Grand Rapids Reporter

GRAND RAPIDS — Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, in conjunction with the Grand Rapids City Commission, the city’s Planning Commission, Planning Department and the Community Master Plan Steering Committee, today announced a series of launch parties to give residents a voice in helping shape the future of Grand Rapids for decades to come.

“We believe the people who choose to build a life in our city every day have the vision and the best ideas for what Grand Rapids should be like in the future,” Bliss said. “Whether we’re talking about housing, equity, mobility, environmental justice, economic development or just the overall look and feel of our neighborhoods, we think our residents know best. We look forward to hearing from them.”

Bliss added, “Let your ideas help create the Grand Rapids our children and their children will live in.”

The City of Grand Rapids, working with planning NEXT­, a nationally recognized municipal planning consultant, is in the process of creating a Community Master Plan to reflect the community’s vision for the next 20 years. The Community Master Plan is the blueprint that will guide how the city grows and evolves. It addresses land use issues like housing, transportation, critical infrastructure, zoning, neighborhood development and economic growth. Grand Rapids’ last plan was developed in 2002 and has been updated since.

“We’ve branded this the ‘Bridge to Our Future’ campaign because bridges are designed to unite—not divide—people,” Bliss said. “We want everyone to recognize the role we all play in uniting our present to our future. We’re asking all residents of Grand Rapids to please join together for our future by bringing your ideas to one of our launch events."

The collective goal of the three launch events is to gather perspectives and input from residents to help create a vision for the future. These free family-friendly events will provide dinner along with interactive activities.

The launch parties are an essential part of the Community Master Plan process. While there is a meeting in all three wards, each will follow the same format and residents should choose to attend the event most convenient for them. Anyone can attend any session regardless of the ward in which they reside. To register, RSVP here. Attendees are welcome to attend without registering, but the RSVP will help ensure enough food and materials are at the events. The City encourages in-person attendance, but for those unable to attend, the activities can be accessed online after Feb. 15 here, along with more information about the Community Master Plan process.

“We’re asking for people of all backgrounds and points of view to attend one of these launch events,” Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington said. “It is vital that we hear from a diverse and varied number of citizens as we work to build a long-range vision that will represent the most inclusive plan for moving Grand Rapids forward now and for future generations. The aim is to build a unified concept that will earn buy-in from all sectors of the community.”

The launch party events are scheduled for:

 

Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 5-7 p.m.

(Second Ward)

Grand Rapids Public Schools University

1400 Fuller Ave. NE

 

Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 5-7 p.m.

(First Ward)

Union High School

1800 Tremont Blvd. NW

 

Thursday, Feb. 23, from 5-7 p.m.

(Third Ward)

Alger Middle School

921 Alger St. SE

 

There will be additional opportunities, with new activities, for public input during the next phase of the Community Master Plan process in the late spring and fall.

Appointed by Mayor Bliss, with consultation from city commissioners, the 47-member Grand Rapids Community Master Plan Steering Committee consists of individuals representing a wide and diverse cross-section of the city.