The revitalization of the Grand River and restoration of the namesake rapids was called for by the 2011 amendments to the City’s Master Plan developed through the Green Grand Rapids process. This vision was embraced by Grand Rapids Whitewater (“GRWW”), a not-for-profit organization formed to lead revitalization of the River and restoration of the rapids in the two-and-a-half-mile stretch running through downtown.

The vision of a revitalized river and restored rapids downtown has catalyzed a comprehensive planning process of the river banks and for approximately seven miles of the river corridor and has catalyzed the first update of the Downtown Development Plan in more than twenty years. This coordinated effort between the City and the Downtown Development Authority (a.k.a., Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.) has been branded as “GR Forward” and identified 15 “opportunity sites” along the riverbanks for public access, riverside trails, open space, neighborhood improvements and for private developments that can occur after the river is revitalized.

The ecosystem and recreation functions of the rapids in the Grand River have been degraded by five low head dams, flood walls, urban encroachment, and channelization (dredging and grading). Bringing back the rapids to the Grand River is a comprehensive river restoration and revitalization project that seeks to remove or modify the dams and enhance the channel bed and banks, to restore the ecosystem and the spirit of the historic rapids.

The in-river work will be designed, developed, and permitted as two independent projects that will involve different state and federal regulatory agencies. The two projects are:

The Lower Reach Project (Bridge Street to Fulton Street)

The Upper Reach Project (Ann Street to Bridge Street)