Public Spaces

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks awarded grant to grow urban forest

Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Wednesday, December 11th, 2013, 11:58am

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks awarded grant to grow urban forest

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is getting even more funding to create a larger, healthier urban forest.

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation is awarding the organization with an additional $189,200 to recruit volunteers and rally community support for neighborhood trees. The GRCF originally awarded the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks nearly $254,000 two years ago to launch the Urban Forest Project. Since then, volunteers with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks have planted 489 trees, including those in Brewer’s Grove in Riverside Park.

"Growing our urban tree canopy is important not just for us – but for all the future generations after us. It’s about health, it’s about the environment, it’s about the future health of our city," said Community Foundation President Diana Sieger.

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Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013, 7:00am

New bike path to cut through Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—A new bike path will soon take shape in Grand Rapids.

The city is getting a $618,514 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation to create the Seward Avenue Bikeway. The 3.5 mile bike route will cut through the heart of Grand Rapids and connect nearly 190 miles of regional trails, including the White Pine Trail, Oxford Street Trail and Kent Trails. The path will run along Seward Avenue from Wealthy Street to the Riverside Park trailhead and include a bike shelter, bike lockers, bike signs and signals and an upgraded pedestrian bridge over Indian Mill Creek at Broadway Avenue.

The project is expected to cost just over $1 million. Additional funding will come from the City of Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Bikes Belong and Freewheeler Bike Shop. The city commission will recognize all financial supporters during its meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Monday, December 2nd, 2013, 10:50am

UPDATE: Growing up in Nazi Germany: A museum volunteer remembers

UPDATE: The Grand Rapids Public Museum has postponed Saturday's lecture due to illness.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—This Saturday will mark 72 years since Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, pushing the United States to enter World War II.

This Pearl Harbor Day, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will turn the spotlight on one of its own volunteers, who grew up in Nazi Germany. Bernie Siehling will share an insider’s perspective of the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and Nazi rule. Siehling plans to talk about avoiding Hitler youth, building relationships with Prisoners Of War ordered to work on his family’s farm, and witnessing a British Royal Air Force Bomber crash.

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Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Friday, November 22nd, 2013, 9:35am

Senator Jansen decides against congressional run

KENT COUNTY, Mich.— Republican Senator Mark Jansen says he will not join the race for Congressman Justin Amash’s seat next year.

“I have decided at this time my focus will continue to help Michigan find the road to recovery, from Grand Rapids to Detroit to the Upper Peninsula to our lake shores,” Jansen said. ”Right now I really feel the call to continue helping Michigan’s recovery as my Senate term ends in 13 short months.”

Jansen says he has been “strongly encouraged” to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat for the past two years. He believes people want the same level of reform achieved in Michigan to happen in Washington.

Jansen represents the northern portion of Kent County. The U.S. 3rd Congressional District includes Belding, Rockford, Lowell, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Ada and Cascade, Alpine Township, Sparta, Plainfield Township and all of Grand Rapids.

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Walker Charter Academy student's journey to Eagle Scout leads to a gaga pit

Submitted by NHAPR on Wednesday, November 20th, 3:00 pm

WALKER, Mich., Nov. 20, 2013— A teenager's journey to earn the Boy Scout’s highest honor of Eagle Scout, has led to the creation of a new outdoor activity for his classmates at Walker Charter Academy.

Jacob Pointe, 14, is an eighth grade student at Walker; he has attended the school since he was in kindergarten. One of the requirements to earning the Eagle Scout rank is to plan, develop and give leadership to a service project. Jacob decided he wanted to sponsor the creation of a gaga pit at his school.

“I wanted the middle school students to have something besides regular sport to do at recess that still promoted physical activity,” said Pointe.

The game involves dodging, running and jumping as students stand inside an octagonal pit and try to strike each other below the knees with a gaga ball. The last one standing wins.

Jacob Pointe presented a $1,200 check to his school principal on October 31 during the school’s moral focus assembly. Jacob raised money for his Eagle Scout project to create a gaga pit at his school. He donated the additional money raised to the school’s PTO.Left to right: Steve Bagley, Walker Charter Academy principal, Jacob Pointe, Walker student, Eric Anderson, Walker Charter Academy dean.

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Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Thursday, November 7th, 2013, 1:47pm

Kent County honors cleanest restaurants with Food Safety Awards

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—Where are the safest places to eat in Kent County?

The county health department is answering that question with the 2013 Food Safety Awards. The agency whittled down the list of 1,654 eligible restaurants to just 269 facilities, based on routine restaurant and food service inspections over the past year. Under the county’s criteria, restaurants that earn the award must have a certified food safety manager, no confirmed violations of the Michigan Smoke Free Law and no confirmed foodborne illness outbreaks during the year.

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Submitted by Christa Graban, Producer

Thursday, October 31st, 2013, 1:06pm

ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich.— A new church and community center facility is taking shape near York Creek apartments.

After holding a public hearing, the Alpine Township Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan by Land & Company on October 17. Land & Company operates many apartment communities within West Michigan, including York Creek.

The new church and community center will be located at 3999 Alpenhorn Dr. Worship services will be non-denominational and open to everyone. It’s unclear when the facility will be complete.

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