East Grand Rapids recommended for $500,000 LWCF grant to advance Waterfront Park Phase 2
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Summary
City staff told the Parks & Recreation Commission the DNR recommended a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Phase 2 of Waterfront Park, which staff says will fund wetland restoration, sustainable trails, an outdoor classroom and interpretive signage; EGLE permitting and community engagement will shape design and timing.
The Parks & Recreation Commission learned on Jan. 26 that the city was recommended for a $500,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to support Phase 2 of Waterfront Park.
“We did get the, and I say recommended for funding … $500,000 for the phase 2 of Waterfront Park,” Speaker 2 told commissioners, describing the award as the largest of three grants the city applied for. He said the grant will fund wetland restoration, native-tree plantings, sustainable accessible trails and potential boardwalks, overlook decks, an outdoor classroom and interpretive signage.
Why it matters: the LWCF award carries conditions. Staff said the National Park Service funding is federal and that the city must secure required permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) before the DNR will finalize a project agreement.
Speaker 2 said community engagement and updated conceptual designs will drive permitting strategy. “The community engagement is going to come first,” he said, adding that a new wetland delineation and consultant-produced conceptual designs are next steps. Depending on the design, EGLE review could be a straightforward general permit (about 30 days) or a lengthier review that may include a public hearing at the state level.
Staff timeline: Speaker 2 said he expects a project agreement from the DNR “probably not until July, or maybe even later this summer,” and that, if all approvals and design work align, the city could bid the project in late 2026 or early 2027 with construction in 2027 as the preference.
Commission reaction: Commissioners congratulated staff and flagged the decision point the commission made previously to not undertake an immediate full master-plan rewrite, which one commissioner said allowed Parks & Rec to apply and secure this funding. Speakers emphasized that the grant maps are strict because LWCF encumbers park parcels for recreation in perpetuity.
Next steps: staff will issue an RFP for a landscape-architecture consultant, hold community engagement sessions on conceptual designs, complete a wetland delineation in spring, and continue conversations with EGLE to determine the required permit category before the DNR issues a final project agreement.
The commission was not asked to take immediate action on the grant award itself at the Jan. 26 meeting; staff said further public engagement and consultant presentations will return to Parks & Rec and, ultimately, to the city commission for final design decisions.
