The City strives to provide its residents with the services they expect, regardless of funding issues, and to initiate new projects whenever possible and prudent. Following is a list of past and current projects the City implemented to improve the quality of life for its residents and the economic viability of its businesses.
City Hall
The current City Hall was built in 1930 as a church. The City purchased the building and renovated it for use as City Hall in 1970. Now, forty years later, the building has aged and deteriorated to the point it poses health and safety risks for residents and employees.
The City Council has entered into an agreement with MAYOTTEgroup to develop and design a new City Hall. Numerous meetings and public forums have been held to determine the best location for a new City Hall, and the site of the current City Hall was chosen. A project budget has been developed to determine the space and construction costs, architectural and interior costs, and relocation costs.
The City Council has determined not to take any further action authorizing expenditures for schematic plans and budget estimates until after the City determines a funding source for the project. The City intends to avoid any additional taxes or millages to fund the project, but instead will try to obtain federal and state assistance, and grants.
For more information on this project, contact the City Administrator via email or by calling (517) 627-2149.
Fitzgerald Field
The City has long enjoyed its downtown ball field, but over the years it has deteriorated. The recently completed renovation of Fitzgerald Field began on March 23, 2010, with soil excavation. The project included a grass outfield with irrigation system, appropriate outfield fencing, new dugouts, improvements to the bleachers, and other amenities. The City was the general contractor and coordinated the contributions of Pete Clark of Clark Farms, Jeff Cadwell of Cadwell Construction, the Grand Ledge Rotary, Jeff Witt of Witt Sod Farm, Darrin Vilminot of Universal Designs, Dave Glasser of Dibble-Glasser Landscape, the Lonier Family of Shady Lodge Farm LLC, and the Downtown Development Authority. The project cost $19,930 with in-kind donations of $14,950 and cash donations of $4,980. The renovated Fitzgerald Field is the home field of the new PONY Mustang Spring League and Grand Ledge City Recreation league. This is a welcome improvement and will benefit the entire community.
North Side Parking Lot
The Downtown Development Authority is currently moving forward with a project to completely redesign and reconstruct the parking lot and alley behind the businesses on the west side of N. Bridge St. The businesses and their customers will benefit from increased parking and accessibility to the buildings.
For more information on this project, contact the Economic Development Coordinator via email or by calling (517) 622-5256.
Non-Motorized Pathways
The City is seeking to improve its resident’s access to non-motorized transportation by developing pathways in and around the City.
The Riverwalk concept was originated in the winter of 1996 by a group of citizens and recreation enthusiasts interested in the restoration and beautification of the waterfront area in downtown Grand Ledge. Early in 2003, the Parks and Recreation Commission held several public meetings and developed a prioritized list of projects the public wanted the City to undertake as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Walking paths were placed at the top of the list. After the Island Park project which was completed in 2003, a riverwalk was proposed from the boat landing at Jaycee Park to the just restored Island Park.
The now completed Riverwalk starts at the Jaycee Park boat dock and travels across ground and over water to the Grand Ledge Opera House and under the M-100 bridge, skirting the recently upgraded Fitzgerald Field baseball field, then on to Island Park. There is an overlook built on the old foundation of a planing mill that existed in the late 1800′s and fishing decks along the length of the path.
The Widewalk was developed through a Congestion Mitigation / Air Quality grant from the State of Michigan. The City Council acted to postpone an ongoing sidewalk improvement project to take advantage of the grant to construct an eight-foot wide pathway along M-43 from Timbercreek Dr. to Jenne St. The next phase, which has been approved for implementation, extends the pathway from Jenne St. to M-100. Further plans project the pathway to continue north on M-100 and connect to the Riverwalk at Jaycee Park.
The City Council hopes to be able to eventually encircle the City with a non-motorized pathway system along M-43, M-100, the Grand River and Fitzgerald Park.
For more information on this project, contact the City Administrator via email or by calling (517) 627-2149.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The City is currently improving its wastewater treatment plant located on the Grand River in Fitzgerald Park. The City has spent the past two years working with the State of Michigan to develop a plan to reduce and eliminate overflows into the Grand River by improving the capacity of the treatment plant to handle the current load placed on it by the City’s sewer customers. The City obtained a grant to pay for 97.5% of the project cost and is funding the remaining 2.5% through existing funds and rate increases.
For more information on this project, contact the City Administrator via email or by calling (517) 627-2149.