GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The city of Grand Rapids needs your help in reaching the next step in the Grand River restoration initiative. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service is looking for public comment on the environmental assessment that was conducted on how the restoration project will impact the surrounding community.
The City in partnership with Grand Rapids Whitewater is looking for $11 million from the USDA for the project. Before the funding request can officially be made, the project had to conduct the environmental assessment.
City engineering project manager Michael Stahl says the assessment looked at how the project will impact the land and water but also how it will impact urban dynamics, socioeconomics, land use and public health and safety.
The public comment period will be open through October 15th. Residents can view the plan and its impacts and provide comment here. Residents can also visit several Grand Rapids Public Library locations to view the plan and submit their comments online or by mail. The locations include the main branch, West Leonard, Seymour and Yankee Clipper.
After the public comment period, a final version of the environmental assessment will be compiled taking the comments into consideration. That report will be submitted to the USDA along with the funding application.