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Green Master Plan for Grand Rapids

GRDadof3

By GRDadof3
in Grand Rapids

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

Posted
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Most people have probably read that the Green Grand Rapids Master Plan is in the works and design charrettes and community input sessions should start this year.

Green-Grand-Rapids-Logo.jpg

Rapid Growth Media Article

The DDA has stepped forward with a Memorandum of Understanding to pledge funding toward these goals, particularly related to the Grand River. Some of you may be happy to hear that they will investigate putting areas of the Grand River to better use, including:

) Extensions of riverwalks throughout the city

) Opportunities to expand use of the Grand River, including the feasibility of removing the 4th Street dam and adding a kayak or canoe course

) Additional flood mitigation measures

) Feasibility of using the 4th Street dam as a hydro-electric power generator

) Expanded river-related events programming

) Exploration of connecting inland neighborhoods with the river via expanded greenways, pedestrian streetscapes and bikeway links

DDA meeting is tomorrow to go over more of the details.

In addition, there will be four park-specific plans with separate community-driven charrettes:

1) Joe Taylor

2) Butterworth Landfill opportunities (including investigating the possibility of a "green" energy business park)

3) Ball-Perkins

4) The Grand River

Stay tuned as to how to get involved in this.

(and some of you still think no one is reading our ramblings :P )

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tamias6 Town

tamias6

Posted
Posted
Most people have probably read that the Green Grand Rapids Master Plan is in the works and design charrettes and community input sessions should start this year.

Green-Grand-Rapids-Logo.jpg

Rapid Growth Media Article

The DDA has stepped forward with a Memorandum of Understanding to pledge funding toward these goals, particularly related to the Grand River. Some of you may be happy to hear that they will investigate putting areas of the Grand River to better use, including:

) Extensions of riverwalks throughout the city

) Opportunities to expand use of the Grand River, including the feasibility of removing the 4th Street dam and adding a kayak or canoe course

) Additional flood mitigation measures

) Feasibility of using the 4th Street dam as a hydro-electric power generator

) Expanded river-related events programming

) Exploration of connecting inland neighborhoods with the river via expanded greenways, pedestrian streetscapes and bikeway links

DDA meeting is tomorrow to go over more of the details.

In addition, there will be four park-specific plans with separate community-driven charrettes:

1) Joe Taylor

2) Butterworth Landfill opportunities (including investigating the possibility of a "green" energy business park)

3) Ball-Perkins

4) The Grand River

Stay tuned as to how to get involved in this.

(and some of you still think no one is reading our ramblings :P )

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GRGridGirl Hamlet

GRGridGirl

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I believe the bicycle~canoe livery will happen in the next two years. Its been addressed a couple of times at various properties along Front and properties close to the river.

As far as Green GR, I wasn't happy to hear about the upcoming tree removal along Fuller Ave. Consumers Energy should bury their utilities, instead of adding clutter to the street. Here is an interesting article about how "Power savings can pay to bury lines."

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NorthCoast Hamlet

NorthCoast

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I believe the bicycle~canoe livery will happen in the next two years. Its been addressed a couple of times at various properties along Front and properties close to the river.

As far as Green GR, I wasn't happy to hear about the upcoming tree removal along Fuller Ave. Consumers Energy should bury their utilities, instead of adding clutter to the street. Here is an interesting article about how "Power savings can pay to bury lines."

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Rizzo City

Rizzo

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Posted
Most people have probably read that the Green Grand Rapids Master Plan is in the works and design charrettes and community input sessions should start this year.

Rapid Growth Media Article

The DDA has stepped forward with a Memorandum of Understanding to pledge funding toward these goals, particularly related to the Grand River. Some of you may be happy to hear that they will investigate putting areas of the Grand River to better use, including:

) Extensions of riverwalks throughout the city

) Opportunities to expand use of the Grand River, including the feasibility of removing the 4th Street dam and adding a kayak or canoe course

) Additional flood mitigation measures

) Feasibility of using the 4th Street dam as a hydro-electric power generator

) Expanded river-related events programming

) Exploration of connecting inland neighborhoods with the river via expanded greenways, pedestrian streetscapes and bikeway links

DDA meeting is tomorrow to go over more of the details.

In addition, there will be four park-specific plans with separate community-driven charrettes:

1) Joe Taylor

2) Butterworth Landfill opportunities (including investigating the possibility of a "green" energy business park)

3) Ball-Perkins

4) The Grand River

Stay tuned as to how to get involved in this.

(and some of you still think no one is reading our ramblings :P )

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Quercus Whistle-Stop

Quercus

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Without the dam, it would be interesting to see how much the water levels fluctuated upstream, especially around Riverside Park. Right now it's pretty constant. It would be great to see kayaks, canoes, and even crew teams cruising through downtown!

I also think this plan needs to stress the expansion and improvements of bike paths. Right now there are some great trails, but they're kind of fragmented. Connecting all of the trails would add a whole new dimension to the parks and green space around GR.

