build it they (retail, housing, ect) will come." type thing. The Wests-side neighborhood has plenty of room for developments and mid density apartments to build around the stadium.

I like the idea of outdoor eating, late night food, affordable spot to hit. I just wish its wasn't Adobe. I dont hate Adobe but its never something I have to have. At first thought I was thinking that this was nothing big enough for a large project. Then looking at an aerial it is quite a large parcel in some prime real estate.

I might kick myself down the road for posting this.. Its a small group. If you guys are looking to get passed paywalls check out this site: https://archive.ph/ I know we should support local media but well Mlive isn't that great to me.

This is the answer I want(ed).

Its a stretch I know but the Vegas one had band playing at a venue in the hotel. Plus Richard Branson owning Virgin Records. More of a hopeful wish. I also have not stayed or been to a Hard Rock Café or Hotel since a kid in the 90s.

I'd love that music themed hotel brand to be Virgin Hotels over Hard Rock. I've been to Vegas and Chicago both great!

GR Gold is a second highest level as well correct?

More than Wisconsin/UP Packers transplant fan?

Stopping in EL and Ann Arbor would be great for people going to games and students to those schools who are from metro GR/Detroit. The amount of times I've wanted to catch a concert or game in DET/EL/AH but dont need to spend $200 to spend the night..... (cause I might like to have a few adult beverages at said show /game)

I was expecting Aquinas to jump on this property..

I know its a parking garage but some trees would be great. Was just their this weekend for Hispanic Festival and was a fun event as always (packed). The number one complaint I have when that area has an event is the heat. I seems like its always a scorcher. I has so much more potential but i'll probably be 100 yo when/if its finally finished like the river.

Glass is going in!

I did the same and I'll add Rosa Parks Circle had Juneteenth celebration going on with bands and bbq. I was a lively Saturday for downtown. Bridge Blast (6th) is a great celebration City built has thrown.

Joe, I was walking around this area this weekend thinking the same thing. This makes that area have a bigger presence with the chunkiness it all. Found myself thinking this was a parking lot a few years ago?!

The old Quality Auto was bulldozed yesterday when I drove by.

I surprised this Whitewater being turned down hasn't got more attention and angry mobs. Seems quiet, and telling friends about it their reactions are either; "I had no idea" or "figured".

I've been to those as well and yeah place is a cool labyrinth! I wonder if is tore down on the far south end or saved. This could be a very cool area/neighborhood that is under utilized atm.

Restore the rapids plan has this changing, bike path, kayak access, park & small band shell I think. Then if I remember I think the old building just south of the clearwater place is going to be apartments soon.

MLive article: They received help from the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority, which in 2019 provided the business with $45,000 to help cover Ambiance’s lease.

That too bad but hopefully is has another great life as something else. I got married here and it was exactly what we were looking for. Hannah and Joey were great