Grand Rapids Whitewater

Conceptual photograph of proposed rapids near Amway Grand Plaza ©Simon

Our rapids are grand, or at least they may be, once again. There is a lot of talk of a “kayak park” being built downtown on the Grand River. Yes, there could be new recreational opportunities for the river, new whitewater adventure sports like kayaking and canoeing, but the real goal of GRWW is to restore the river to a more natural looking waterway for everyone to enjoy. In, on or around.

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Do you prefer this cascading waterfall?

Conceptual photograph of 'landscaped' 4th St dam.

Or this lowhead dam?  

Existing dam, known by river experts as a 'drowning machine.'

Could Grand Rapids’ benefit from a picturesque new tourist attraction?  A wild, scenic, cascading waterfall right downtown?  It’s known by several names; The 6th Street Dam, 4th St. Dam, Fishing Dam and even The Falls.   Read the rest of this entry »

Now, consider this; If the Calder can do all of this for Grand Rapids, what would it mean for our economic, social and environmental future to revitalize our river and put the Rapids back in the Grand?  

La Grande Vitesse is perhaps our most distinctive landmark.  Known in our community, simply as the Calder, translated, it means ‘The Grand Rapids,’ a reference to the river flowing through the center of our city.  This summer, 2009, Grand Rapids will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its installation. http://www.artmuseumgr.org/home/page/Calder+Symposium+June+21 Read the rest of this entry »