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Raildudes dad Hamlet

Raildudes dad

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Without the dam, it would be interesting to see how much the water levels fluctuated upstream, especially around Riverside Park. Right now it's pretty constant. It would be great to see kayaks, canoes, and even crew teams cruising through downtown!

I also think this plan needs to stress the expansion and improvements of bike paths. Right now there are some great trails, but they're kind of fragmented. Connecting all of the trails would add a whole new dimension to the parks and green space around GR.

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countergirl Crossroads

countergirl

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The four charrettes that are planned (and there may be more) were selected for not only their "spread" across the city's three wards but also because they each can offer a different perspective about public space in the city.

Joe Taylor park was selected on the SE side because of a promise made to the neighbors during the last Master Plan process and the ability to illustrate how stormwater management can be combined with greenspace. The last go-round city residents were asked where they would like to see change in their neighborhood. Everyone circled the abandoned gas station site, party store, etc. The Baxter neighborhood circled the whole North half of their neighborhood 16 blocks. The City went in once the MP was done to find that there were over 30 tax reverted properties and that new investment was desparately needed. As a result, three homes between Baxter and Bemis were purchased and demolished and scattered sites were sold to Habitat, ICCF and a for-profit developer. There has been over $2.6 million invested in the neighborhood. The new Joe Taylor park will be enlarged from a one-acre site to a two-acre site by joining the properties between Baxter and Bemis to the current park. There will be a stormwater infiltration basin installed on the new portion of the park as part of the Combined Sewer Overlay separation project. The charrette will be to figure out what to put on top of the new park.

Butterworth is the old Butterworth landfill site on the West side that is also a Superfund site. The neighbors have been waiting for several years now since the site was capped to see something happen with it. There is also discussion about how this connects to Millenium Park, a regional trail system, river amenities, etc. The cap on the site will really limit some of its uses and any reuse must be approved by the companies/parties that were considered the polluters who had to pay for containment. This property is over 100 acres.

Ball-Perkins is a huge woodlot with sensitive environmental features and a community garden located on the NE side of the City. This site was purchased from GRCC by the Wege Foundation, Frey Foundation and others then donated. The site has never been programmed for any type of uses.

Lastly, the Grand River will be the biggest charrette. The Downtown Development Authority is funding an analysis to determine riverwalk extensions, kayak course, flood mitigation, harbor, 4th street dam, hydropower and who else knows what. The goal is to have a feasible and comprehensive plan for the river corridor that can be implemented. Everyone talks about how underutilized the river is. This will be a chance to throw everything on the table and make some decisions about how to make the river a great place so that everyone realizes it is there and uses it.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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Thanks for the info countergirl!

I was thinking about this expansion of the riverwalk South of Fulton on the East side of the river. The downside of it is that it will dead-end at 131, which is kind of anti-climactic. Why not tie it into a pedestrian bridge that hangs from the S-Curve:

2340777534_1b2b78976a_o.jpg

2339944641_2c47ff3358_o.jpg

2340777642_24d3404c4f_o.jpg

2339944777_25ed05924d_o.jpg

Accepts bikes too:

2339944805_5fabf70852_o.jpg

Then a short sidewalk on the GVSU parking lot side could be built, a more pedestrian friendly crossing (bulb-outs, caution lights, striped road, etc.) could be installed at the Fulton Street crossing near Eberhard Center:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...7&encType=1

2340825518_3c9d53a67a_o.jpg

Then it would be circuitous (great for runs, lunch-walkers, walk-at-thons, dog walkers, etc.)

Phase II could be to add one under the I-196 bridge over the Grand. Great vantage point to watch the white water kayakers:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...4&encType=1

Whaddayou guys thinks? I know, MDOT controls them and might not allow it, but setting that aside for a minute. Great views of downtown from both vantage points too.

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Raildudes dad Hamlet

Raildudes dad

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Posted
Thanks for the info countergirl!

I was thinking about this expansion of the riverwalk South of Fulton on the East side of the river. The downside of it is that it will dead-end at 131, which is kind of anti-climactic. Why not tie it into a pedestrian bridge that hangs from the S-Curve:

Whaddayou guys thinks? I know, MDOT controls them and might not allow it, but setting that aside for a minute. Great views of downtown from both vantage points too.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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If you don't have to one hanging from the superstructure, my guess is they would allow one from pier to pier. Just like the one under McPherson in Fallasburg Park :thumbsup: . I'd be willing to do a little design work on the concept and trial balloon it by the MDOT TSC.
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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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I got some shots of the S-curve bridge. Not quite as tall as the one I posted earlier. Maybe attaching supports off the sides of the piers and then do a cable suspension? The bridge is quite nice looking from the S-curve rebuild (other than the friggin taggers).

2345235205_dc7ce065b3_b.jpg

Anyone wanna photoshop something in? ;)

2345237295_d60e2f1e6b_b.jpg

The West riverbank:

2346075080_9005f90cb9_b.jpg

Just add sidewalk and voila!

2345238007_6befebc7f6_b.jpg

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