GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Grand Rapids is considering returning some rapids to the Grand River in downtown.
The Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday approved nearly $30,000 to study and engineer changes designed to make the river more navigable. The aim of the project is to boost tourism and outdoor activities.
The Grand Rapids Press reports $4,980 was approved for an engineering firm to come up with a preliminary design to create a portage for canoeists and kayakers to exit the river upstream from the Fourth Street Dam.
Separately, the authority voted to contribute up to $25,000 to the nonprofit group Grand Rapids Whitewater for engineering and marketing efforts needed to modify downtown dams to create a navigable whitewater course.
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