GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After more than 15 years of planning, setbacks and some promising progress, the effort to restore the rapids to the Grand River has been delayed.
The whitewater rapids, which the city of Grand Rapids was once named for, were removed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Organizers have spent years trying to bring them back.
Grand Rapids receives EGLE permit for Grand River restoration project
The city of Grand Rapids has now withdrawn its bid for in-channel construction, citing “continued delays for federal approvals and funding.”
“It’s tough, obviously, any time that there are changes to schedules, but this is not new for us with this project,” said Matt Chapman, executive director of Grand Rapids WhiteWater. “It’s a complex project with lots of funding sources, lots of moving parts and a lot of approvals that are needed.”…