The City of East Grand Rapids is pleased to announce that construction will begin within a few weeks on Phase II of the Reeds Lake Trail. The start of construction is made possible by the recent award of three final grants to complete the fundraising campaign:

These last three gifts join over 300 donors to the project, some of whom have given multiple gifts over the last five years in hopes of beginning construction on this needed project.

The concept of a separated trail around Reeds Lake began in 1998 when a citizen approached the City with the proposal and offer of partial funding. While sidewalks provide the majority of the path in neighborhoods and city-owned property on three sides of the lake, the east end of the lake was without sidewalks and the street was curving and narrow, creating less than ideal conditions for those walking and biking around the lake.

Working with Grand Rapids Township, City Manager Brian Donovan began exploring the idea of constructing a path alongside the road in this area. The project was eventually broken into two phases because of the costs and the engineering work required. Both phases run through low-lying areas adjacent to Reeds Lake, and have required complex engineering, working with private landowners, and multifaceted permitting process with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Phase I of the trail, which runs east and north from Hall Street to Kate Avenue, was opened in October 2004. The construction was funded by the anonymous donor, the City of East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Charter Township, and federal funds.

Phase II of the trail has been a slower process for several reasons…more private property owners to work with, newer and more complex DEQ regulations, and efforts to raise the needed funds in the slowing economy. The engineering work on the trail was completed early, but was reworked several times to comply with new DEQ regulations and to accommodate private property owners. Thanks to assistance from Kent County, the last of the property issues have been solved. The City received a permit from the DEQ to construct the trail following a lengthy process that involved creating an acre of wetlands in another area of the city to replace one-half acre that is being filled in to build the trail.

Fundraising efforts have taken place in concentrated areas over the last five years. Additional donors include the anonymous donor, the Wege Foundation, the Frey Foundation, the Urban Cooperation Board, Bank of America, National City Bank, and hundreds of private citizens, over $790,000 has been committed to the trail. The City and Township have also continued to commit money from their budgets as funds allow.

In June 2009, the City solicited bids for the construction work to finish the trail. Wolverine Building Inc. was the lowest bidder at a cost of $600,800, which was below the earlier engineer’s estimates due to the competitive bidding climate. The City asked Wolverine to hold their bid pricing for 90 days until the final $150,000 could be secured. Several months later, in updating Wolverine Building on the status of the fundraising efforts, officials from the firm offered to donate $50,000 toward the project. Wolverine also suggested the City apply to the West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition for grant funding. The West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition also awarded a grant of $50,000 toward the project at their January 20, 2010 board meeting.

Combined with other recent donations and pledges, this completed the necessary fundraising, and the City awarded the construction contract in early February.

Construction on Phase II of the trail will begin offsite in the next several weeks, and crews will move out to the project site as soon as weather permits. Completion will be in late-June or mid-July.

Thank you to all who donated toward this project! Large and small….this could not have been done without you.