Sixth Street Bridge Park
Project Details
Client
Grand RapidsLocation
Grand Rapids, MIScale
Approximately 4.4-acre site.Cost
$1,620,000Completion
2002As part of the revitalization of the Central Business District and riverfront, the City of Grand Rapids retained Progressive AE to develop plans to renovate the deteriorating Sixth Street Bridge Park. The design and construction challenges to this project were many. The design challenges included: The park had to have the capacity to retain a 100-year flood; The park is a former industrial site containing contaminated and hazardous soils; and primary electric overhead line running through the middle of the park. Finally, numerous buried remnants of building footings, floodwalls and bridge abutments were discovered and addressed during construction.
Objective
To revitalize a deteriorating riverfront park north of the City’s central business district. A popular fishing location, improvements also needed to retain 100-year floods of the adjacent Grand River.
Outcome
The initial master planning and design were developed through consensus-building with neighborhood business and park groups. Improvements included a new boat launch, a unique barrier-free boat loading ramp, a river overlook, sitting steps, a fish-cleaning station, landscaping, lighting, and a park shelter. The park also provides important non-motorized links to adjacent systems.
