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Committee approves Ada Township and DGRI funding for Knapp Street pedestrian bridge and Johnson Park improvements
Summary
The committee recommended accepting $4.365 million from Ada Township and an additional $1,106,232 from DGRI to complete the Knapp Street pedestrian bridge and Johnson Park trailhead improvements; construction is slated to begin in mid-2026 with ADA restroom and trail upgrades included.
The Kent County Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommended that the Board accept $4,365,000 from Ada Township and an additional $1,106,232 from Grand River Greenway partner DGRI to complete the Knapp Street pedestrian bridge project and fund Johnson Park trailhead improvements.
Staff described the Knapp Street Pedestrian Bridge as a key link in the Grand River Greenway and Ada Trail systems. The Ada Township agreement provides reimbursement-based funding up to $4,365,000; construction mobilization is expected in July 2026 with completion anticipated in August 2027. Staff said final funding and intergovernmental agreements are under review with corporate counsel and Ada Township legal counsel.
Commissioner Feinstein asked about the expected lifespan of the pedestrian bridge; staff said the structure should require no major reinvestment for "somewhere between 25 and 35 years" with Ada Township assuming standard maintenance tasks such as snow removal and groundskeeping. Staff clarified that the county's responsibilities will not include the Kent County Road Commission's bridge superstructure and that future agreements will assign and clarify capital maintenance responsibilities.
DGRI previously contributed toward several greenway components and has pledged additional funds following a Michigan Department of Natural Resources award; staff noted the DGRI funds must be obligated and spent by Dec. 31, 2026. The Johnson Park work includes parking-lot expansion, a four-season ADA restroom, additional shelters, a new playground and an 8-mile adaptive mountain-bike trail.
The committee moved and voted to recommend acceptance and appropriation of both the Ada Township and DGRI funds; the items will go to the full Board for final action.
